'The Legend of Zelda' Wii U release date news 2016: Nintendo changes game's launch on website

Nintendo discreetly made a change in the release schedule of the long-awaited "The Legend of Zelda" Wii U. Previously listed for release in March 2017, the action-adventure game's launch date is now just 2017.

"The Legend of Zelda" Wii U was confirmed to be released for Nintendo's next generation console called the Nintendo NX, which will hit the stores in March next year. The Nintendo website indicated that the title will get the same release date.

However, checking back on the site, it now states that the release date is simply 2017. Here's how the site looked like before the change:

Nintendo appears to have expanded its leeway for the timing of the game's release, so as to avoid raising the expectations of fans for an early 2017 availability that they may not be able to commit to.

The change also hints that "The Legend of Zelda" Wii U might be delayed and may not see the light of day in March but at a later date Nintendo is not yet ready to reveal. There's also a slight chance that the game may be out earlier than stated.

Nintendo is silent about the change. Fans, on the other hand, aren't too happy about the news that they might have to wait longer to get their hands on Link and Zelda's new adventure.

"The Legend of Zelda" Wii U was supposed to be released later this year. Nintendo decided to launch a Nintendo NX version of the title, which may have been the cause of the delay.

For now, there's no way to know for sure what this means. The next time fans will hear about "The Legend of Zelda" Wii U will be at the coming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2016 this June.

The game will get the spotlight all to itself and will be playable for the first time since its existence was announced during the event, which will take place on June 14 to 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.