'Minecraft' release date on Wii U announced; but what about 'The Legend of Zelda?' [release date, gameplay, trailer]

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Back in the second week of November 2015, reports have surfaced that "Minecraft" will finally make its way to Nintendo Wii U, the only major gaming platform it has not conquered so far. But, just less than a week after, excitement from the fans hit a snag when suddenly the listing of the video game from the European ratings board PEGI's website, where it has been rated and has been a good indication of its release, was removed.

And, now, all the hubbub regarding the game's launch will finally be put to rest as Nintendo confirmed the release of "Minecraft" in its Wii U system this coming Dec. 17. The gamers can get their hands on one of the best-selling PC games and video games of all time for a price of $29.99.

This sandbox adventure/survival game, which has been enjoyed by gamers of PlayStation, Xbox, Windows phone, Android and iOS, Windows, Linux and OS X for years, will now support off-TV play in Wii U. This means that gamers can still play the video game even without their televisions and by just using Gamepad, according to The Verge.

Meanwhile, for those who are anticipating the launch of "The Legend of Zelda" in Wii U, they could probably be looking at a 2016 release date, wrote GazetteReview. The excitement from fans has surged ever since the release of its trailer. It was previously scheduled for release this year but was recently listed as TBD (To Be Determined), which could probably mean that the game is still in development.

The trailer, the only one of its kind that has been released so far, reveals a seemingly vast and open world waiting to be explored by the gamers. And, just earlier this year, one of the video game's series producers confirmed that the gameplay would be set in a bigger and more seamless world in response to the fans clamor for it.

"A huge, seamlessly unfolding world is something that can't be achieved if the hardware isn't advanced enough," Eiji Aonuma told Gamereactor Magazine. "Ever since we made the very first generation of Legend of Zelda games, though, we've had as large a world as can be realized with the hardware, so you could say it was inevitable that we've now done the same with the new Wii U title." Now this is, definitely, something to watch out for.

And, as a bonus, Epona, Link's horse and one of the most beloved characters in the series, will also be making her return in the video game.