Pikmin 3 sprouting spring 2013

Pikmin 3 won't sprout until 2013. During the latest Iwata Asks session, it was confirmed that Nintendo's new Wii U real-time strategy game will arrive during spring 2013. Previously, the game was confirmed only for Nintendo's nebulous Wii U "launch window" that runs from November 2012 through April 2013.

Pikmin 3 for the Wii U was announced during Nintendo's 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo briefing in June. It is a direct sequel to 2004's GameCube title Pikmin 2 and introduces new features like a Rock Pikmin, which can be used to destroy hard objects.

The game is fully playable with just the Wii U GamePad, but can also be directed with a Wii MotionPlus controller. Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto said the game skipped online multiplayer because having numerous small creatures onscreen at once would present problems when syncing up over an Internet connection.

For more on Pikmin 3, check out GameSpot's preview from E3 2012.