Batman: Arkham Origins multiplayer skips Wii U

UPDATE:Batman: Arkham Origins publisher Warner Bros. has explained its decision not to include a multiplayer mode in the game's Wii U version as it had decided to focus its efforts on the platforms with a sizable multiplayer audience.

"MP will be available for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC," a Warner Bros. spokesperson told Eurogamer. "The team is focusing development efforts on platforms with the largest MP audience."

ORIGINAL STORY:The just-announced multiplayer component for Batman: Arkham Origins will not be available on Wii U.

Multiplayer will be available on all other versions, though. The game is confirmed for PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360.

When contacted by Eurogamer this afternoon, Warner Bros. declined to explain the decision. A spokesperson told us the publisher wouldn't be expanding on the press release it issued this afternoon.

The lack of multiplayer is yet another blow for Nintendo's struggling console. Nintendo announced this morning that the Wii U had sold just 160,000 consoles sold globally in the three months to the end of June 2013. Wii U has now sold 3.61 million units worldwide.

Warner Bros.' decision may be to do with the Wii U's low install base. EA does not currently have any games in development for the console, and in explaining its decision it has blamed a lack of multiplayer engagement with previous titles.

Eurogamer's Christian Donlan went hands on with Batman: Arkham Origins' multiplayer, developed by UK studio Splash Damage. In it you can play as Batman, Robin or an Elite Member of The Joker or Bane's Gang.

The single-player portion is developed by Warner Bros. Montreal.