Donkey Kong Country titles about to be removed from Wii Virtual Console in Europe [UPDATED]

****UPDATE**** Nintendo got back to us with the following official reason for the games' removal:

"From time to time, our software lineup changes for various reasons. There are currently over 350 classic Virtual Console titles available for purchase in Wii Shop Channel. We’re confident that consumers will find something they will enjoy."

Oh, various reasons! Glad that's cleared that up.***UPDATE ENDS***

Donkey Kong Country returns... to the ether next week, as all three classic SNES platformers will be pulled from the European Wii U Virtual Console. According to a news update on the console's online shopping page, you still have until the 25th of November to buy Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble.

We have contacted Nintendo to ask why the titles are being removed and will update this story when we hear back. Presumaby a license has run out, or (more excitingly) there's an HD collection heading to Wii U that they want everyone to buy instead of the cheapy Virtual Console versions. Stranger things have happened.

Don't forget, all your Wii Ware and Virtual Console titles are playable on Wii U, so if you can imagine a point in time where you'd want to play one of these SNES classics on your shiny new machine, you'd better get downloading these pronto. However, they are limited to being played on the TV screen (at present) and with old Wii control peripherals, so don't sell your old Classic Controller just yet.

Source: Go Nintendo

Justin Towell

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.