Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair was first announced back in June as the sequel to the 2017 original retro platformer. Today, developer Playtonic Games and publisher Team17 announced a release date, set for Oct. 8. The game is now available for preorder on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The announcement includes a release date trailer, which you can see below.
The trailer also confirms the return of “tonics,” which are “game-modifying potions” that the protagonists could guzzle up in the original game. You’ll be able to collect more than 60 tonics, allowing you to mix them up in brand new ways. These potions not only affect gameplay – such as enabling infinite rolling, more difficult enemies, and super speed – but they also unlock some new environmental and visual effects.
Yooka-Laylee and the preorder goodies
There is some exclusive preorder content that might interest you if you’re thinking of taking the leap of faith. You will receive the “Trowzer’s Top Tonic Pack” collection that features four exclusive cosmetic tonics. These seem suited for players who are eager to try out some weird stuff as they start their adventure.
There’s the Large Head tonic, which gives Laylee an oversized head. The Glow Worm tonic makes both Yooka and Laylee glow like glowworms. The D.I.S.C.O. tonic turns every level into a platforming party. Finally, there’s the Yooka 64 tonic, which taps into that retro nostalgia that every fan of the franchise must feel.
Gavin Price, Managing Director & Creative Lead at Playtonic Games, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming release: “Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair takes the 2D platforming genre, mixes it up with a 3D world to explore and injects it with the unique humour that Playtonic is known for. Bringing Tonics back in all new flavours (they’re now combinable!) will give the community millions of ways to play the game and we can’t wait to see the results online!”
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair will release on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and it’s already available for preorder from Steam. You can follow the developer on Facebook, Twitter, or join the official Discord.
