It was a big surprise when Nintendo announced that the Japanese GameCube version of Zelda: Twilight Princess won’t be available in stores, but only through online order. Now it seems that US GameCube owners will have to order online as well, as GameStop and EB Games confirmed to Joystiq that they won’t be selling the game.

As we mentioned last time, this is most likely because Nintendo wants to avoid two versions of the same game competing in retail stores, and chose, wisely enough, to only have the Wii version in retail. One can only imagine the disappointment Nintendo will feel if it turns out that the GC version plays better than the Wii one.

[Update] Nintendo has issued a statement denying the rumor of Zelda: Twilight Princess only being sold online. The game will, in fact, be available in retail this December.