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[Neiteio]

I've been eagerly awaiting an official localization of Mother 3 ever since I completed EarthBound on my N3DS. If you missed it, please check out my illustrated LttP.

My hope is kept alive by a couple developments in the past year or so:


First, in early 2016, Emily Rogers reported, and Eurogamer subsequently corroborated, that sources close to Nintendo had told them Mother 3 was in the final stages of localization at Nintendo of Europe, targeting a release that year on the WiiU Virtual Console, timed to coincide with the game's 10-year anniversary in Japan.

Here's the story: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1208932


Obviously, that did not come to pass... but those who keep faith believe the game was indeed localized, but then strategically withheld for Switch.

Fast-forward to the Switch reveal, back in January 2017, and we have reporters asking Reggie if we'll see Metroid and Mother 3. To which Reggie replied: "Talk to me in a year, and we'll see where we're at."

That story can be found here: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-offers-metroid-mother-3-fans-a-glimmer-of/1100-6446941/


Remember, EarthBound Beginnings — the localized version of Mother 1 — was a surprise announcement (and release!) at E3 2015. There's at least that much for precedent where E3 Mother surprises are concerned.

And a year before then, in the E3 2014 Digital Event, there was this bit in the opening Robot Chicken skit, where Reggie torched a reporter asking for Mother 3:

Will the crispy clay-mation reporter finally have his wish fulfilled? Sure would be a nice bit of fan service to roll out the Switch Virtual Console. What do you think will happen?


BONUS QUESTION: What do you think they would name a localized Mother 3? EarthBound Endings? EarthBound Legends? EarthBound Legacy? Maybe just... EarthBound 2?

 

[Cerium]

I believe they will.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

no

 

[GenericUser]

Of course not.

 

[Dark Cloud]

Yes and I don't want it to be called Earthbound Endinfs because that implies we'll never see a new Earthbound game ever.

 

[Kinsei]

Nope.

 

[Shaanyboi]

Expect nothing

Spoiler

and still be disappointed

 

[LowParry]

I'm going to go with, no.

 

[ChrisD]

I have this feeling that it will never happen, alongside the feeling that it will definitely happen this year. These feelings are the same every year.

Not as interested in playing it as I was four years ago, but will definitely Day One if it does ever happen again.

 

[k91191]

Absolutely. No doubt in my mind.

 

[dickroach]

the fact that they haven't cut Clyde Mandelin a check, used his translation, and released this game years ago is baffling, and also kinda really shitty. he put so much time and effort into that translation, and it's so good.

Mother was localized in 1990. that's why they released it in the west last year.
Mother 3 was never localized. that's why they'll never release it in the west.

 

[DNAbro]

I believe.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Eh, probably.

 

[DMONKUMA]

I'll believe if only because Metroid might be there as well.

And if not it's my fault for believing Reggie's comment.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

This is how they will kick off the VC.

 

[opoth]

Probably.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

You better stop.

 

[Banjotanooki]

Every year has rumors come and go and nothing ever happens. Hell, even with the Switch launch, people said it would be revealed for VC.

It won't ever happen.

 

[Hispanic! At the Disco]

You got me this time, Neiteio, I didn't think this was your thread.


Also, no.

 

[Neiteio]

Every year has rumors come and go and nothing ever happens. Hell, even with the Switch launch, people said it would be revealed for VC.

It won't ever happen.

People told me this wouldn't happen either

 

[Dark Cloud]

Every year has rumors come and go and nothing ever happens. Hell, even with the Switch launch, people said it would be revealed for VC.

It won't ever happen.

You can't reveal it if VC wasn't announced....

That's why many believe E3 they will announce VC and in with that Mother 3.

 

[Seik]

I believe.

No, honestly, they are aware of it, might as well use this while the Switch is hot hot hot!

 

[Pajamas]

No: The Thread

 

[nickgia]

Nah.

 

[ShironRedshift]

Nah. If it were going to happen, it would have happened by now. And I've completely 100% lost interest regardless at this point. Too many rumors that went nowhere and memes and jokes at this point just poking fun at the whole thing. Can't remain hyped or excited for something after all that and all this time, no matter how good it is. It would just be a hard pass at this point for me, no matter what they do with it. The combination of the fans, Nintendo themselves, and gaming "insiders" continuing to make noise about it time after time after time have just completely drained whatever magic there might have been out of it at this point, and I'm just tired of thing song and dance every single E3.

Either it happens, or it doesn't. I just don't give a fuck about goddamn Mother 3 at this point, and that's despite loving the game. I'm just tired of hearing about it.

 

[RedToad64]

I imagine it would be called MOTHER 3: The EarthBound Conclusion or something.

 

[Rockk]

Last year was the 10 year anniversary and nothing happened.

Earthbound Aftermath would be the most appropriate title imo.

 

[Kouriozan]

Yes they will, perfect time for it to happen too.
Just announce "to be available now!" megaton at E3 and tears will flow.

 

[MetalKnick]

I feel like the name "Earthbound" wouldn't really work for Mother 3.. maybe Earthbound: Mother?

 

[themagicalkitsune]

Maybe they'll pull a PS4 and not offer VC for certain old systems with very few exceptions like this game.

I believe it will happen, though maybe not at E3 this year.

 

[jimmygnome9]

There have been so many times over the years that people have been confident that Mother 3 would be localized, but it has obviously never turned out that way. If it ever happens I will be ecstatic, but I always doubt the rumors.

 

[Megatron]

If it comes, to what system would it come? Neither 3ds or Switch have any gba VC support. And it would be a real kick in the balls to put this on WiiU. So I say we won't see it at this E3.

 

[Stopdoor]

Baffled this didn't happen last year with the increase in rumours, release of Earthbound 1 and "Zero" the previous two years, and GBA VC all syncing up nicely.

This E3 is honestly my last legit hope, but lack of Switch VC makes it feel pretty hopeless.

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

Every fucking year.

Hey the Last Guardian actually did come out so don't know your crazy and baseless hope

 

[axisofweevils]

Mother Trilogy collection for Switch. Believe.
I could see it happening. Along with the long rumored Undertale port.

 

[Gaspard]

A trilogy that revamps the pixel art into a clay aesthetic like in the promo setpieces.

 

[120v]

definitely wouldn't categorize this one under "lets hope e3 delivers"

it's bound to be localized someday but that's... someday. is in like god knows when

 

[Zelmardonpoktendo]

 

[WhoaIsThatMars]

A trilogy that revamps the pixel art into a clay aesthetic like in the promo setpieces.

Yikes. No thanks. The original art is fantastic

 

[Neiteio]

A reminder: What makes this year different from other years, is it's the first year where Reggie, when asked about Mother 3, said, "Talk to me a in year and let's see where we're at."

If not E3, sometime within 2017 seems plausible. Otherwise he would've picked his PR spin more carefully.

 

[themagicalkitsune]

Dude, what the hell with this human centipede like username haha

 

[foxuzamaki]

If it doesn't get announced at this years e3(or whenever they decide to show something about virtual console) then I will give up hope

 

[Cbajd5]

COME ON REGGIE GIVE US MOTHER 3

Spoiler

i don't care if it was mentioned in the already, this is like half of my posts

 

[Dark Cloud]

A reminder: What makes this year different from other years, is it's the first year where Reggie, when asked about Mother 3, said, "Talk to me a in year and let's see where we're at."

If not E3, sometime within 2017 seems plausible. Otherwise he would've picked his PR spin more carefully.

Yep. This is the first time ever Reggie said talk to me about Mother 3 this time next year in January.

Also, I believe he brought up Mother 3 on his own. Wasn't he asked about "where's Metroid?"? And he brought up Mother 3 too.

 

[Hazu]

Last year was the 10 year anniversary and nothing happened.

Earthbound Aftermath would be the most appropriate title imo.

Anniversaries don't mean anything in this industry. Especially with less known franchises.

 

[JB2448]

Expect nothing
and still be disappointed

Then you're not expecting nothing.

Despite Eurogamer continuing to assure me that it's happening at some point, I just don't believe it. I want them to prove me wrong:

This post makes me sad. I'd like to think we've proven ourselves to be a reliable and trustworthy source. I guess we still have work to do to convince some!

On those two articles you've highlighted, please be excited.

Yes. Sorry, should have said. I'm Wesley Yin-Poole, deputy editor.

Don't get me wrong, I bear no ill will or anything like that. Of course plans change and projects that were planned get cancelled. But please try to look at it from the standpoint of a lifelong fan of the EarthBound series. I've been burnt too many times by too many seemingly iron-clad sources reporting rumors about Mother 3. Laura Kate Dale's Tweet comes to mind when it comes to that especially.

I want to be excited. I really, really do.

Thanks for coming in and responding, though. It's nice to know you're listening to both positive and negative feedback.

I want to see this game get an honest shot in Western markets. It deserves its day in the limelight.

 

[Like the hat?]

I assume they will either stick with Mother 3 or call it Earthbound 3. I also predict they will release a switch card with all three Mother games remastered* on it

*read: emulated with a fancy wrapper.

 

[MatthewB92]

I just want it on my switch 😢😢😢

 

[necrosis]

i would absolutely lose my shit

 

[Novel Mike]

No really any new mentions of it being announced so I'm guessing no. Honestly at this point I'd rather them just do a new game or a collection for Switch then JUST Mother 3.