RPG fans have been long waiting for a North American version of Mother 3, as it was only released in Japan for reasons that might be unclear to many. However, just as with many secrets in the world of gaming, there are reasons behind this unwillingness to localize the game for Western audiences. Understanding these reasons could perhaps even help fans better predict the future of the Mother series.
Although talented fans have made anniversary mock-ups of a Mother 3 remake and unofficial localized versions of the title do exist, Nintendo has never brought the game to western markets. While it's true that the first two games in the Mother series, known as Earthbound in North America, has always sold much better in Japan than anywhere else, there is still a clear demand for the game from its dedicated fanbase. This demand only increases as more gamers are introduced to the franchise, oftentimes through the Super Smash Bros. games, which feature Mother characters Ness and Lucas as playable fighters.
For anyone scratching their heads as to why, with such a persistent and vocal fanbase, Mother 3 hasn't left Japan, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé may be able to provide some illuminating details. Fils-Aimé recently published a memoir entitled Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo, which holds insider info on a number of topics, including Nintendo and Reggie's history with Wii Sports. According to Nintendo Everything, the audio version of this book contains an interview with Geoff Keighley, wherein the pair discuss Mother 3's localization.
Why Mother 3 Hasn't Come To American Markets, According To Reggie
In his talk with Keighley, Fils-Aimé touches on the history of the Mother/Earthbound franchise in the U.S. and how the first two games, called Earthbound Beginnings and Earthbound in the states, undersold expectations. Before making a joke about how frequently games journalism covers this mysterious title, Fils-Aimé explains that Nintendo of America was focused primarily on the launch of the Nintendo DS in the years surrounding Mother 3's release, and that that strategy involved bringing over franchises like Metroid and Mario Kart - which were already successful in the US - to the new platform. The former NOA president went on to state that there was a "serious conversation" about localizing the game during the 3DS era, but he suggests that the company simply moved on from this idea.
Nintendo announced that Earthbound will come to Nintendo Switch, which may make some fans hopeful of a US port of Mother 3 somewhere down the line. Fils-Aimé's comments seem to indicate that Mother 3 would be more likely to launch as a digital-only title, so that may inspire even more hope. Until official word from Nintendo comes down the pipeline, though, fans of Mother 3 will have to keep their fingers crossed that Nintendo finds the time and resources to localize the game.
Source: Nintendo Everything
