Nintendo‘s long-dormant Mother series — known in the West as EarthBound — seems raring to make noise again. Recently, Hobonichi Mother Project, the official X account for the series, surprised fans with a cryptic teaser. The post hinted at multiple EarthBound or Mother ‘announcements’ starting ‘tomorrow,’ sparking speculations. Longtime fans are watching closely, hopeful for something more than collectibles or another region-exclusive release.
“For a while, we haven’t had any news… but starting tomorrow, we might have a series of new announcements. Please be joyfully on guard,” the EarthBound social media account wrote in Japanese.
The tweet, while vague, was enough to set longtime fans buzzing. Replies quickly filled with hope and hype. “Mother 3 on Nintendo switch 2????” wrote @Redaharchadd hopeful, echoing a wish that’s haunted Nintendo forums for years. @MeulinsArmpit added, “Mother 4 lesssss goooo!!” despite the fact that a fourth installment has never been announced or even teased. “Please release a smartphone app,” wrote @shouji9 in Japanese.
The quirky series started its life in 1989 as a Famicom — or NES — game. Celebrity copywriter Shigesato Itoi managed to convince Shigeru Miyamoto that an RPG set in a contemporary setting instead of high medieval fantasy could work. The sequel, later released in the US as EarthBound in 1995, was met with financial disappointment despite praise from critics.
As a result, the last entry in the series, Mother 3, became the most elusive part of the trilogy for Western fans. It was released in Japan way back in 2006 for the Game Boy Advance and has never received an official English localization.
Expectations are definitely high regarding new EarthBound announcements, considering the Mother series history. Unfortunately, if we look back, things might tell a more grounded, less exciting story. In Japan, the franchise has shifted its focus to nostalgic goods in recent years, rather than releasing new games. Or, you know, an official global release for Mother 3.
Since EarthBound Beginnings for Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo keep pumping out various goods and merchandise. Such as the Mother x Converse shoes collaboration to mark the third game’s 30th anniversary or the Lawson Ichiban Kuji lottery campaign in late 2024.
As for what this ‘series of announcements’ might include, fans are cautiously optimistic as Nintendo itself has not issued any official statement. For now, EarthBound fans are doing what they do best: hoping against hope.
