Long-awaited Mother localization coming to North America as Earthbound Beginnings

Tucked away in the pre-show leading up to the Nintendo World Championships 2015, Nintendo made an unforseen announcement that, frankly, was unnecessary but very much loved. A shocker, even.

More than 20 years since its debut on the Famicom in 1989, the previously Japan-only release of Mother will now be making its way to the Wii U Virtual Console under the new name, Earthbound Beginnings, completely localized for the North American audience. Series creator Shigesato Itoi delivered the news over a special pre-filmed message, taking a moment to also express his satisfaction with its legacy.

As of next month, it will have been two years since Earthbound (known as Mother 2 in Japan) launched for the Wii U Virtual Console — a dream come true for hordes of Nintendo fans. Now with the original game on the service, dreamers can for the first time play the entry that started what may once have been considered a lost relic in Nintendo's history.

Nintendo felt we waited long enough for this to materialize — and not another day. Earthbound Beginnings is now available for $6.99 on the Nintendo eShop.

To be sure, Mother 3's localization is looking less and less like an impossibility.