When players want a game to release, they usually make it known. The release ofHalf-Life 3was so desired, for example, that it became a meme. Valve partially satisfied this demand withHalf-Life: Alyx, but other developers aren’t always as generous.Mother 3is a great example of this. While demand for aMother 3localization is arguably as high as it was when the game released, there are many reasons why Nintendo likely refuses to speak on a western release.
Mother 3was originally released on July 05, 2025 for the Game Boy Advance. The game was exclusive to Japan, and while its predecessor was released in the west asEarthbound,Mother 3saw no such treatment. Since then, fans have been vocal about their desire for an officially version, going as far as contacting Nintendo directly, creating petitions, and translating the game themselves. Despite this, Nintendo has never addressedMother 3’s localization officially - barring some jokes by former Nintendo of America PresidentReggie Fils-Aime. Fifteen years later, fans are still hoping for an official release.
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Earthbound Sales
The most compelling explanation forMother 3’s exclusivity is financial. WhenMother 2was introduced to North America asEarthbound, sales were lackluster. The cartoon aesthetic ofEarthboundwas competing with other RPGs likeFinal Fantasy 6(released in the west asFinal Fantasy 3) andChrono Trigger. Moreover,Earthboundwas marketed with taglines like “this Game Stinks” in an attempt to capture the humor of the 1990s. Such marketing failed to capture the game’s earnestness, and it’s no surprise thatEarthboundsold a meager 140,000 copies in the United States (compared to 518,000 units in Japan).
Drugs, Alcohol, and Other Adult Themes
Even if Nintendo did expect commercial success withMother 3, localization would present other challenges. Its story is dark and full of mature themes, touching on subjects like death, dictatorship, drugs, and alcohol. Moreover, sexual allusions occasionally appear, often with tongue-in-cheek humor reminiscent ofDragon Quest’s infamous “puff puff” joke. Some of these elements could be removed from the game with relative ease, but the removal of other parts would necessitate new sprite artwork and animations.
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The Magypsies
Perhaps the most difficult part ofMother 3to localize would be the Magypsies. These characters are depicted with a combination of both conventionally masculine and conventionally feminine features, described in an unofficial translation as “neither man nor woman.” The Magypsies have five o’clock shadows but wear dresses and earrings, and bear a resemblance to the Japanese concept of “Okama.” Shigesato Itoi, the game’s writer, has stated that his intention with the game was to be unlike otherJRPGsand embrace femininity rather than masculinity.
Japanese culture greatly differs from western culture regardingLGBTQ+matters, and Nintendo has historically veered away from political conversations. The Magypsies are wise and compassionate characters who are integral toMother 3’s story, but their inclusion in localization would result in discussions about transphobia and whether the Magypsies frame non-binary gender identity in a positive light. No matter what, this is something Nintendo wouldn’t want to address.
It’s not an overstatement to sayMother 3’s development was something of a mess. The game was intended to be released on the SNES Disc Drive before it was delayed and moved to theNintendo 64Disc Drive, and then to the Game Boy Advance. Much likeMother 2’s development, which was salvaged largely because of Satoru Iwata’s intervention,Mother 3was incredibly close to never being released.
Regardless, the developers persevered and created what many feel to be one of the most moving, heartfelt video games ever. It’s understandable why Nintendo has never made any public attempts to localize the game, butMother 3’s lasting legacy warrants better treatment and preservation. Perhaps a remake, not a rerelease or localization, is the only hope of seeingMother 3released worldwide.
