Nintendo Offers Metroid, Mother 3 Fans a Glimmer of Hope

Nintendo's Switch presentation has come and gone with no sign from some of the dormant series that fans continue to clamor for--things like Metroid and Mother/Earthbound. Even Arby's is disappointed. And while there still hasn't been anything announced, that doesn't mean you should lose all hope.

Speaking with GameSpot in New York City today, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime knew where we going with one particular question before we could even finish asking. No doubt having heard the request many times over the years, when we mentioned that some franchises have languished in the shadows, Fils-Aime essentially asked the question of himself.

"Oh, so earlier today I got asked about Mother 3; maybe you can ask me about Metroid," he said jovially. "Look, again, I am proud as an executive with Nintendo to say that we look at all of the boards and all of the comments and we really have a good understanding of what our consumers want. And believe me, we take that to heart as we work to create content.

"So I have nothing to announce--here. But we are aware that there are some key IP that consumers just can't wait for the next true installment in that franchise's legacy. Suffice it to say, we're aware of it, and talk to me in a year and let's look back and see what's happened."

That's hardly confirmation that a western release of Mother 3 or a new Metroid will be announced this year, but it will have to be enough for fans for the time being.

There has already been criticism of what's viewed as a fairly thin launch lineup for Switch. Elsewhere in our interview, Fils-Aime noted that one lesson Nintendo learned from Wii U was the importance of when games are released.

He referenced that it's essential to have "a regular cadence of critical launches to drive the install base and keep the consumer base engaged." Nintendo thinks Wii U had a great lineup of games, but with Switch, it hopes to avoid having those "large gaps" between releases.

With much of Nintendo's presentation focused on games coming in the next year, it could just be waiting for the right time to announce a new Metroid, Mother, or entry in some other dormant franchise. At this point, only time will tell.

For a full recap of everything we've learned about Switch, check out our roundup.