The Wii U is a console released by Nintendo in November 2012. In Japan, it is the second console that all Mother games can be played on, the first one being the Game Boy Advance.
Nonetheless, EarthBound was re-released to an ecstatic Japan audience in March 20, 2013 for the virtual console. Following that, in a Nintendo Direct presentation April 17, 2013, it was stated EarthBound was due for an international (re)release sometime late 2013. This marks its very first appearance to European audiences. Also, Nintendo announced EarthBound Beginnings to be a Virtual Console title for Wii U at the Nintendo World Championships 2015. It launched at the same day. On December 17, 2015, Mother 3 was released as a Virtual Console title in Japan only, even the fan translation is not available on the Wii U in the United Kingdom as both games have the same languages.
The fourth entry of the Super Smash Bros. series featured Ness as a playable character and Lucas as a DLC character as well as Onett as a stage and several trophies, music tracks and items from the Mother series.