A Mother without Itoi?

Earlier in the week, we mentioned that the most recent issue of Nintendo Dream had a feature on the 30th anniversary of the Mother series. In that feature was an interview with Yasuhiro Nagata, the editor in chief for “Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun,” a website hosted by Shigesato Itoi. In a portion of the interview, a discussion of the potential for Mother 4 comes up. You can see the full discussion below, translated by JapaneseNintendo.

ND: Later after that, the information magazine BRUTUS published a dialogue between Itoi-san and Iwata-san about “MOTHER 4 is not being made”. That was also Nagata-san[‘s doing], right?

Nagata: I was in charge of the interview and its composition. The fact that “MOTHER 4 is not being released” itself has been told here and there, and we’ve always said it

ND: So after that feature came out, you’re not getting asked about it anymore?

Nagata: We get asked. It’s already shaped like a staple; even now we still keep getting asked about MOTHER 4 and the “buried treasure” (laughs)

ND: What is the current answer regarding that?

Nagata: Our stance is that it’s already impossible for Itoi to create it, and we’d be glad if someone else creates it. This has never changed either.

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If Mother 4 were to ever happen, and Itoi wasn't involved, what team would you want to take it up? Is there anyone out there you'd consider worthy?