Surprise! Nintendo has just announced that Earthbound is out on the Wii U's Virtual Console today. It'll cost you $10.


Earthbound's strategy guide is also available on the official website, and optimized for the Wii U's GamePad.

Originally released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo, Earthbound has gained status as a cult classic over the past two decades. Although it was released for the Wii's Virtual Console in Japan, the quirky RPG has never come back to the U.S. in any other form, rendering original SNES cartridges quite valuable on eBay and other secondhand markets. Until now.


Back in April, Nintendo surprised fans when they said Earthbound would come to the Wii U's Virtual Console in North America this year. This is Earthbound's first digital appearance here.