Has Nintendo provided the final nail in the coffin for Xenoblade's prospects of a western release?

Will Xenoblade ever get released outside Japan? We can guarantee that Nintendo made their minds up whether it will or not months ago, but the company has been frustratingly tight-lipped as ever.

The only sliver of hope western gamers had to go on thus far was the recurrence of 'Monado: Beginning of the World' on NOA release lists - the game's initial title as it was revealed all the way back at E3 2009 - though admittedly with a vague "TBA" date. But it looks like that last thread of hope may have been yanked from our clutches, as Nintendo's official American website has yanked the generic 'Monado' listing from its pages, without explanation.

Without any other word on the state of the game, the sign is not a good one. It could well be Nintendo merely tying up a loose end, deleting any official mention of the title from the archives of the western media. Then again, perhaps Nintendo removed the entry to gear up for an official unveiling of a fully localised Xenoblade. One could still clutch to straws - it would certainly be the biggest 'pleasant surprise' from Nintendo's western divisions in recent years.

Either way, we just wish Nintendo would put out an official statement to put the matter to rest...