The anticipated fourth installment of Nintendo’s Metroid series, has finally received an update regarding its development. Now announced to release this year, the game has also received an official title, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.”
Article: “Metroid” is a video game series developed by Nintendo starring a character named Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who travels space hunting space pirates. The Metroid series had roots going back to the original Nintendo in 1988. Over the years between 1988 and 1994, Nintendo released three metroid games on other systems such as the Gameboy and Super Nintendo. After a couple of years of hiatus, the Metroid series was revived on the Nintendo Gamecube in 2002 with “Metroid Prime” after not releasing a game during the late ‘90s on the Nintendo 64. “Metroid Prime” was revolutionary for the Metroid series. Combined with a first person shooter, nonlinear progression, realistic style and graphics, it saw instant success on the system. Nintendo later released “Metroid Prime 2: Echoes” and “Metroid Prime 3: Corruption” on the Nintendo Gamecube and Wii in 2004 and 2007. The Metroid Prime series influenced the “Metroidvania” genre of games by adding a 3D environment and nonlinear progression into the gameplay unlike the traditional 2D style of the games.
“Metroid Prime 4” was originally announced in 2017 and didn’t receive any updates on the development of the game until two years later in 2019. Executive officer and corporate director of Nintendo, Shinya Takahashi mentioned that the lead producer of the game had decided to restart development in order to reach development standards and to start developing the game with Retro Studios, who also worked on the original Metroid Prime trilogy. Takahashi mentioned this during a Nintendo Direct on Jan. 25, 2019: “Specifically, we have decided to have the producer, Kensuke Tanabe, work in trust and collaboration with the studio that developed the original Metroid Prime series, Retro Studios in the United States, and restarting development from the beginning.” Ever since this announcement, no updates regarding the game were mentioned until Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025. A new trailer for the game was released showcasing the new environments in the game, new mechanics such as psychic abilities for Samus, and a confirmed release in 2025. Although “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” was only mentioned for a release on the Nintendo Switch in the new trailer, fans of the series are wondering if “Metroid Prime 4” will see a Nintendo Switch 2 release.
On Wednesday April. 2, Nintendo revealed more details on their upcoming console including the games planned to release as launch titles and during the summer. One feature that was mentioned in the announcement were Nintendo Switch 2 editions for select Nintendo Switch titles. If you already owned a game on the original Switch you can upgrade it to the Switch 2 versions for enhanced graphics and content. The games included for this as of now are titles such as “Super Mario Party Jamboree”, “Kirby and the Forgotten Land”, “Pokémon Legends Z-A”, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild/Tears of the Kingdom”, and “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” will have their own Switch 2 version with upgraded graphics and performance for the newer more powerful console. Although the Nintendo Switch 2’s pre-order date was delayed a few days after the release date for the system was announced. This was revealed in a statement on April 5, 2025 from Nintendo that “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.” The tariffs and pre-order delay won’t affect the launch date of the system or the price. An updated announcement on April 11, further pushed back the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date to May 8, 2025 in the U.S and Canada.
Overall, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” has finally seen a confirmed release within this year after years of delay and development issues, as well as receiving an upgraded version for Nintendo Switch 2 systems. The game is most likely going to see a late spring release on the original Nintendo Switch before releasing on Switch 2.
