Metroid is surely one of Nintendo's most important games. The first game came out in Japan in 1986 and reached the USA in 1987, making the NES controllers work hard and changing gaming forever with its special mix of exploring and adventuring. Together with Castlevania, it created the term "Metroidvania." This phrase still describes games that feature large, connected worlds that promote exploration, often without a clear goal, while slowly unlocking new areas through gaining new skills or items.
The Shift to 3D
In 2002, Nintendo brought the Metroid series into the 3D realm for the first time with Metroid Prime, which was a huge moment in gaming history. The latest edition, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, debuted on the Nintendo Wii in 2007, leaving fans eagerly waiting for nearly twenty years for a new game. At last, in June 2024, the anticipation ended: Nintendo released the announcement trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, showing gameplay and bringing back Samus Aran.
A Bumpy Road to Release
However, the path to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond wasn’t easy. It was first announced at E3 2017, but faced a big challenge in 2019 when Nintendo opted to start from scratch. In a video, Shinya Takahashi shared that they had restarted development with a different studio in charge. While the delay was tough for fans, many appreciated Nintendo's transparency and honesty during the whole situation.
Updates on the Future
The announcement trailer already stated that Metroid Prime 4 will come out in 2025, but not much information has come out since then. Recently, there's been a tiny update: the official Metroid Prime 4 website now says “Coming soon.” Even though the exact meaning isn't clear, it suggests that the sequel to this legendary series might be available in the first part of the year instead of later. A release that aligns with the expected March 2025 launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 seems very likely.
