Where were you approximately 1,000 days ago? While it might not seem long ago, it actually dates back to 25th January 2019 and you know what that day was, right? Yep, on this particular day in Nintendo history, development on the highly anticipated release Metroid Prime 4 was restarted.
Nintendo's Senior Managing Executive Officer, Shinya Takahashi, delivered the news in an "open and honest" video message - admitting development progress at the time had not reached the standard Nintendo expected from the Metroid Prime series.
While it was tough news to hear for many Metroid fans around the globe, there was some good information to come out of this update - the return of Retro Studios. It would now take charge of the project, working alongside the game's producer, Kensuke Tanabe - who promised the game would stand "shoulder to shoulder" with past Metroid Prime entries.
So, what development updates have we had since Metroid Prime 4 got delayed? Well, Retro Studios has been recruiting a hell of a lot of top-tier talent - with some individuals previously working on projects like God of War (2018), Borderlands 3, Halo, Call of Duty Black Ops, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Grand Theft Auto.
Apart from ongoing recruitments, we haven't really heard much else. Takahashi did reconfirm in June this year though how Nintendo was still "working hard" on the latest entry. It has now also technically been more than four years since Metroid Prime 4 was announced! If you are craving some Metroid action, you can always check out the recent release Metroid Dread (co-developed by Spanish studio, MercurySteam) on the Nintendo Switch.
When do you think we'll see Metroid Prime 4? Take a guess down below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 108
It'll probably be another 1,000 till they're ready to show it off.
How long was It from the announcement of Bayonetta 3 until the first trailer?
Well, for now we're well served with Dread, but I hope this is coming out around holiday 2022. It's been forever.
God, has it been that long since the development update? The years really are flying by.
Cue sense of existential dread
I'm guessing this'll be a cross-gen release with whatever Ninty's next console is. Hopefully around 2023 or so.
I'm pretty sure they will hold it for Switch's succesor (not the idiotic "Switch Pro", but Switch 2 or whatever is called). They have done that before where they keep a game in development for current hardware but move them to the next one so it can have a juicy library.
I really hope not though. I want to play this on my current switch.
No news is good news?
Games take longer and longer to develop. Unless ur EA releasing the same game each year. Years are passing like the rain. I expect it to be cross-gen like Zelda BOTW for Switch 2
Samus' new armor stuck on multiple container ships parked off the California coast.
I don't expect a new 3d metroid on the Switch anymore. - pandemic delay fatigue.
Metroid Prime 4000 days later.
We've had two full Metroid games release between the Metroid Prime 4 reveal and the Metroid Prime 4 trailer.
Kinda odd that it took this long but if you are just following the main entry then you already got your Metroid story filled. Unless you want to follow the Prime saga this game may be the final chapter in that sub-series.
I’m still really happy with their choice to be honest with fans and fully restart development. They ate the money they spent on the first build which is RARE to see so… I can wait. They earned the patience in my opinion.
I doubt that we'll get an update before the holidays. Nintendo wouldn't want to risk hurting the sales numbers for Metroid Dread.
@DK-Fan Yeap and Nintendo had done that on five occassions already. Pokemon Gold and Silver release as late Game Boy titles but also got an exclusive version early for Game Boy Color as Pokemon Crystal. Donkey Kong Country released as a late GBC title but as an early GBA released. Animal Forest released at the end of N64 life cycle but released early on GameCube as Animal Crossing.
Twilight Princess released at the end of GameCube life cycle but early on Wii. Then Monster Hunter Tri released at end of Wii life cycle but early for Wii U as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Breath of the Wild as final Wii U game but as a launch title for Switch. Even if they release the game on their next-gen system, it's likely they'll keep the Switch version too just like Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess so those who are still waiting to play it on Switch could still do so.
My guess is that they release it somewhat a year after BOTW 2.
@DK-Fan Good point, but the Switch has a massive install base. Not including Metroid Prime 4 would be absolutely insane. Although, I will admit, I don't think that Prime 4 will release until near the end of the Switch's lifecycle.
With Metroid Dread just released, it's obvious why they won't show a MP4 trailer until 2023 perhaps.
I hope back in 2019 Nintendo realized the Switch just wasn’t the platform for this game. Games releasing today are absolute technical marvels. Its jaw dropping what’s possible today. How would a 3D Metroid built around a phones SoC from 2014 compare in 2023/2024?
With the technical talent behind this project, all signs point to Prime 4 being a launch title to Nintendo’s next console. And if that’s the case holy hell I’m all in
Metroid Prime 4 is effectively a game that started development in 2019, not 2017. Treat it as such, because we're still ways away.
I struggle to have excitement for this game. The events of Federation Force, its prequel, may end up with a retcon, and I really do not want this game to require buying the next generation system for. I'm still hoping Prime 4 will be a 2022 title.
It's been like 2000 days since pikmin4 was almost finished, so it may be a while. In the meantime, please look forward to Metroid Prime: Federation Force 2 featuring Blast Ball.
They just released Dread. I assume Zelda news is next. Age of Calamity DLC releases next month.
Probably spring/fall 2023 along with the new switch 🤷🏽♂️
I'm letting them take there time, They have great people working on this, so I think the wait will be worth it.
I do wonder sometimes how much it really costs them to develop a game for such a long time and if they really get all the costs out of it once it finally is ready to go on sale. I mean I'm sure it differs from game to game but still.
This game is going to disappoint whenever it does release sadly. Personally I just want an HD continuation of what we got with 1-3, along with a good multiplayer mode building on what the DS was able to do 15 years ago.
According to Amazon, I pre-ordered this title on August 27, 2018
DAY 1,000! GIVE IT UP FOR DAY 1,000!
Oh, I reckon we are still a good 2 years away. In fact, I'm tipping this game will be this current Switch's swan song (with an enhanced version for the next Switch.)
@Specter_of-the_OLED I don't follow, Pokémon Gold and Silver were GBC games but retro- compatible for black and wite GB, they never released any GBC exclusive afterward. DKC were SNES games. And yes, they were ported to GB, then GBC and then GBA, but how is that remotely comaprable to BOTW or Twillight princess being cross-gen? It's just not the same.
As for Metroid Prim 4, making it an exclusive Switch 2 game would be a immense mistake. When it will release, the install base of the Switch will, at very least, be 120 millions, impossible that Nintendo will ignore that.
I'm still waiting for Metroid 64.
@McGruber why is it going to disappoint? Cause it’s too hyped or because Retro Studios can’t deliver?
I actually don’t think I can be disappointed by the game.I’m too much of a fanboy and have too much confidence in Retro.
Well we just got Dread then next year either Metroid Prime remaster or (hopefully) Metroid Prime Trilogy will come out. Then i expect MP4 to be late 2023, one of the last big first party releases on Switch before a successor comes out in 2024.
I'm more curious as to know how hard Bandai Namco sucked at getting the formula right before they were canned.
Otherwise known as vapourware
I'm afraid were going to need to buy the next console for this one or it will be cross-gen like twilight princess and breath of the wild
Cheers to another 1,000!
Hmmm, I wonder how much development is required before they have something ready to show for it?
Cursed production.
I'm not even sure I -want- to see what they're making anymore.
It's probably a black hole.
Just want the trilogy on physical switch please
Lets hope they show it at E3 2022! But yeah, this could become a Switch 2 launch-title. That's probably also the reason why we still don't have Botw 2, it will also be a Switch 2 launch-title.
I am wondering if Nintendo also lets Mercury steam work on Prime 4. Of course you shouldn't have to much cooks in the kitchen, but we'll wait and see.
Don't expect to see Prime 4 until 2023.
Metroid Dread and the rumored Metroid Prime 1 remaster/remake for next year will suffice for now.
My question is, is a 1000 days on track for a game of that apparent magnitude?
I have lost interest anyway. Since Dread got a 10/10 is can only be downhill for 4.
If they're having technical difficulties they could just push it to Nintendo's next system. That's my theory about Breath of the Wild 2 also. It could end up being like Breath of the Wild 1 with it's simultaneous release on Wii U and Switch, but maybe the new Nintendo system will be able to run it at 120fps! Hopefully! (docked, at least, I hope!)
Given GB is the only Nintendo system that had the successor launch over 6 years after launch, it feels like the Switch's successor is launching in either holiday 2022 or early 2023 with BotW 2 being a launch title. Prime 4 will probably be re-revealed around the same time as the hardware reveal and I'd guess released around fall/holiday 2023.
@Dethmunk GTA6 won't exist, GTAV will be a launch title for the PS10 in like 2050
Development was restarted before 1000 days ago. That was just the announcement. Retro had developed a prototype by the point of the announcement.
Announced way too early imo
@NEStalgia FYI, it has been 2,219 days since Miyamoto said Pikmin 4 was close to completion; six years, one month, and exactly one week.
We've only just seen a trailer for Bayonetta 3 that was announced the same time. So give them another two years. I've hated the Switch years alot more than i thought i would.
Still my most wanted game on any format! The Prime series was incredible. I'm happy to wait, it'll be worth it.
I think we'll definitely see it at E3 next year for a 2023 release.
I reckon in the first direct of the year we'll also get an announcement for the Prime Trilogy or a Dread expansion for a September 2022 release.
@rushiosan it's definitely not coming out next year. We'll probably see Metroid Prime 1 definitive edition.
@120frames-please "but maybe the new Nintendo system will be able to run it at 120fps"
Surely this must be some kinda of joke?
They could pull a Zelda and make it an intergenerational release, but I’ve no doubt they will want this game to hit the Switch install base much much more than use it to market a new console as they have bigger IP for that.
This must be what's happened with the new Indiana Jones film too.
@Ralizah "I'm guessing this'll be a cross-gen release with whatever Ninty's next console is. Hopefully around 2023 or so."
HA! i've been thinking this more and more with MP4, Zelda and (presumably) Mario all suddenly taking longer than expected.
@Paulo I hope the first MP4 trailer will not be as underwhelming as Bayonetta 3's first trailer
with the profissionals of the highest calibre Retro Studios is hiring to work on Metroid Prime 4, Metroid Prime 4 is gonna be a genre defyining game just like Metroid Prime and Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, holiday 2023 is when i expect Metroid Prime 4 is gonna release on Switch, with it reveal/gameplay trailer at E3 2022.
@westman98 No, that would be dreamy. Zelda at 720p 120fps would be quite the slice of heaven to me.
This is kind of a joke, at least in the ridiculous flourishes: My fervent prayer is that developers and publishers will repent of their static resolution ways. They will see the light and accept the truth of the all pervasive importance of Temporal resolution. High static resolutions are only useful for things like paintings, drawings, stationary static digital images, and stuff like that. High temporal resolutions are useful for videogames, TV shows, movies, and all moving and flowing images.
anyways, I'm just having fun here. I do adore 120fps visuals, but maybe Nintendo will never release something that can play at high frame rates. We shall see.
@Octane LOL! Not that you're keeping track or anything.....
@120frames-please
PS5 and Xbox Series X only do 120 FPS for a select handful of games (none of which are open-world), and you expect a Switch 2 - a small hybrid platform using mobile hardware a running on a battery - to do the same for a big 3D Zelda game?
You are only setting yourself up for disappointment.
@westman98 disappointment at 120fps for sure
@Grumblevolcano Switch is the ONLY Nintendo console to be on sale during a 2 year long global pandemic that has put a big hurt on the chip supply chain and worldwide transportation industry. Have you seen people trying to purchase disc based PS5 and XSX a year after launch? And cars. And food. And pretty much everything else. So while I agree with you the original plan 5 years ago was for Switch 2 next year or early 2023 the circumstances have changed. I remember all the time on Pushsquare people predicting the PS5 would come out in 2018 or 2019, and that was before the pandemic. Now? Who knows? 🤷♂️
One thing that does dictate hardware timeliness that not nearly enough people talk about is games. PS5 was expected earlier b/c PS4 was running out of AAA games after Horizon, GoW, and TLOU2, but those games saw some delays and took forever to release. So maybe Nintendo milks their line-up for an extra year, holiday season 2023 or spring 2024. Bayonetta 3, Pikmin 4, BotW 2, Splatoon 3, MP4, all games without dates. They just delayed Advance Wars several months, no new date, and those are remakes of GB games. So as Disney is doing with it's many delayed Marvel movies I can see Nintendo delaying their planned Switch 2 launch by a year while the world tries to establish a new normal. GoW2 and GT7 are on PS4 for a reason, the world ain't right. Gives OLED an extra year to shine.
@Octane @NEStalgia You guys are killing me with the Pikmin 4 posts, twisting the dagger, twist, twist. 😝
@Dethmunk this is the thing. People will say to us in the comment section “just show us a screenshot Nintendo???!???!?”, even though we’re not Nintendo. If Nintendo obliges then we’ll get “urgh, looks like a PS2 game. Deep deep discount or I’ll emulate it on PC…”
Probably another 1,000 until release. Unfortunately :’(
At least we got Dread in the meantime. Wouldn’t hurt to give us Switch port of original Prime Trilogy too Nintendo, please!
Launch game the next Nintendo console.
Take your time! After Metroid Dread hit every spot, a new Prime game would just be icing on the cake. Eating my third helping now...
1000 days since they announced that development had restarted. It had probably restarted some time before.
Yes It does make me wonder if Metroid 4 will be a launch title for the next generation Nintendo system.
I'm glad we got Dread at least this year. But, Nintendo has gotta give us Prime Trilogy HD to hold us over while we wait forever for Prime 4.
Metroid Prime 4 was the Nintendo game that had me most excited for several years. Metroid Prime (1) was the first Metroid game that I played. Will this and Breath of the Wild 2 become Switch Advance titles? Because...
@NEStalgia "...It's been like 2000 days since pikmin4 was almost finished, so it may be a while. In the meantime, please look forward to Metroid Prime: Federation Force 2 featuring Blast Ball."
Ha, ha. Pikmin 4 is probably a Wii U game that doesn't work on Switch and that will be released in 2031.
It's either dead or going to be Cyberpunk 2077 deal. That game has been scratched and restarted as well and it resulted in a game that has been rushed despite being nearly a decade in development.
At this point it’ll either end up the swan song game for Switch or the launch title for the next console (or both). I’m beyond happy it’s coming either way
@BlueOcean Oooh Switch Advance, I like that!
@westman98 I think there's over 90 games on Xbox series X that run at 120fps, not just a handful. Because of the need for low wattage/long battery life I don't expect a hypothetical new Nintendo portable to display at 120fps in handheld. It would be possible to have a Super Dock that could run wt least some games at 120fps. I'm just saying it would be beautiful to behold. Games running locked at 120fps have a grace and beauty I've never seen before. It's magical looking! I just want to see that Nintendo magic mixed with that incredible smoothness!
reading this comments section gets me so hyped for Metroid Prime 4, Pikmin 4, Breath of the Wild 2, and Bayonetta 3! I don't care how long they take to develop. I just want them to be AAA releases whenever they're finally completed. When you look at how continuously popular games like Mario Kart 8, Breath of the Wild, and GTA V are it makes sense to just polish and polish until you've created an irresistible game.
that's nothing look at Hunter x Hunter at the moment and this will make it look like a saint.
@larryisanassman Thanks! Ha ha. I just read that the next Nintendo console will launch in late 2022-early 2023 (as I predicted on the Nintendo Switch a few days ago) and that it's not backwards compatible yet but it's just a rumour. They are working on the Advance part now so it works with Switch games 😅.
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/nintendo-switch-2-report-bad-news/#:~:text=New%20Nintendo%20Switch%202%20Report%20Has%20Bad%20News,release%20sometime%20between%20holiday%202022%20and%20early%202023.
@McGruber you can’t possibly know whether this game will disappoint when it releases.
@liljazzy2 I know about as much as you. It's my opinion lol
I understand that. That’s why I’m not predicting what the quality of the game will be. To do so would be to formulate an incredibly uninformed opinion.
If the delay to restart the game hadn't happened then Prime 4 could have released around the same time as Dread, and Nintendo couldn't have two Metroid games release in the same period could they. Makes you wonder.
Would not be surprised if pushed to next console at this point. This project was a mess. At least Metroid fans got Dread for this generation.
Just like BoW this will be Cross Gen. The launch title for Switch 2 and the Swan Song of the current Switch. 2023.
@ModdedInkling 1000 days have passed since the delay in 2019
Metroid Prime 4 replaced Metroid Dread as the Metroid game in development hell. Metroid Dread was in development hell for 16 years so Metroid Prime 4 won't release until 2033 if Nintendo has something to replace Metroid Prime 4 on that year.
@mezoomozaa
There's a difference between a delay and simply restarting. A delay takes the exact same game and makes major improvements on it. A restart is what it is; starting all over from scratch. That's why I'm pretending that this game started development in 2019, because that's technically what actually happened.
A real delay would be Breath of the Wild. 2015 release date, which was then pushed back to 2016 due to performance issues, then 2017 just to align with the Switch's release. I also suspect Bayonetta 3 may have went through a quiet delay.
I'm still holding out hope for Prime HD on Switch, and Prime 4 eventually. And I'd love to see behind the scenes: what they originally had, what they scrapped and what took so long
I'm still basking in the glow of dread. It'll be quite a while before I whine about metroid.
Psst, Nintendo Life, Metroid Cinematica Recharged is coming out. Might be worth a look.
More accurately: It Has Now Been 1,000 Days Since We Were Told Metroid Prime 4's Development Would Be Restarted
At the point where Takahashi Shinya made the announcement, Retro Studios probably still were in the phase of scrambling to organize themselves, assemble a base team and even plan for who else they'd need to hire during development. This is consistent with the studio's constant hiring of key positions throughout the months as well as their change of office, among others.
Huge difference between that and pretending they were all on their seats already and getting work done. In other words, '1000 days' is sensationalist and this has been in the oven for a shorter time.
@LinkSword Or they announced the reboot after telling the studio.
This is the FFXV of Nintendo. It happens when you announce logos, not games. I hope that tendecy dies. Better assume this will be ready next gen.
This game is not coming out until 2023. In 2022 we'll get MP Trilogy HD, and also many HUGE titles like the new Zelda, Pokemon Legends, Splatoon 3, Bayonetta 3, Kirby, the new Monolith title, and a new Super Mario 3D ala Odyssey (it's time already). It will be packed, they have to leave something for 2023 XD.
Let's hope we can see a trailer in the first half of 2022, though.
@BlueOcean That's not an 'or', it's what I was implying.
@LinkSword OK.
I would love to get an E3 F-zero logo with a 10 years delayed release (cries in a lonely corner)
I don't think they'll announce or show anything until Dread sales die down enough. Why muddy the waters?
I hope they release the Metroid Prime Trilogy HD remaster that's been rumoured some time soon... That should hold off hungry fans for another 365 days at least...
Guys and gals, I think we need to face facts...
Prime 4 might be in trouble. Even with development restarted at Retro, where it should have been from the beginning (god job with that, Nintendo), it feels like if they had anything to show, they would have shown something by now. Not even a full trailer, a teaser, a screenshot, some concept art, even a little interview with someone at Retro detailing any aspect of what it's going to be. Literally anything...
BotW was announced FOUR YEARS before it released and we got lots of little looks to keep people thinking/talking about it. Prime 4 was announced four years ago, and we know literally nothing...and that's worrisome.
To that point, I'm starting to think we might not even be getting that Prime Trilogy port everyone wants, basically for the same reasons. It's been rumored for so long now that if it actually existed, in any form, we'd certainly have seen or heard something by now...especially considering we've heard so many conflicting rumors (i.e. it's been done for ages and Nintendo is sitting on it, and a former Retro devs saying a port if basically impossible).
I dunno, more and more I'm starting to think that after the original version of Prime 4 was scrapped and development moved to Retro, I think it's still very, very early in development because Nintendo wanted to wait and see how Dread did before 100% committing to another Metroid.
Call me crazy, but something about the development cycle of Prime 4 just feels fishy. I desperately hope I'm wrong, but I suppose we'll just have to keep waiting and see what happens.
Retro Studios have contributed greatly to a lot of games since Prime 3, but haven't had the leadership to create 3D games, especially on the scale of a Prime game. There was a reason why Nintendo ignored Retro and tried to make Prime 4 in house.
I just hope Retro was able to bolster it's severely lacking leadership which is what has been holding it back. I hope they have found a good replacement for Mark Pacini and I am wrong and they deliver a game worthy of the Prime name.
@GeneJacket A lot of Prime fans, ignore the simple fact that Nintendo intentionally ignored Retro Studios, the company that made Prime 1-3, the first time around. They did so intentionally because the directors left at Retro Studios aren't capable of making a Prime game. I caught a lot of hate years ago when I pointed out this simple fact. It hurts but is true, the company can still make great games and has worked on some great stuff, but even then their time frame on delivery isn't great.
Donkey Kong Country Returns took 3 years, Tropical Freeze took almost 4 years with diverting to help develop Mario Kart 7. This was with the groundwork already done and should have been much faster for the sequel. I once again blame leadership. whether you like Mark Pacini or not, he was able to deliver even while the toxic founder Jeff Spangenberg was toppling the company down on the developers. Retro Studios barely survived and only because Nintendo forced Jeff out of the company he created. This was in 2002 nearing the launch of the first Prime and the company continued to crumble right up until the Prime 3 launch, when Mark Pacini left. They have struggled to fill those roles and repair the damage that Jeff created to this day. Fanboys ignore all of that and pretend it is the same company.
@the_beaver Nintendo doesn't work this way, pushing games back two years so the schedule isn't empty. Otherwise the last few years would have had massive ups in releases versus the droughts of game releases.
@LinkSword Pretending that any healthy company is constantly bleeding massive amounts of developers is ignorance. Retro Studios has been losing people since Jeff the corrupt founder was forced out that much is beyond true, but thinking this is normal for all companies...
Guys Nintendo wants us to develop Donkey Kong Country Returns, ok we just lost 10 key people, so get to hiring before we can even start. Released Returns now they want us to help on Mario Kart 7. Ok lost 15 key people get to hiring and let them know we can start in six months once we get our ducks in order. Mario Kart 7 is out, ok now they want a sequel to Returns, damn it, we just lost another 25 key people, back to hiring and let them know we can start in another 6 months. Your logic in how game development works is puzzling. Once a game is announced it has been under development for at least 6-12 months. Once Prime 4 was announced to be scrapped and shifted to Retro Studios, the work was done and started for many months prior.
Pretending Retro Studios just heard the announcement of work on Prime 4 when we did and were scrambling to hire and didn't start any work for another 6-12 months. That is pure ignorance to justify hearing nothing after two year. They had to hire more key people as they do for every game cycle before they can even start to work on it a year later...
@ModdedInkling That is quite literally what happened. The problem is we haven't heard anything since, which is not a good sign, especially on a game that has such hype. Nintendo doesn't just announce and launch a game in a year. It involves constant updates with trailers at trade shows. The fact that they have shown nothing speaks volumes. The fact that Dread even exists, shows how they knew a gap was going to exist and Prime probably won't launch until 2023-2024.
I still think they should just hold off until Nintendo has hardware that can atleast match Xbox One with 4K. That way, the game can atleast isn't held back
Seriously!!! They might as well say that the game has taken too long and they won't be making it anymore, right?
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