Retro Studios Seeking Three Product Testers And A Storyboard Artist

This game better worth all the stress they're going through.

Soon Retro will have enough employees to begin making metroid prime 4. Then it will be only 3 or 4 years until release.

Wouldn't it hurt Nintendo to just give us the Metroid Prime Trilogy or a new Metroid 5 while we're waiting for this game? Just cause you couldn't give us the main dish yet doesn't mean you couldn't give us the appetizer as well.

Looks like we see something in 2021 after all.

I wonder if it going to something like a PvP style game.

Who cares anymore? It’s now just Retro Studios in name working on it. They’ve had two years and we’ve seen nothing. They have three excellent blueprints and still can’t figure out what to do. This game is going to end up being a colossal disappointment. Hiring all this “talent” for a game that will sell 3 million tops and then Nintendo will forget the series exists for another decade.

I think I’d rather JUST have Prime Trilogy HD than getting whatever this ****show ends up being. Bad call, Nintendo. Should’ve never even mentioned it.

"Help define emotional scenes that will resonate with audiences"

Thanks, I'll lower my expectations accordingly.

Storyboard artist? Wouldn’t that be one of the first things? Surely they had a story, concept art and an idea of where they wanted things to go before this long into development? Maybe we’ll get Metroid Prime Trilogy HD and a Zelda Collection for the anniversaries next year. Everything else is just wait and see. Probably will surprise us with it all out of the blue. Random directs and stuff...

They might be finishing the game egine

in the meantime Nintendo could, you know, release one or two older games, like, for example, the Prime Trilogy... just saying

@graysoncharles metroid Zero Mission is the remake of the first game. Not the 5th in the storyline

@VR32X I was going to mention the same thing. Looking for a storyboard artist means that whatever Nintendo had originally lined up must have REALLY sucked.

No idea why Metroid is even considered a big deal these days. It's their 15th best selling franchise, between Wario and Luigi's Mansion.
The best selling Metroid game doesn't break their Top 50 best sellers list.

https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Best_selling_Nintendo_games

So, last year they were hiring product testers, and this year they are hiring a story board artist? Sounds like they are building the game in reverse, LOL

The last Retro Studios Game (Tropical Freeze) was released more than 6 years ago. What have they been doing all that time??

@Taarna Switch has at least 6 more years left.

@Inc come on, games like fifa and cod are the overall best selling games over past decade in gaming industry as a whole

This sort of mentality is why so many old but great series lie dormant, and I'm damn glad we got Luigis mansion 3 btw that game is great

@Lone_Beagle @aznable @VR32X no, I think the original star fox didn't have a story or plot. Just a starship sim that they thought up a universe for later. Im not a dev and I could be completely and totally wrong, but I thought that happened often-ish with games. I think one of the monster hunter rise devs said they started with new game mechanics they wanted to implement and built up the game/story around it. And just from a personal standpoint, I really dont think many devs care about story. Most times video game stories suck/are more or less non-existent.

2026 release date confirmed by the sound of it...

@graysoncharles That was a remake of Metroid 1, they didn't count it as Metroid 5 though which is why it's called Metroid: Zero Mission cause it was suppose to be part 0 of the 2D entries.

Maybe instead of prime we could just get a classic pixel-style metroid game like fusion or zero mission? I'd imagine that would take less time to develop and cut down on the costs.

@graysoncharles it's a remake not a new game.

insert "Metroid Prime 4 coming in the year 20XX" comment here

@VR32X it said it redefine emotional scenes not to actually make the story. For instance: they probably hired someone for zelda and links relation ship in BOTW that didn't change any of the story but had the job of making them feel like they have understandable emotions and such.

@graysoncharles you are fine lol kind of confusing am I right?

Give us a Metroid Prime remaster while we wait.

@Ooyah um... it was a pack in lol. No it didn't. Also metroid has had some of the worst luck (like fire emblem until awakening launching at the end of the gamecube, and a week before galaxy 1 or 2 can't remember almost killed the franchise until they released the last ditch efforts of awakening) with launching on non popular consoles, having games that although good were just remakes, being a more niche genre just like fe, only titles launched on popular consoles were either hot garbage, fantastic but remakes so they were more obscure, came out alongside a prime game so everyone bought that instead with a gamecube depleting that games sales, not being as mainstream as Mario's or zelda, being a completely different feeling game than others on in the series (fusion which is great just different) being an multiplayer fps and not an actually tense alien game (ds and 3ds ones), or just plain people who are old enough to love metroid have moved on after all the crap it has gone through.

@GrailUK I'd say 4 tops personally but yes I do agree this is coming to switch.

They're hiring testers, well we're getting close(r).

2029 is going to be amazing.

This will get the backseat game devs going.

Lost all care... never really enjoyed metroid prime anyway... very bare bones shooter

@KnightsTemplar Lol.. you never clearly played more than the first 5 minutes if you think that.

@Ghostchip Hey, I'm just going by what Nintendo are planning (and I'm in lol)

I did expect Prime 4 to have cutscenes following the footsteps of a majority of the Prime Series, and it should. A Samus and Sylux confrontation has been building for over 14 years now within the Prime Series, so they need to capture those interactions from all angles including cinematic. Product Testers could be good news for how soon Prime 4 could be releasing. I do still expect to be playing Prime 4 by the end of next year.

I am starting to worry about this one, though I haven't even played the original trilogy yet, so I would prefer to get my hands on those first in the trilogy remaster!

@GrailUK just my view on it your view is equally valid we can all agree we are excited for some samus! Also monkey ball one and 2 remakes would be nice no one I now plays them and I need to vent you have ai ai profile pic so lol

Welcome back to another episode or "NintendoLife users crying 'dead game!' ."
If you want a good product, it takes time. Stop being such debbie downers.

So much garbage comments here from people who have no idea how development works and think there's an actual order in tehir suspicion. Forget this game, leave those people to work instead of trying to look at hiring all the time.

@topher6490 Retro began development of MP last year, smartass. They aren't on this for 2 years.

@Nemesis666

They announced January 2019 that they were restarting. It is now the end of 2020, so he's only off by 2ish months in saying 2 years

@Inc Because it and Castlevania made an entire genre. Don't be such a twit.

They need to find a way to make Metroid more organic and realistic. The formula of Samus' suit getting destroyed, and having to retrieve the scattered pieces of her suit is getting a little bit unrealistic and dumb. It's like, how does this exact same scenario keep happening to her, you know?

@Classic603 Restarting. They never said anything about full production of the game.

It'll probably be released right at the end of or after the switch lifecycle, like samus returns on 3ds. I could see it doing a botw, and releasing on two platforms. Personally, I don't mind them breaking their promise to release on switch, if releasing it on the next console makes it a better game.

@graysoncharles Zero Mission is actually a remake of the 1st Metroid game

@Cool_Squirtle
Retro has never developed any 2D Metroid games.

Mercury Steam is probably busy working on one. My guess is that it was supposed to release in 2020 but got pushed to 2021 due to Covid.

Very little about the news of this game's development inspires confidence... hope I'm wrong.

People should realize that Retro isn't going to stop hiring people even after Prime 4 releases.

Its kinda funny that people always want all of these big budget/"AAA", large scale games from Nintendo, but can't seem to grasp that said games on that scale require years of development.

@graysoncharles zero mission is basically a remake of the first one.

Welcome to development hell mwahahaha! Next gen or bust

sadly it seen that Metroid Prime 4 is only gonna release in the penumate or final year of Switch or as one of the lauch title of Switch sucessor.

Can't wait for the next game then!

@Inc That has nothing to do with the quality of Metroid. It came out on the Gamecube. Total sales mean nothing. For many people Metroid was THEIR FAVORITE game on SNES and Prime on Gamecube.

is better Metroid Prime 4 be a masterpice like Super Mario Odyssey, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and the original Metroid Prime, there no excuse for Retro Studios to make a masterpice like Super Mario Odyssey/Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and the original Metroid Prime, or ortowise all this hiring of professional of the higest calibre would be in vain, if Metroid Prime 4 don't turn up to be a masterpice and the best game of the franchise, i will curse Nintendo until they turn into oblvion.

The kinda work they put in this game, i think this will be the game of the year when it comes out. I dont care when, if its great even if that means for a (rumored) switch pro lol.
So many great talents they brought in for this project! Am really excited about this game.
This game and breath of the wild 2.

@topher6490 masterpieces like Metroid Prime 4 take time to develop, do you want Retro Studios to rush the development of the game and release a game that is not the standard of the companie, or is better wait a little longer for Retro Studios to release a game that is gonna be considered the best game of the franchise?

@westman98 the rumored 2D Metroid game that continues the Metroid Fusion history?

@I-U late 2022/early 2023 seens more likely when Metroid Prime 4 is released

....good lord. We’re never getting this game.

@Giancarlothomaz When do you think the first trailer will drop?

@Nemesis666 I like how you turned it into a semantics debate after someone pointed out your error. Well done.

@Giancarlothomaz Metroid Prime 1 & 2 took less than two years each and 3 took a little over two years because they had to fine tune the motion controls. Retro has had nearly two years for 4 and still all we’ve seen is a tentative logo.

Here’s an idea for you news sites- give us an update when there’s footage and playable elements to be further examined and discussed

All these company hiring listing updates are tiresome and increasingly aggravating.

I want this game to be great but these dull posts are frankly irritating to say the least...

Metroid Prime: Forever edition.

@Giancarlothomaz
Nobody knows anything about the rumored 2D Metroid other than that it exists.

@Ghostchip I still have hope in the Monkey Ball Retro rumours

NINTENDO only seem to care about cash grab WiiU ports and kids games these days. And how much gameplay have we seen from Bayo 3? And what's the deal with Botw2? I love my Switch, but if it wasn't for 3rd party, I'd have sold it off.

I’m playing other m I’m alright. A great underrated game. Love the cinematic style. Can’t believe that was 10 years ago. Xxx the fact is it’s not a major franchise and doesn’t sell so we got to be grateful for what we get xxx

@topher6490 What is wrong with you? You automatically assume the game is going to be a disappointment, when we’re seen absolutely nothing about the game. Way to automatically assume what Nintendo will do with the series in ten years when you don’t even have a clue. Is being an a-hole your thing?

I feel like this game is going to be finished at the end of switch life cycle

@MarsOne Hey man, Metroid Prime is one of my all time fave games so I'm not faulting the quality. But from Nintendo's POV, they've got to be looking at how much effort they're putting in to a series that ultimately only appeals to hardcore fans and won't do the big numbers. Returns on investments.

@Doktor-Mandrake Facts, but at the end of the day, those franchises are dormant because they didn't sell enough, not because we as individuals thought that way. It's the companies that own the IPs. Sad

@Creature Fair point, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it would have made to Metroid's standing in the list as aside from Metroid Prime Pinball, I can't think of any Metroid themed spinoffs.

I sound like I'm having a downer on the series, which isn't my intention. It's just a perspective thing. When the latest Animal Crossing game outsells the entire series, for example...

In short, I hope Prime 4 does well enough that they do more Metroid games. But I can see why we don't get new games often.

@Retro_Player_77 Would be easy as they released it on Wii U.

Bought the Prime trilogy for only 8$ on Wii U eShop a few years ago.

Expect 60$ if they release it on Switch.

Sounds like they’re progressing well having started from scratch just last year, and have built up a TON of new talent in that timespan. I figured this would be a 5 year game. Will likely release in 2024 as a final send off for Switch.

And given their work on their last 3 Metroid games, DKC Returns and DKC Tropical Freeze, I have no doubt this will be one of the best video games ever made.

Buuuut it’s gonna take some time. Best to stop worrying about this one. It will come when it’s ready. Until then, I’d love to see Metroid Prime Trilogy on Switch.

@MegaVel91
What genre did Castlevania made?

Have they hired a key grip yet? I feel like that's all who is missing and finally they can begin production.

@Inc yeah unfortunately if the companies dont think theyll make a return on a game, or even worse make a loss they wont risk it.

This is why I love how big indie scene and smaller budget is these days, the bigger AAA titles dont dare take a risk due to not wanting to risk all that money on a niche game that doesnt have mass appeal

It's why that persons comment irked me, it's as if the person implies only things that are popular with the masses are good

Companies sometimes dont help themselves though, like the new Earthworm Jim is going to be exclusive to that new intellivision console, or when we finally got a new Super Monkey Ball and it ended up being banana blitz -_-

Even commander keen is coming back to gaming but the new game looks awful

@I-U TGA 2021 with a more optimitc view or E3 2022/2023 with a more realistic view.

@topher6490 You act like you know for sure. This matter-of-fact attitude drives me insane. We have NO idea how this game will turn out. Not every game stuck in development hell turns out bad.

@westman98 Urgh they've started again from scratch, it won't be out until 2026, etc etc...

Metroid Prime 4 need to be a masterpice like Super Mario Odyssey/Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and the original Metroid Prime, or all the hiring of professional of the higest calibre would be in vain and the franchise would be in severe danger of not having no more games released like F-Zero.

@MrBlacky

It's in the name: Metroidvania

They are competing with Duke Nukem for longest development.

@MegaVel91
Oh, I see. You mean one of those make-believe genres, which name never made any sense. 😄

@Giancarlothomaz It wouldn't be first shown at E3 2023 if you think it's releasing late 2022/early 2023. I think Metroid Prime 4's first showing will be next year's E3. If the game is early 2022 rather than late 2021, I can also see it appearing at TGA 2021 because why not. The game really shouldn't take a couple more years to release based on the cycles for a majority of the Prime Series, unless they're reinventing the wheel here for Metroid.

@MrBlacky It's called that because of the specific characteristics of the game design of Metroid and Castlevania as they were originally conceived in the old days. Namely relating to their map design, general game flow and mechanics.

There's a reason Axiom Verge is called a Metroidvania, it's because it has the characteristics of a 2D Metroid or Castlevania game in it's design. Any game called by that gives you some idea of what to expect of it.

I'm sure it'll be cross gen between the switch 2 and switch 3

As a metroid fan, i dont care how long i have to wait

@I-U at the earliest, TGA 2020 we can have a trailer for Metroid Prime 4, or at E3 2021, if Nintendo plan Metroid Prime 4 to release during the 2022 holiday season.