Today is four years to the day that Metroid Prime 4 was first teased to fans, with Nintendo confirming its existence during E3 2017.
It's hard to forget that initial tease; a 40-second clip aired during Nintendo's E3 Direct, slowly revealing a giant number '4' to a soundtrack that was instantly recognisable to fans of the series. After a short pause, the 4 moved to the side to confirm what we were all hoping – Metroid Prime 4 is now in development.
Of course, not many fans would have expected that now, four years later, we'd still be left waiting for even the slightest bit of news. We've had no footage, no screenshots, and hardly any information whatsoever, although that's all pretty understandable given the circumstances.
The game was initially revealed to be in development under a new team led by series producer, Kensuke Tanabe, but in January 2019, Nintendo announced that development was being completely scrapped and restarted, now at Retro Studios.
Previously, ex-Nintendo of America president Reggie had shared a couple of messages saying that things were "proceeding well" and that the game was "well in development," but Nintendo finally confirmed that "the current development progress has not reached the standard we seek in a sequel" as part of that development restart announcement.
So, will we see it at E3 2021? Well, we're not convinced – in fact, in our E3 predictions roundtable, the most hope we could muster up was the potential for a new logo. With development being restarted from scratch, it wouldn't be surprising if we had to wait another couple of years before we hear more.
Here's hoping that wait isn't too long.
Comments 103
Lets freakin hope we will see something
I don’t think it’ll come out this year, but I want new info and Metroid Prime Trilogy on switch
It's like Bayonetta 3. One teaser and that's all. I really wish to see news about Metroid Prime 4. If not, then it will be sad news.
They must have made the options menu by now - maybe they can reveal that!
Sure. Maybe they have managed a new logo for this year
I would imagine this game is still a couple of years away depending on how ambitious it is.
On top of any Metroid Prime 4 news, they’d need something to maintain at least some momentum on the Metroid front. Metroid Prime Trilogy or Metroid Samus Returns on Switch would be very welcome, but at least give us that Samus skin that was rumoured in Fortnite or something.
Well, this one at least we know it was restarted, so they have an excuse.
Bayonetta 3, however...
Would think it would be easy to give us the Trilogy since they did it with the wiiu but didnt someone come out and basically say the code was missing and its nearly impossible? Not sure how that is when they just re released it on the last system tho
I think at best we'll see a teaser with no release date.
I will never complain about games being announced too early. I loved the PS4 era because there was always a big game I was interested in on the way.
My expectations for E3 are lower than ever. Coved has clearly messed with the industry. Seems weird to me an industry based around computers has struggled so much with moving to WFH when my industry which involves being able to access hospitals has barely skipped a beat when it comes to switching to WFH without any sign of productivity slowing down. For whatever reason the gaming industry has been affected though, and it feels like every game is at least 12 months behind where it should be.
Or even a subtitle. How about Metroid Prime 4: Repentance? Samus leaves a Federation ship unprotected because she finds out about secret Metroid research, so she leaves, and then Space Pirates attack it. She ignores their distress call, sees the research base crash down to the planet, so she has the battle to get back the research, all the while grappling with her guilt. We have the emotional development of Other M into making her human alongside her carrying on with the bad-ass attitude and pirate slaying everyone knows her from, without too much "oh pity me Adam" everyone hates. Hire me, Retro!!!!
Metroid Prime 4: Deadlocked
Oops... That was subtitle for Ratchet games. 😆
Just like Bayonetta 3, it’s vapourware. I still don’t believe anything exists of either apart from a logo. Hopefully I’ll be proved wrong Tuesday but I think we’re in for disappointment.
I think that it’s still better than nothing, at least it’s in development. Right? And it will come out one day! Xxx
There will be no Metroid Prime 4 at E3 this year.
Anyone saying it's vapourware needs to find a new hobby though, it and Bayonetta 3 are still in development.
With ‘slow and steady’ retro behind the helm your talking 5 years of development. So I’d expect it in 2023/4 or scrapped for a switch release and billed as a launch title for the next console.
That was four years ago? Crazy to think about really, I am getting old I think.
I don't think it's a stretch that we might get some kind of update here. It's been restarted two years ago, so another few years of development is pretty realistic.
@Iggy-Koopa I think you're 100% right, MAYBE we get a progress update, but that's it. I'd be disappointed if there wasn't something metroid related at E3 though, assuming the 2D game rumours are true.
Maybe this is the beginning of a year of metroid announcements? 2D metroid announced now for later in the year, Metroid Prime trilogy announced before christmas for 1st half of next year and MP4 at E3 next year for the holiday game or early 2023?
@brunojenso They would be further along then that. I'm sure the title screen would be done too.
Waiting patiently for the "New" logo to win this years E3 perhaps with a sippet of Dark Samus' Return. Btw the title is, Metroid Prime 4 Dark Samus' Return.
I wish game companies would wait till a game is mostly done to even announce it, that would save the fans all the worry and speculation that comes with knowing about a project years in advance. If you don't even know its coming restarts and setbacks don't bother you in the least. I think a 6 month window is a good period to build excitement and hype but more than a year out is a little premature. Origami King was perfect in this respect, announced out of nowhere then shortly after we got it.
This is only 2 years into development.
The worst thing is that nothing is shown from Bayonetta 3 in 4 years, or even Pikmin 4 which were anounced like 7 years ago.
Should have been Donkey Kong
"Metroid Prime 4 Was First Announced Four Years Ago Today"...and reset 2 years later🤷🏾♂️
Considering they restarted development from scratch, not to mention the scale of the previous Metroid Prime entries, I highly doubt we'll see anything for some time yet. In the meantime, I'd certainly take a Metroid Prime Trilogy Switch port.
I'm... actually still not expecting it this E3 and rather during a general Direct later on in the year.
@JudgeMethos Yeah. So I imagine at the longest, Retro has been working on it for 3 years. I wouldn't even expect to hear from it for another year.
I do hope Mercury Steam has a new Metroid game in the oven, though.
It's highly under probability. It's a 50-50 chance of appearing on E3.
Since it was RESTARTED 2 years ago, realistically speaking we COULD get some info this year, but more likely than not we'd get some info next year.
I seriously hate the always negative nintendo fans sometimes. Y'all want a good product or a rushed mess?
I’ll get excited when it’s shipping.
@MarioBrickLayer I think it's more likely that we get Zelda until next E3, then MAYBE we see a hint of MP4.
Retro could've been guns blazing until this point, and it still wouldn't be ready for a full reveal.
Maybe we get lucky, and the rumours about a new 2D entry are true. Perhaps it will be some kind of precursor to MP4, set the story up or something.
More likely a port of Samus Returns though.
Metroid Prime 4 following the development hell of Duke Nukem Forever and we all remember how that turned out.
Removed - unconstructive; user is banned
@Peach64 Well, Death Stranding was announced more than three years before its release.
Just show the title screen and a shot of Samus to troll everyone, cmon Nintendo...
@BloodNinja ninja approved?
Not just we'll see it announced, but we'll get a glimpse on gameplay and it'll be made available latter this year...
In the Nintendo Direct Tuesday they should announce
Bayonetta 4
Pikmin 5
Metroid Prime 5
and just move on from there. 🤷
This is feeling more and more like a BotW situation... where the game is completed at the end of the Switch's life cycle and simultaneous launched on the Switch and the next platform.
i don't want to be that guy but I don't think we will hear from it again for another two years or more
Maybe that's what the 4 stands for. Four years until you'll hear anything about this game again...
Still not sure why Nintendo announced it, an awesome franchise that sells very little, the fact they are even considering making this is a mystery.
Very happy they are doing though, loved Metroid Prime 3...
Please damn it. Open world (or worlds) exploration, taking a cue from BOTW for part of it. Catacombs and mazes for another part. Let’s go E3!
@AgentGuapo I have mixed feelings about it
I'm hoping Metroid Prime 4 does something radical. Almost as radical as Other M or Breath of the Wild.
I would like to see it go third person shooter instead of first person. Or at least the option to do so by pressing select.
I also want them to ditch the tired narrative of Samus losing all her abilities or needing authorization to use her abilities 😉. She should just come out guns blazing.
I think it would be neat to see new weapon types outside of ice, plasma, etc... How about a portal gun to warp objects or enemies for puzzles? I don't remember if the other Prime games had Xray, night vision, or thermal visors. If not those should be included too
I think it should also have multiplayer so that it can tap into the fps audience. I'm curious what Metroid would look like with multiplayer built into single player campaign but I wouldn't expect for it to.
I don't think it'll show up this year, but I think it'll release during the Switch's lifetime, probably between Q4 2022 and Q4 2023 - at least that's my guess.
@stinky_t
Retro's Prime games have been somewhat distant from the storyline of the 2D Metroid games, instead focusing on a story arc regarding Phazon - they don't ignore the rest of the series, but they're mostly self-contained.
Back in 2015 Kensuke Tanabe said that the next Prime game would be about Sylux (introduced in Prime Hunters, which wasn't developed by Retro, but still) and have a time-travel mechanic. He also said that the storyline of Retro's original trilogy (Phazon, Dark Samus, etc.) is over, but that they'd keep the numbering:
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-17-next-proper-metroid-prime-would-likely-now-be-on-nx
Don't know if they're still going with that, or if MP4 will be about something else, but there it is.
@antonio2244
Please don't. I mean, even if you're kidding, this kind of comment really doesn't help. I like Donkey Kong too, but that "It should've been [X]" attitude is very annoying (having said that, I do hope Retro makes a third DKC game soon).
I really hope we see something on this, Breath of the Wild sequel, and Bayonetta 3. These are the only games in the foreseeable future that I want right now unless Nintendo has some real doozies up it's sleeve.
@Shworange No thanks. I don't think Metroid would benefit from open world. Quite the opposite, I think it's supposed to be somewhat claustrophobic, with complex maze of corridors and caves.
I 'm not interested in Metroid games, but I wanna know something so that I can have at least one crazy reaction during the direct.
I don’t think it will be announced at E3 this year.
Maybe that rumored 2D Metroid get announced. Or maybe a Samus Returns HD port or maybe Metroid Prime Trilogy HD
Switch Pro confirmed?
If Nintendo announced this game in 2019, when they restarted development, then people wouldn't be this noisy.
Any of those will make me a happy camper
@AvianBlue finding your abilities or new powers so you can access new areas is the core of Metroidvanias.
We also had a multiplayer in Metroid Prime 2 and that sucked. Metroid Prime Hunters was okish
Let them focus on the single player campaign.
@fafonio
I disagree with the first part. I don't think you have to maintain the loss of weaponry as a mechanism for it to be Metroid. Accessing new area delays can be triggered by environment or enemies.
After a while it's going to become ridiculous if Samus loses her power ups every time she steps on a new planet.
As for the multiplayer you might be right... but I still would like to see it even if it was a spin-off game
Well, they have started development from scratch about 2 years ago, which means they could have something to show already, but probably the game is far from done.
@KoopaTheGamer I agree it need mazes, that’s why I noted that. But I also want to explore a large swath of an alien world. I think that a blend of both done creatively would be amazing.
@Anti-Matter Imagine a Metroid game that played like Ratchet Deadlocked/Gladiator, that would be interesting.
The Switch is 4 years older. It needs the Switch Pro to do it justice.
People are way too pessimistic. Let's put this into perspective. Metroid Prime 3 took two and a half years to make. The more recent Samus Returns also took approximately that long from start to finish. This is Metroid, people. Not Breath of the Wild. It's not a massive open-world epic.
Why would Prime 4 take any longer to produce? Granted, it's the fourth game, so expectations would be higher. So, let's say it takes an extra six months to implement any design decisions to make up for those expectations. If development restarted under Retro just over 2 years ago, I'm assuming we'll be getting the game fully completed and released by December of this year.
And yes, I'm expecting some form of gameplay and maybe a cutscene trailer on E3. Prime 3 was playable at E3 2006, even though it still looked closer to Echoes and needed an extra year of polish and design decisions before being completed.
In hindsight, the Metroid Prime 4 announcement trailer was an attempt by Nintendo to give the illusion that the momentum of the Switch's first year, including that early run of "AAA" first-party franchises of the likes of Mario and Zelda, was going to continue. Since then, however, first-party, original titles have come fewer and farther between, while they've used Wii U games as filler to help mask those gaps. Four years and counting with absolutely nothing shown in that period amounts to an outright sham, and frankly it's doubtful they had a single line of code actually completed when that trailer debuted.
The Switch has been a great system, don't get me wrong. But anyone who's been observant can clearly see that there are chinks in its armor created by Nintendo's shifting corporate priorities and practices, from the garbage-glutted eShop to the overdependence on Wii U ports to fiascos like Metroid Prime 4's announcement.
@AvianBlue
I'm sorry dude, but this Metroid game you're building in your head sucks.
I want to see a lot from Nintendo this year. If they're not announcing a revision to the Switch anytime soon, they better have one hell of a line up they've been working on for awhile. Metroid Prime 4 and Zelda BotW2 are the only big games we are aware of (I suppose Splatoon 3 as well if that's your thing).
@AtlanteanMan I think that Switch has been particularly great for those of us, and there are many, that skipped the Wii U. I am still, however, disappointed with the lack of new software so I'm really hoping for some big announcements this week.
The jokes about it being released for whatever hardware comes after Switch are becoming real. And people complained about Wii U's lineup...
@AvianBlue
Metroidvania is partly defined by actions/abilities/weapons that expand to allow traversal to places that could not be reached before. It is part of what separates from games that have you wander around gathering keys to open doors or have just a puzzle to solve. I would even say that Metroid is slightly distinguished from Zelda in that the upgrades are never just to be a "key" but have other continual usually combat uses. Meat for "grumble, grumble", note for the old lady, the raft, are just keys essentially, but the first Zelda was really smart about it, too. The flute/recorder was used in 3 different ways (one for combat), the ladder was useful in some dungeons for combat.
Anyway, I'm off the point. Metroid may not need Samus to lose her abilities, but she does need a progression of abilities to upgrade and find that are useful for more than just environment progression — and making it a more dramatic set of upgrades is more satisfying overall, so it is natural to have a humble start.
Multiplayer could be great. The Metroid Blast game was actually great fun as a co-op in Nintendo Land. Metroid Federation Force was actually pretty good, too. Both were failures in terms of certain elements of presentation and did not settle well with many fans, unfortunately.
The Metroid Prime games made great use of visors that you mentioned that was largely unique for their time so, yes, and it was an innovator in that space for how they were used.
Though I agree that some further exploration of third-person Samus gaming, the unfortunate history is that Other M was that and also reviled by many fans, and Metroid Prime is not only the happy nostalgic place for many, it is also the name that was presented and a first person view will be expected.
guess what I waited about 5 for cuphead. All jokes aside I'm so glade this is going to be my metroid game.
It wouldn't surprise me if Metroid Prime 4 was released at the tail end of the Switch's lifecycle on the Switch and as a launch title for Nintendo's next system, like they did with Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild.
We will get Metroid. Metroid pinball
Damn, Outer worlds 2 beat Nintendo to the Metroid Prime 4 logo joke.
Yah, and Pikmin 4 was announced maybe 7yrs ago. So nintendo can put that in there nintendo pipe and smoke it.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another Metroid game this E3. Sure, they restarted development but that doesn’t mean they can’t reuse the assets already made before to make another Metroid game.
Just give me some Metroid. It doesn't matter if it's Prime 4 or the trilogy or some 2D Metroid
...and it was restarted two years ago.
Speaking of, I don't think Nintendo gets enough credit for restarting development. Clearly they weren't happy with the direction Namco was going and they made put Retro behind it to assure a better game. That's pretty refreshing after seeing games like Cyberpunk, Fallout 76 and Anthem etc just release in the states they were in.
Wow time really flies when you’re having fun
We'll see
Metroid Prime 42D Metroid this year.@KoopaTheGamer Open world be claustrophobic and dense if you think more like Dark Souls and less Ubisoft. Metroid has a particular way of locking it’s world up so “open” isn’t really the appropriate term, but it could definitely be made less linear in the spirit of the earlier games and cut back the linearity creeping in since Fusion.
No.
I pray that we do but I seriously doubt it.
Fingers crossed I'm proved wrong
Very much doubt it, to be honest this E3 has been pathetic so far. The Xbox presentation was lacklustre to say the least. Maybe Nintendo can save it, but I expect to be disappointed. Some Metroid would be amazing though.
@nkarafo i agree but then again they dont want leakers to ruin the surprises for everyone reason why their being tight lip on it.
Sad. I got nothing else to say.
Sighhhh* come on retro
People are way too pessimistic. Let's put this into perspective. Metroid Prime 3 took two and a half years to make.
Why would Prime 4 take any longer to produce?
@dudujencarelli From all I've read, Metroid Prime 1 and 2 were produced under truly heinous crunch conditions. Many of the staff responsible for those games left Retro as a result. The industry today is more sensitive to this issue than it was (at least, they are sensitive to accusations), and Nintendo themselves have publicly stated that they do not engage in this practice. That might sound cynical from a Japanese multinational, but this is in the public record. Moreover, Nintendo has said on multiple occasions that (they find) HD development is more difficult than work on games of prior generations.
In addition... and these are purely my own thoughts... the Metroid franchise is at a crossroads. Nintendo is investing some serious time, effort, and even reputation into MP4, particularly. They seem to be aiming for another breakout success, as Fire Emblem has finally achieved. Metroid now seems to really matter to Nintendo - to my mind, for the first time. I personally think that the "flowering" of the Metroidvania genre has stirred something in the management in Kyoto, be it pride or a desire to dominate a market they helped pioneer.
I have been playing these games since the 1980s, and I can tell you that the reputation and publicity around this franchise now would have been unimaginable to me before 2010, let alone around the time of Super Metroid, when it was the finest game no one else in my town had ever played. The development resources being thrown at this game, the sheer demand for new entries, warms my heart, but I worry also. Will Metroid finally become the sales success that it should have been? Nintendo is treating Samus Aran at last as their golden child, and if MP4 is to follow in the footsteps of the last great success - MP1 - it will need a great deal of time to make comparable innovations, let alone match the quality of prior entries.
Could they release something this year? Maybe. Should they? Absolutely not.
Vaporware. I think Nintendo subbing out this franchise was, and continues to be, a death nail. Metroid should be treated with the same respect as Zelda and Mario are (most of the time), but it's not. Ubisoft is definitely a good exception for Mario but I really don't get putting this IP in someone else's hands and hoping for the best. Are you not a gaming studio Nintendo? Quit asking someone else to make the next Metroid. Own that *****.
I know it’s a long shot here, but I figure there are Metroid fans here… anyone still play or played Metroid prime federation force? Would love to play coop with someone 😅
We better, cause if not…I will personally fart in my wife’s face
@COVIDberry 🤣🤣
Really?
Did Cyberpunk 2077 not just happen? Or maybe you don't mind a mess of a game?
Game development doesn't take 2 years like it use too, times have changed.
On average you're looking at 3 years for mid level games these days, 4-5 tends to be where the bigger games take.
Lets put it this way, if we see a Metroid Prime 4 on the Switch, 100% it'll be a cross gen game with their next console and it'll come at the end of the Switch's life.
Actually... now that i think about this...
Botw2 will also be cross gen with their next console. Bet money. All big Zelda games since TP have been cross gen anyway, TP was at the end of GC's life and also came on the Wii, Skyward Sword did the same thing. Came at the end of the Wii's life and was also on Wii U....
BOTW ALSO did the same thing...
I mean what better way to kick off a new console than with two highly anticipated 1st party games? This is what they have been doing for years
I'm calling it, both Prime 4 and BOTW 2 will be cross gen with Nintendo's next console and will arrive at the end of the Switch's life.
@Razer Skyward Sword was never released on the WiiU.
Regardless, Nintendo cross gen releases only happen for failed consoles. Also, the Switch Pro wouldn't be considered next gen anyway.
@UndoControl I'm 100% certain you misconstrued what my message was saying, I'm afraid.
@Razer I'm not sure who the heck you are directing that message at, but it isn't me. I have a one-sentence summary at the end of my last message that you could re-read...
Due to Covid-19, I do not expect to see Metroid Prime 4 at this year's E3. I don't believe that is because there is nothing of worth to show, I just think this E3 is too far out from when I expect the game to release next year. E3 2022 should be a lock for Metroid Prime 4. I'm expecting the game to be a November 2022 release due to the pandemic.
Metroid prime forever.
Removed - disrespecting others; user is banned
@COVIDberry part of my message was directed at you.
Because who in their right mind actually believes AAA games take less than 3 years to develop?
@DomGC I gotta agree with you.
@stinky_t I like the way you think! 🤔 We need this story done A.S.A.P!
who in their right mind actually believes AAA games take less than 3 years to develop?
@Razer Ah, so I misunderstood you, then! Sorry about that.
Yes, it is really really common around here. I really wish Nintendo Life would do a feature about AAA development, explaining it to people. You are 100% correct to say that it takes serious time.
@Razer You should really consider taking your own advice... Even if it was released, it definitely wasn't cross gen (meaning launch title).
The only Zelda cross gen titles are TP and BotW. Also, Switch Pro won't be next gen anyway. So you're entire argument makes no sense.
Rip in pepperoni 🤷♂️
Don't really care for Metroid, I'd very much like to see some Breath of the Wild 2 news or at the very least a title for the game
@the4seer my advice?
It's a prediction.
I'm not taking it down, i think BOTW 2 and Metroid Prime 4 will be coming at the end of the Switch's life and will be cross gen with Nintendo's next console.
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