UK Charts: Metroid Prime Remastered Bags Franchise's Fourth Biggest Boxed Launch

Wow that’s impressive for Metriod considering the shadow drop download. I didn’t expect it to chart that well.

That’s pretty awesome especially since digital isn’t included.

Well done happy for Metroid prime fans. 2 place in UK.

Just ordered my copy. Its my first Metroid so im excited to see what the fuzz is all about.

I'm one of those people who opted for the physical and patiently waited until Friday.
Had the trilogy digitally on WiiU, but at the time wasn't into that genre and barely touched it.
But i've recently got more into that genre now and really enjoying this remaster. Got farther In one lengthy sitting on Saturday than I did with the original.
Hope Echoes and Corruption get the same treatment.

FIFA!!!!!!!

** shakes fist **

that is still good with the digital copy being available for almost a whole month in the UK

I'd imagine most people who wanted to pounce on it right away just bought it digitally so not bad.

Just got my copy today.
Now release the other 2 please!

Metroid shadow dropping and then doing well sales wise doesn’t mean it did well sales wise because of the shadow drop. It’s a basic correlation doesn’t imply causation principle and just general busted logic.

If they had dropped the physical at the same time as the digital I bet it would have done better.

Considering it's a "limited physical" release for Metroid Prime Remastered, this is really awesome to see. Are there stock issues in Europe for MP as well? Also really cool to see Kirby chart high for a second week in a row. But GTA V rears it's ugly head in the top 10 again this week

Physical forever!!

@Axecon A quick look shows the physical MPR available from Amazon, Shopto, Game, Nintendo and Hit. No stock issues in the U.K. by the looks of it.

Shows the importance of the physical market as many still don't care for digital purchases.

@Bunkerneath I don’t think that. So there were many die-hard fans doing the double dip, which wouldn’t happen with both releases at the same day / in the same week.

Shame to see Octopath Traveler II drop out of the top ten. Such an incredible game!

Despite being delayed by one month after the initial digital launch, Metroid Prime Remastered had the 2nd biggest retail launch of 2023 in the UK, only behind Hogwarts Legacy. This means it beat out Dead Space Remake, Fire Emblem Engage, Forspoken, Wild Hearts, Octopath II, Return to Dreamland Deluxe, Wo Long, etc.

Bodes very, very well for Metroid Prime 4.

Literally just finished (my first metroid) Dread which was fantastic! So very much looking at getting stuck in to this.

@Axecon Where has it been said it's a "limited release"? Demand has definitely outstripped supply but I don't think the physical release is limited. Nintendo are also currently producing more stock.

Just a thought but wonder if this has the legs to beat Metroid Dread 3million ? Think Nintendo could scrape together a dollar, maybe two to advertise this game lol.

Not gonna lie double dipped myself

Hopefully they're in the hands of actual players and not with scalpers

Probably would have sold more if people could find some freaking copies!

@Max_the_German Not really, as the fan boys would have bought the digital straight away, but the normal person might have bought the physical instead of the digital. Then they would have been counted here as the digital numbers aren't counted on this chart.

I'm just getting stuck into it, I got my physical copy Friday, and it's great. It would be interesting to know how many digital copies have been sold.

That's great news! Considering how well this remaster seems to be doing financially, it is almost inevitable that prime 2 and 3 will make their debut on the switch in the ( hopefully near ) future!

6% off at Amazon at £32.99 and number one seller for Switch. It's a steal.

Still don't have my copy unfortunately. I am not sure what is going on with it. Ordered from ShopTo. Might chase tomorrow if I still haven't received my copy by that point.

Good to hear it performing well, although I certainly would of liked a bit more demand.

It's been impossible to find in my area, it's sold out at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, GameStop, and Amazon.

@MS7000 that's a bummer..hope you get it sooner than later, you gonna have the time of you life ^^

@MS7000 that’s weird my games I order from there usually come a day early not this late. Yah I’d get onto them.

@iDidSomething You are going to have an unbeliveably amazing time. 😍 I'm jealous I can't re-experience MP for the very first time again as I did back in 2002, lol.

@MS7000 when did you order it? They still have it at a great price but it’s for back order, ie they’ll ship it when they get it

@Yannis Thanks, hopefully I will finally finish it this time.

@Outerdragon I've heard that before when I was asking for feedback about them when pre-orders went live. I am tempted to say it is more Royal Mail being a butt rather than ShopTo, but we'll see I guess.

@AmplifyMJ Ordered 9th Feb, the day after the Direct.

I preordered a physical copy and what I've played of it so far has really impressed me. I absolutely love how the graphics look modern but the animations feel older, if that makes any sense. It's a weird juxtaposition but I think it works; it gives me a real "this is how you remember the game looking" vibe without actually having played the game before. I'm excited to play it more when I get the chance.

@VinylCreep not disputing your argument here about how this is a bit of a logical fallacy, however the game has frequently been at the top of the eshop charts so we can infer from that information that digital sales have been healthy. Obviously we'll have to wait for official confirmation but it definitely bodes well for the franchise.

@MS7000 definitely unusual, I've ordered from them multiple times and nothing has ever gone missing... In fact I couldn't even tell you what their customer service is like since I haven't had need to contact them ever 😅

Not a great result at all. Coming second is all good and well, but not when you're sandwiched between two games that have been sold for a long time already. That puts Metroid at below 10k units, which is a poor attach rate for the Switch hardware. I hope loads of people, like myself, bought it digitally.

My biggest concern for Metroid right now is how this will impact on Prime 4. Original Prime did around 2.5m units on Gamecube back in the day. Prime 2 then did around 1.2 million and Prime 3 is below 1m.

I hope Nintendo know what they're doing here because I'm playing an excellent Prime Remastered game on Switch and I'm scratching my head as to how Metroid Prime 4 is going to tempt me back because I don't want to play more of the same.

Talk about piling pressure on Retro Studios too. Metroid Prime 4 is going to have to be incredible to be a commercial success.

And another thing... why are Nintendo putting Metroid Fusion out on GBA now?! I've got a Metroid game guys... I'm playing it?! If you need an Expansion Pass game release for NSO, how about putting an N64 game out instead?! It makes NO SENSE!!

"Fourth biggest launch of a Metroid title". I'm a huge Metroid fan, but sorry, how is that statement being positioned as a GOOD thing?! There are 3 Metroid games that sold better than this... Dread will be one of them - which didnt shadow drop on eShop so err no, that isnt a good strategy afterall! Also, Prime on the Gamecube sold twice as many... ermm Gamecube with its notoriously low install base. Yea OK, lets celebrate fourth... Nuts.

@MS7000 so you were well in time. My experience with them has always been good, hopefully they’ll sort you out soon

Man, this list is really disappointing apart from Kirby and mp. COD, fifa, and Hogwarts legacy? Just shows the sad state of the game industry.

@Outerdragon @Yannis @Otoemetry @AmplifyMJ - Looks like it has just been delivered based on an update from Royal Mail just now. So I know what I will be playing tonight

lets wait for total sales for it especially here in u.s.

digital sales are not included in these charts it is amazing ragnarok is always in the top 5 every week without counting all the digital sales..

@MS7000 nice one you’ll love it 😊

@nocdaes this is so much nonsense I don’t even mo we’re to start. Firstly you no this was mainly a digital download right? And has been available for nearly a month? So most people would have got it that way. The fact it’s still the fourth biggest retail launch is very impressive. It means it’s beaten games like dead space etc that were on more consoles.

Secondly I don’t no we’re your getting your figures for prime 3 as after looking up just some facts, it’s already over 1.31 million copies. So you can stop making up crap to suit your agenda.

And finally retro is great and I no they will make prime 4 a masterpiece as every game after prime 1 improved over its predecessor in every way. So let’s wait and see before writing off Prime 4.

What are the top 3 Metroid games?

@InfamousOrange am guessing Dread, Prime 1 and then Prime 2.

@nocdaes I think you're just hitting a case of not looking at the whole picture.
1. It's behind Hogwarts, which is going to be popular as hell in the UK for ages because of many reasons, it's asinine to believe ANY Metroid would beat out that game in the UK even months after release. It's like being surprised that Xenoblade Definitive didnt beat out a new GTA game. The market in the UK is different.

2. Like everyone on this article has mentioned, this is not including digital sales and considering this game was released digital some time ago, it's likely close to being either first or second worldwide if those copies are considered as well. I, for one, got the digital and am in absolutely no rush to get the physical as of yet.

3. The distrust with not being able to pick up and enjoy Prime 4 after having played Prime 1 Remastered is just bizarre and sounds like an entirely personal problem. I love Metroidvanias and I would be excited as hell to play 4 even if I get to play 2/3 remade this year as well. I have invested almost 100 hours into Hollow Knight this year alone, but that doesn't mean I won't be ecstatic to pick up Silksong when it launches this year.

4. I would like to just point out that this game is a REMASTER and was shadow dropped with barely no initial marketing other than the Direct it was announced in. A remaster doing this well (especially the fact that it did better than Dead Space Remake, which by the way is probably the most comparable game on the list to it here so please don't even bring up Hogwarts), yeah, these numbers are bonkers.

I will hard disagree with you on all points here but maybe if you read through my comment you'll be able to see why what you're saying is just fundamentally flawed.

Either way, my take on it is the game is fantastic and definitely deserved the attention it received.

Impressive numbers for Metroid. Such a fantastic remaster, well deserved.

This definitely bodes well for 2 and 3 getting the same treatment. If they weren’t already being worked on surely they will be now. If this was the franchises fourth biggest launch just counting physical sales I would have to assume when factoring digital sales it probably saw the biggest launch in franchise history. It would be foolish not to capitalize on this success.

@Outerdragon 1. The article states it is the fourth biggest METROID game release. Not the fourth biggest game of the year. Dead Space is entirely irrelevant. I am therefore factually correct to question the success of this game when it is behind THREE previous Metroid game releases.

2. This is a valid correction - Metroid Prime 3 has done just over a million. The point I am making remains though. Prime 1 sold double the amount of 2 and 3.

3. Retro Studios last released a game in February 2014. Nine years ago. Most of the team that worked on Metroid Prime all those years ago no longer work for Retro. I am a huge fan of their work as a studio, and of Metroid, but it is not at all unreasonable to state the fact that they are massively up against it with Metroid Prime 4.

@Varkster The game IS fantastic, I agree with you there!

It's called a "sales curve" and it applies to absolutely every videogame ever released. It dictates that week 1 will be your highest sales volume and that every week that follows will see your sales significantly drop. Hogwarts Legacy is going to be big in the UK, you are right, but this week's number 1 is the 4th week it's been available to buy. It is also only available on PS5 and Series X. How many units do you really think that is likely to be? If week 1 sold around 80k I reckon it's down to about 12k units now.

Also since you claimed it was I not seeing the whole picture... let me remind everyone of a few other facts about Hogwarts Legacy. It costs between 20 and 30 quid MORE than Metroid Prime Remastered. Its only available on systems that have an install base far inferior to the Switch.

Absolutely agree Metroid will have done well on digital. I highly doubt it's more than 70% split versus physical though. Which would put Prime at around the 35k units total for UK week one.

I'm not actually saying that's a disaster or criticising it per se. I am just pointing out that the celebrations in the news article are silly, and that Nintendo's focus on Metroid (as much as I love it personally!) is seemingly not really growing the success of the franchise.

If Metroid Prime 4 is more of the same, you, me and the Metroidvania fans will still lap it up, but it won't be the breakthrough hit the franchise deserves and is still waiting to see.

Hopefully it’s enough to warrant 2 and 3 the same treatment. I’m happy it’s selling well and they are attempting to fix the shortages.

Interested to see where Metroid Prime Remastered ends up. It's been selling very well on the Switch E-shop here in the U.S., hopefully physical sales were strong too. Retro did a great job with this release and it deserves any success it gets.

@nocdaes if you read @Westman98's comment above you can see the relevance of why people are talking about Dead Space. Personally, I think sales in the UK are generally down as a result of the cost of living crisis so we should be celebrating the success of this somewhat niche franchise.

@Bigmanfan Tbf the games industry is doing just fine lol.

I double dipped on a physical copy when i see it on Smyths shelf. Fully deserving of the support.

@Otoemetry I'm celebrating the fact Nintendo finally released the game, that's for sure! And it is very, very good.

I'm just not convinced on the performance or indeed the strategy behind the release in relation to MP4, but we'll have to wait and see on that. MP4 could still be a long way from release to be fai - and hopefully it also builds on the previous games and isn't simply more of the same (not that I mind, but in terms of broader success I mean).

Let's not forget... MP at 40 will be tempting versus MP4 which given the horrendous development time is almost certainly going to be priced high like TotK.

Certainly no shame in being "the best of the rest" behind Hogwarts Legacy, I am just throwing caution at translating "second behind HL" as being an instant success, because it's not necessarily.

Cost of living crisis is a good point, but I'd also suggest that is likely to have impacted the digital sales:

• You can trade in physical after you finish the game to recoup some money
• The physical is typically a few quid cheaper than the digital (varies by retailer)
• The physical being a month later allowed for another pay cheque to clear versus an impulse buy potentially not being possible for some
• The super fan core audience that heard rumours it was coming for almost 2 years - so what's another month to wait?
• There are still a lot of people that don't buy digital, too. They like the case on a shelf.

Can't wait for the 2nd and 3rd series to come out on switch, I really hope it's a remake like this game

@nocdaes I've just seen a post on Facebook claiming the remaster missed out on the top spot by just 1000 units, which is pretty impressive if you consider the relative scale of the two franchises

This is one of the greatest remasters ever, and such a fantastic game. So happy to see it sell well

Honestly it is easily one of the best remasters made with Windwaker HD on Wii U close behind it.

@wiiware If the old trilogy rumors are to be believed they are remastering the other 2 as well, but only time will tell.

@liveswired I know, but it just feels like good games always sell worse than bad ones. Fifa, COD, scarlet and violet, Madden, and assassin's Creed are all awful games that sell millions upon millions of copies. It just sorta makes me sad.

Has the Switch helped Metroid become mainstream? Is it even mainstream?

@Jokerwolf I really hope so, I didn't have gamecube back then so for me metroid prime series are like a new games 😃

@wiiware honestly Nintendo should just do it because this first one's proving how much a proper remaster can actually do.