Metroid Prime 4 Rating Spotted On Nintendo's Website

Simulated gambling? In games on Nintendo platforms? Nah. These don't exist. Game Corners in earlier Pokemon games were a fever dream. Casinos in Dragon Quest games are unfounded rumors. Luigi also definitely isn't a card shark.

Infrequent use of strong language? That one definitely has me raising an eyebrow. Not sure how it can be gambling "and/or" that, since the two have no correlation together, so which one is it? Or is that just somw generic description that applies to all T-rated games?

@Not_Soos never forget Admiral Dane saying "Damn!" in Metroid Prime 3 or the orgy of annihilation in Metroid Prime Hunters.

@Orwellian87 This isn't clickbait; the title perfectly describes what the article is about. Clickbait is intentionally misleading by over-exaggerating, like if they titled it something like "Metroid Prime 4 release date IMMINENT???"

I have plenty of qualms with how Nintendo Life does things, but this isn't one of them. If you think this is a 'nothing' piece of news and undeserving of an article, that's fair. But it's not malicious in the way clickbait is.

To me, articles like these are harmless. I'll take a slow news day over a no-news day.

@Tyranexx Luigi does look like a card sharp. What comes out first this, silksong or that blade movie

@HammerGalladeBro I'll be honest, I've only played the first Prime game, so I was unaware about both of those, lol. Still, I wouldn't think the d-word counts as "strong language," though. The Hunters thing is quite shocking, I must say...

@Not_Soos well, for better or worse the Hunters one is just mentioned in the lore logs about what happened when Gorea (the final boss of Hunters) was on the loose, it never actually happens in-game.

There's a log entry that reads: "Our defenses were useless against Gorea as it swept through our empire in an orgy of annihilation.".

Also, in Hunters other log entries refer to Gorea as "the cancer".

@Not_Soos Right. People don't know what clickbait is anymore. While they gladly click on "Metroid Prime 4 News will Change Everything."

In game purchases? You gonna have to buy the morph ball?

@Ultimapunch I wonder if that's just the Switch 2 upgrade pack. I have no clue

Friendly reminder that Super Mario Bros. Wonder also had in-app purchases in its age rating and didn't have any, I would be very surprised if Prime 4 had dlc. Also, nice to see that it's finally been rated, hopefully the game impresses the players when it releases!

I for one will take any MP4 news right now, no matter how small.

@ShieldHero Mario party superstars also has that. Maybe it’s referring to the in-game shop???

Just a heads up, I'm pretty sure that ESRB description is just a placeholder. It's just saying that it CAN include that content, not that it does.

@Orwellian87 Oh weird, almost seemed like you were speaking up in public.

I'm very excited for this release!

If Metroid isn't out for December, I think it is going to be a blue Christmas.

@Mz3player Oh yeah that's probably it.

@Misima Having the rating and having a booth at Gamescom makes me think that a September release is still a possibility. 😊🤞

I hope this means, that it will be getting an USK 12 rating.

Comprehension around here could do with some attention.

Here is ESRB's basic summary of this age rating, which notes what a game under this classification may contain.

"Teen - content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain...

Timshel, people!

And here we go I will buy my switch on release day of Metroid prime 4 along with Mario kart world dk bozana I really hope ninty release Metroid prime 2&3 as a bundle too my fingers are crossed 💚💚💚

So all those pro-age verification types, particularly from the UK, will be glad to submit their IDs or credit card particulars each time they start up this game, yeah?

What's that you say? Switch 2 works offline? I'm sure that loophole will be closed in time. Come now, fellow gamers - be consistent. You tell me that such laws aren't overreach and have an element of common sense, so you have one choice - comply. Don't argue. Or don't play this game. And don't protest what I'm saying, either.

Samus getting down to her Zero Suit is not fodder for teens, and we know these games do things like that gratuitously. Right? (No, mods, this isn't trolling. I'm deadly serious here. When Wikipedia and social media fora can be government ID-gated, sites like NL aren't going to be far behind. I'm extremely curious to see how Hookshot Media will weather this.)

I don't know why the article included the generic description of what a T-rated game could have, when in the embedded image from Reddit you can see what Metroid Prime 4 actually has ("Animated Blood" and "Violence"). Now the poor readers are confused thinking the game has swearing and gambling lol.

@topsekret The point of any ratings system is to simplify and categorize. If unlike things get lumped together incorrectly, well, that's just the risk you run. God forbid we ask anyone (like parents) to do things like, you know, read labels, or something.

Simulated Gambling and in-game purchases? Oh god

@CANOEberry I just think Nintendo Life should do more to help their readers who can't read good (and who wanna learn to do other stuff good too).

@SwitchplayerJohn
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that games have to be feature complete and playable in their entirety to be rated.
Could still be working on bug fixes and performance patches but really hope it's round the corner now.

Metroid Prime is one of my favourite games of all time. Nintendo sllllooowwwly eeking out the release of MP4 is excruciating!

@Not_Soos Yes, this is just a general description of what T-rating means. As the article says, the "rating summary" where they describe the specific game has not gone live yet.

@Bunkerneath It doesn't have simulated gambling. That's just a general description of what games can get a T-rating for. It says that in the article very clearly and say and/or for a reason. And most Nintendo games have that "in-game purchases" tag with no actual in-game purchases.

It's been 84 years.............

And my voucher is still sitting pretty waiting for this!

I’m expecting a November release, a month that has had most of the Metroid releases already. I’d love to be wrong, so that we get it earlier. Good to see progress though.

hope this reassures everyone thinking its not gonna drop this year. trust in nintendo yalll…
gambling is interesting though, so looking forward to prime 4

I will say this again.
PLEASE, NINTENDO! RELEASE A METROID THEMED SWITCH 2!
A gold and red joycon that matches Samus' armor would be a nice addition......I would also love to see a Metroid on the dock face!

Metroid and Eternal Darkness news in the same day!!!!!!!!!! Brain overload!!!!! Next you're going to tell me Wave Race 4 is in development"!!!!!!!

Really hope "in-game purchases" just refers to the option to upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition.

Can't wait to see how bad it runs on switch 1..

@Kriandis yeah but with a proper oled screen... I would actually think about buying one...

@cagriggs : nah. Kirby is November, they won’t do two games in one month.

My money is on a new direct in next couple weeks, Metroid October, Kirby November, new game (possibly Mario) December… plus big game for 2026

Oh and strong language? Samus stubs her toe and says “gosh darn it”

@Not_Soos remember how old radio edits would censor the word "God" but be fine leaving "damn" in the song? Bet you there's one instance of Samus looking at a big boss monster and saying "Oh my god..." T for teen!

@Clammy Nintendo already has an October game, Legends Z-A (October 16th) so releasing Prime 4 in late October would be the same as releasing it in early November.

@Grumblevolcano : fair point. Well that’d make Metroid the December game then. Never thought I’d see that, but seems most likely.

Still think there will be a direct with a big 2026 reveal though

@HammerGalladeBro Damn is not considered "strong language"

@DwaynesGames September was never realistic. They need 3+ months for marketing

@NolandC metroid has no reason to run poorly on switch

@NolandC Okay so you're trolling. This game was delayed because of bandai Namco incompetence in the first place. Based on your last sentence I can't help but wonder why you're on a Nintendo site. Trolling used to be fun not stupid.

lol at this redacted thread!

A bit off topic, but were there sources that said prime 2 and 3 had been ready for ages? Or am I imagining it. It may have been that TP and WW had HD versions waiting.

Anyway would love some more prime games before beyond

Great, Samus never lets me down.

@Novuscourvous They might still be able to have a late September release of Metroid Prime 4.

However, you are probably correct. The clock is ticking and no release date given yet. It could be a December or early 2026 release.

My Switch 3 is ready.

@WheresWaveRace
Wave Race was the Bee's Knee's!!!!!

I played the hell out of that game! I would love to see another!

At this point I’d be happy with a delay into early 2026. There are entirely too many amazing games to play coming out in the next couple months, plus games I haven’t finished (or opened…). I am BEYOND excited for a new Metroid Prime, and I’m sure I’ll end up dropping everything to play it, but maaaaaaaan…

So it's only releasing in Brazil now?

This game must be coming out this year now if it's already got a rating right? I wouldn't mind it being the December game although we also got Hyrule Warriors at some point so it's a packed year lol and ppl say Switch 2 doesn't have games.

im calling it now prime 4 is releasing in november which means theres a direct inbound sometime this month.

And here we going again lol

When there's smoke there's fire

My wife's wallet is ready!!!

@NintendoByNature The calm before the storm.

Rated 14+ by Brazil Rating Board on September 8th. Published on Diário Oficial (Brazil's official gazette) on September 9th. Perhaps an official announcement incoming?

I'd reckon either a November release to try to hit Christmas, otherwise February 2026 (unless yet a larger delay is afoot).

Surely there's going to be a direct around the time of TGS, with Sega having 4 games to reveal as well and Level 5 bringing Professor Layton to the show now would be the prefect time for a direct.

Da da da da daaaaa da

I hope this comes out this year, as it's the only big Switch 2 game I'm looking forward to. Not interested in Pokemon Alphabet version or Kirby Fart Riders in the slightest. I have a good feeling it will come out this year though.

In game purchases.... That does not bode well.

Wake me up, before you morph ball. Don't update me anymore without a launch though!

@1UP-HUSKY DK Bananza’s rating said the same thing, nothing to worry about. If anything this’ll just be for the upgrade pack.

"In-game purchases"

... excuse me? Hopefully just the upgrade pack and not what I'm thinking of.

@OmnitronVariant low on rockets? Only 10 cents each!

Oh I’m so ready to know the release date. My body, my mind, my spirit are all ready.

@OmnitronVariant They mention "in game purchase" for every game with online multiplayer.. since that requires a NSO sub.

@Pillowpants Want Spin Jump early access? It's just $2.99; less than pack of gum, cheapskate.

Bla bla bla September 11 direct bla bla Nate the hate bla bla bla

Fingers crossed 🤞

I think.Nintendo will announce that 12 September rumored direct today!.

Come on, end our suffering already 🥺

December release would actually be really nice! I can't remember the last major Nintendo release that came in December.

Direct incoming woooo

They didn't say that description is for Metroid Prime 4, it's the blanket of what makes a game T for Teen. Animated Violence, Blood, and In game purchases are the reasons MP4 got it, not depicting gambling or strong language

@Ichiban fart riders is a great idea. Different foods give different farts for speed boosts, leave behind a stench trail, or the Arby's Cheddar meal where you spin people out with your "i guess that wasn't just a fart" power

@HammerGalladeBro orgy of annihilation? What are you talking about ?

Was gifted a switch lite back in 2020, probably played like 10 minutes on the thing ever since.

Prime 4 will be my first and only purchase on it ever. More importantly, because it's another switch 2 game also releasing on switch 1, Nintendo will not be getting my $450 + $80 to play it on their new overpriced jack of all trades, master of none.

I’m hoping Metroid has a release this year, the first two primes always released around October I think. I’d also like to see a big nice Nintendo suprise, of course I want a new mario/zelda but it’s time for a new Fzero or animal crossing I think.

Yes! This (and DK) are the reasons I have a switch 2!

@Novuscourvous again, it's a log entry about what happened when Gorea destroyed the civilization in the Alimbic Cluster, never happens in-game.

Will provide a photo of said log entry later.