Summary

  • Seven years ago, Nintendo unveiled Metroid Prime 4 at its E3 showcase, sending fans into a frenzy.
  • In the seven years since, it's been radio silent as development shifted between teams and the game was restarted.
  • In 2023, Metroid Prime was re-released on Nintendo Switch as a remastered title, though the other two games remain locked in old hardware.

The number seven is often considered a lucky number. That said, if you're a Nintendo fan, then the number seven probably isn't your favorite. That's because June 13 marked exactly seven years since Metroid Prime 4 was announced at Nintendo's 2017 E3 Direct showcase.

And in the seven years since that announcement, there still is no sign of Metroid Prime 4. What's more is that when Metroid Prime 4 was announced, it was said to be in development for the Nintendo Switch. This was all the way back in 2017. Now, Nintendo is actively working on a successor to the Switch, and it'll launch at some point in 2025. In other words, an entire console generation will have passed.

It seems highly doubtful that Nintendo will re-reveal Metroid Prime 4 anytime soon. So, fans will have to continue to be patient with the game's development. After all, it's already been seven years. What's another couple more?

Metroid Prime 4 Has Had A Rocky Timeline

When Metroid Prime 4 was announced in June 2017, it was set to be the fourth game in the Metroid Prime series, which first began in 2002 with the original Metroid Prime on the GameCube. Its release marked the return of Metroid as a franchise to the spotlight, and it was immediately well received by fans and critics alike.

From there, a sequel titled Metroid Prime 2: Echoes launched a few years later on the GameCube, with similar fanfare. A third title, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, launched on the Wii. A compilation trilogy collecting the three titles was also launched. However, things had been radio silent on the Metroid front until the 2017 announcement of Metroid Prime 4.

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At the time, Metroid Prime 4 was set to be worked on by Bandai Namco, more specifically Bandai Namco Studios Japan, according to reports. Together, with Nintendo, they were set to see the game through. Plans immediately changed, however, and Retro Studios, who developed the original trilogy, took over and were starting from scratch. Nintendo Senior Managing Executive Officer, Shinya Takahashi, said in a video statement that the game had not reached Nintendo's standards, and, thus, was restarted.

Outside some job listings, no new news has appeared. In 2023, Metroid Prime was re-released on the Nintendo Switch as a remastered title, giving fans hope that the other two would also see ports and that news was on the horizon. Sadly, the other two are still locked on previous hardware.

A rumor in February alluded to the game launching before the end of 2024, though with nearly six months in the books, it seems doubtful. And so, gamers everywhere will have to do with celebrating the anniversary of what could have been.