After all this time, Metroid Prime 4 hasn’t shown any signs of life. But But don’t worry, the game is fine. And it was Nintendo who was responsible for giving us the news.
For several years, Nintendo has been keen to bring back from the dead certain licenses that are dear to it. For example, recently we had the opportunity to witness the return of F-Zero. It was perhaps not what we would have wanted, but the opus stamped 99 is ultimately not so unpleasant. For its part, the Metroid franchise plays with the hearts of fans. The release of Dread in 2021 reassured some players about the state of the series, but the situation of Prime 4 still worries, even if the excellent remake of the first opus was able to quench the thirst of lovers of the franchise. Fortunately, we know today that he is doing well and that he should arrive soon… one day.
All future Nintendo releases revealed
Big N has just taken stock and took the opportunity to officially reveal the release schedule for Nintendo games which will notably arrive on Switch in 2023 and 2024. At first glance, there are no big surprises to declare. We have Super Mario RPG who will soon be joining us, on November 17 to be precise. It will close the ball of the 2023 releases published by the Japanese firm, and we will then move on to next year. It will be started by Another Code: Recollection on January 19, followed by Mario VS Donkey Kong on February 16. Then it will be the turn of Princess Peach: Showtime!
After this stage, we no longer have a precise release date to remember. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is expected for summer 2024, while the Paper Mario remake remains in the shadows. But looking at the table more closely, we notice a rather interesting name, a certain Metroid Prime 4.
Metroid Prime 4 is alive and well, but still discreet
Yes, the game is still obviously relevant. Whether in Japan, the USA or Europe, it is there, without even a release window to declare. The only notice that can be seen is: To Be Announced. In short, you have to be patient, but it’s reassuring to see that the game is not canceled or postponed.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it won’t escape the wrath of the postponement. Nonetheless, the fact that it was there shows that it is still actively part of Nintendo’s schedule and that its development continues. Moreover, we note that the name “Metroid Prime 4” is temporary. The name will obviously change. Unfortunately, we will not know more, and we will have to make do with this information. It’s been a while since the game was announced and there’s never really been any news since E3 2017. Well, almost…
A game plagued by rumors
It must be understood that such production takes time. The last Metroid Prime, not counting the remake, dates back to 2007, and it was a little marvel. The 4th is therefore expected around the corner, and the rumors are rife. One of the most recent dates back to August 2023, and it should be taken with a grain of salt. XboxEra co-founder Nick Baker spoke about the game, as he reportedly saw it with his own eyes.
According to him, it would be a visual slap in the face, and we would evolve in “large and massive” areas, without it being an open world. To give you an idea, the size of the sets reminded Baker of the environments in Halo Infinite. Just that. Will the console’s hardware be able to withstand such technical feats? This is the question we can ask ourselves. After all, if Zelda Tears of the Kingdom works wonders, Pokemon Scarlet & Purple we are having a hard time with them. So to see.