Nintendo just released a ton of information about upcoming Switch games likeKirby and the Forgotten Land, but it’s also sitting on a few projects that haven’t seen the light of day in a while. BeyondZelda: Breath of the Wild 2,Nintendo also hasMetroid Prime 4hidden away. Fans have known aboutMetroid Prime 4since 2017, when Bandai Namco was reportedly working on theMetroidspin-off’s newest entry, but Nintendo announced in 2019 thatMetroid Prime 4’s development would start over under Retro Studios.Metroid Primeis historically made by Retro, so it’s great to have the original studio back, but the restart made fans have to wait much longer.
While Nintendo didn’t directly address the game in its latest Direct, a few recent signs have indicated Retro Studios is still hard at work.Apparently the studio is looking to hire more employees for the game, which is a good sign thatMetroid Prime 4hasn’t been cancelled; it just needs more time. Retro Studios' recent changes to its Twitter account should also inspire hope that fans will at least hear more about the game soon, even if it might not release in 2022.
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Metroid Prime 4 Needs More Work
It has been years since Nintendo discussedMetroid Prime 4publicly, but in recent months fans have heard a little more about the game thanks to job openings at Retro Studios. In late January, Retro Studios tweeted that it was looking forsome software engineers to work onMetroid Prime 4.What’s more, ArtStation users have noticed banner ads asking artists to apply to Retro Studios, with the ad’s imagery indicating that applicants could get the opportunity to work onMetroid Prime 4.Retro Studios also started looking for a new lead producer in late 2021.
Since Retro Studios is hiring for such a broad range of positions, it sounds like the game needs a lot of work. While that meansMetroid Primefans have more waiting to do, Retro’s internal movement should still be taken as a good omen. It’s clear thatMetroid Prime 4hasn’t been canceled, despite Nintendo’s silence. On the contrary, it looks like Retro has been hard at work, and thatMetroid Prime 4’s development could be picking up steamas the development team expands.
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Metroid Prime 4’s Return
Even ifMetroid Prime 4’s release isn’t around the corner, there’s renewed hope that a long overdue update on the game is on the way. Retro Studios recentlyputMetroid Prime4art on its Twitter profile, which is significant because Retro Studios isn’t very active on Twitter. Retro could be hinting at its own optimism forMetroid Prime’s future, signaling that fans should hold out hope for getting a glimpse of the game soon. It’s been multiple years sinceMetroid Prime 4’s development restarted, so Retro and Nintendo ought to have something to show fans this year.
It’s a shame thatMetroid Prime 4has stayed hidden for so long, but there’s hope that the game will make a triumphant return in the near future. Nintendo says the Switch’s life is far from over, soMetroid Prime 4doesn’t need to worry about losing its chance to be a star title on the hybrid console.Metroid Dread’s overwhelming successhas also reignited interest inMetroidin a big way. Nintendo has no reason to give up onMetroid Prime 4, and thanks to Retro Studios' recent movements, it doesn’t look like the game will get scrapped anytime soon.
