Regardless of the confusing signals, the time is right for Metroid Prime 4 to finally emerge in one way or another. Even if the game isn’t ready for a full reveal or a release date, the state of Metroid demands an update of some kind on the game. Metroid Dread’s overall success creates greater demand for Prime 4 than ever, and the extended silence around the game has fans increasingly anxious. Retro Studios needs to provide fans with some reassurance that Metroid Prime 4 is neither facing cancellation nor in need of a second reboot.
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The Need for Metroid Prime 4
Metroid Dread has undoubtedly created the perfect atmosphere for Metroid Prime 4 news. It’s been a long time since Metroid got another 2D platformer, but Metroid Dread proved that the original model hasn’t gone out of style. On the contrary, Metroid Dread was extremely warmly received on the whole, and since its release in late 2021, Metroid Dread has become a bestseller, outperforming all other Metroid games to date. Hype for the franchise is extremely high, meaning there would be a lot of eyes on a Metroid Prime 4 announcement of any kind.
The current excitement around Metroid also highlights just how long it has been since Metroid Prime 4 saw the light of day. As of January 2022, three years have passed since Metroid Prime 4’s development restarted, and yet the game hasn’t made a reappearance. What’s more, a late 2021 report suggested that Nintendo still isn’t sure when Metroid Prime 4 might release. This nebulous status was understandable when development first restarted, but fans have waited far longer than they would’ve liked at this point, and all signs suggest that there is much more waiting to do. After all these quiet years, Retro Studios and Nintendo ought to at least weigh in on the game’s status again and provide even a vague release estimate.
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Metroid Prime 4’s Odds of Resurfacing
While Metroid Prime 4 updates are overdue, the odds of a reappearance are hard to predict. Nintendo has several significant games to worry about in 2022, ranging from Splatoon 3 to a new generation of Pokemon, meaning Nintendo may have bigger priorities than discussing Metroid Prime 4 in the coming months. Still, Metroid Prime 4 has been up in the air for so long that a little more clarity is needed, rather than merely recommended. Nintendo can make room for a brief update on the game in a near-future Nintendo Direct, even if it doesn’t discuss the game in detail.
For the moment, there is at least a little hope for Metroid Prime 4 making its long-awaited return in late 2022 in terms of publicity. Nintendo’s 2023 release calendar has yet to come into view, meaning there is still room for Metroid Prime 4 to become a big part of next year’s schedule. Metroid Dread’s success may inspire Nintendo to devote more resources towards Metroid Prime too, which could ultimately help it reach a release next year. Hopefully Metroid Prime 4’s day will come soon; fans have been waiting long enough.
Metroid Prime 4 is in development for Nintendo Switch.
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