Random: It's Now Been Seven Years Since Metroid Prime 4 Was Announced

Seven years, proof that even the mighty Nintendo makes the odd mistake. We should be playing MP 5 or 6 by now.

If they don't announce it for the upcoming Nintendo Direct, then they might as well give it the Breath of the Wild treatment by releasing it simultaneously on Switch 1 and Switch 2.

It's GOT to be formally revealed at the June Direct, or else it's dead for the Switch I tell you, DEAD!

Early(ish) Switch 2 title for sure.

Glad I wasn’t waiting for this one, waited long enough for Pikmin 4 and Bayonetta 3. But we did get those, so maybe someday. I mean they can’t just not at this point.

Prime 4 was made up just so Samus Returns wouldn't get Federation Force levels of hate.

As with twilight princess and breath of the wild, it will be a cross gen game.

Metroid Prime 5 will release before Prime 4

I wonder what the original version was...
Maybe it was Dread but 3D?

Anyone else want an HD update for Metroid Prime Hunters?

Anyone else want an HD update for Metroid Federation Force?

Development hell, homie. But hey, they continue to list it in every business update, so it's not like it's been quietly discontinued or anything

GTA VI is supposed to come before this game lol

Reveal in the June Direct, release in Fall/Holiday 2024 would be my guess.

Most likely dev was moved to the next system.
Nothing to fear.

I trust Nintendo to show gameplay when they're good and ready. At least we got the fantastic Prime 1 remastered and Metroid Dread during the wait.

Absolutely freaking brutal, but hey, at least Dread was a semi masterpiece.

@Arkay Unless you're 80% of the population who doesn't have two pennies to rub together thanks to the hyper inflation going on in most countries around the world...nevermind a new console when you're struggling to put food on the table...

Most gamers I know can on rare occasion afford a game for a console they already own, but most don't have hundreds to spend on new hardware.

@Arkay Yeah that's what I'm betting too. I'm certain it'll be another BoTW situation--have the game release on both the old and new systems as a launch title.

@PersianZSR Well, GTA VI started development all the way back in 2014. A massive game like that needs the time. Metroid Prime 4 better be the best thing Nintendo has ever done to be in development THIS long

@HotGoomba At this point I’m wondering which will come out first, silk song, gta, or this lol.

I used to get mad in between super Metroid and Metroid Prime was 8 years I believe and I thought no way this could happen again this day and age but here we are at 7 years.
Plain and simply this just does not sell like Zelda or Mario so I can understand why.
So I feel very lucky that we got Dread out of the blue and it was very good for us Metroid fans but I also sold well.
Hoping this would continue to grow the series and with Retro at the helm hoping the Lore continues as well and the popularity sores.

This game will either be the best thing Nintendo has ever created because it took so long, or the worst because it took so long. Here’s hoping it’s the former.

Don't remind me...it still hurts.

Although Nintendo isn't one to announce games years ahead of time, I still think they made the right call announcing Prime 4 when they did. As Reggie himself explained, they knew they were going to be announcing Samus Returns that year and didn't want a reaction similar to Federation Force.

The Metroid series didn't need any more bad press, between the critical and commercial failure of Federation Force and Nintendo's controversial cease-and-desist against AM2R. This announcement definitely helped soften the blow and stopped people from saying, "Seriously? THAT'S all the Metroid fans get--a 3DS remake of an old 2D game??"

2017 for Nintendo was all about sending a message that they were finally delivering on what fans wanted from them. "You want a sandbox 3D Mario game? Here you go. You want an open-world Zelda that doesn't hold your hand? Here you go. You want a mainline Pokémon game on consoles? We have nothing to show yet but know that we're working on it. You want a new Metroid Prime game? Yes, we're even working on that, too. We know you thought we were tone-deaf during the Wii U era, but we're listening now. We won't let you down again."

I feel like Nintendo has consistently stuck with that mindset the whole generation. The resent release of Thousand-Yesr Door is further proof of that. It's as if Nintendo has been going down a list of "what games/features have been getting the most requests on Twitter and other social media sites?" and then they just... make it.

Prime 4 has been such a long time coming that I truly expect this to be the "Breath of the Wild" of Metroid. It might not be fully open-world since it wouldn't really be a metroidvania if you aren't gaining new abilities that allow you to revisit previous areas. But I think the world you'll be exploring will be absolutely massive--bigger than the first three Prime games combined. And I think it will be this year's holiday title and not a "Switch 2" launch game. But, time will tell.

I forget, have they even said the game will release on Switch? I'm sure that was the original plan, but I wouldn't be surprised if after they scrapped the original version and Retro took over, they started off aiming for the next generation.

We had more information about Duke Nukem Forever seven years in.

@WiiWareWave hey I'm struggling as well, but there is a thing called saving money which comes in handy. It's not easy, but doable.

Its kind of crazy to think that Prime 3 came out in 2007. Like, wow I can't believe its been over a decade since the last game.

I know it restarted development at one point, but still.

and many fans still hope this is coming to switch 1 lol..

What is colour code purple on this site? “Games we’ll never see”?

If we actually get an announcement at the upcoming Direct it would be a miracle.

@KryptoniteKrunch But we had been waiting for Dread for seventeen years…

With the number of switches out in the wild it would hurt Metroid to just announce it for the new Switch. Like others have said it is not as big a seller as Zelda or Mario. Here is my hope. Announce Prime 4 for holiday this year take advantage of the current switch market and shadow drop Echoes. When the new switch arrives it should be forward compatible for those that buy on current Switch. This would net Nintendo the most sales.

@Not_Soos if that were true we would have had F-Zero by now

We've been waiting so long, I'm pretty sure I preordered this at Blockbuster.

I really just want this thing to come out so they can make a new Donkey Kong Country already.

Sad it takes so long, but I’m happy that Nintendo gives there games (except Pokémon) time, so the games have a higher quality. Rest of the business (except Larian Games) rush there games too often.

Just four more years and it'll beat Duke Nukem Forever's record.

How the hell is it that time is seemingly passing so much more quickly these days?

if this was going to be a cross-gen game for this Switch and Switch 2 wouldn't they tell us when they announced the Switch's successor just like they announced that BOTW was going to be cross-gen when they announced the Switch (which was called NX at the time)?

@Snatcher probably beyond good and evil 2 will release before those three games 😉

5 years. The two first years might not even exist since they rebooted it.

We did get Metroid Dread, though, so I have some hope that Metroid isn't dead. I think it's a safe bet to say that it will be mentioned in June's Nintendo Direct, at least. Perhaps even a shadow drop? Although I'm game for releases of Metroid Prime 2 and 3 as well. So we can have the entire series on Switch.

7 years? yeah okay, sure NL.
looks it up
Oh...

Honestly, since Nintendo released Prime 1 Remastered this gen, it would feel weird if they omit 2 and 3 and just skip straight to releasing 4 on granny Switch or cross-gen with Switch Deux. Maybe they can pull it off and get everything out on Switch if they sell a 2 + 3 double pack this fall with 4 coming in March or so? But that’s a lot of Metroid in a short time…

I was thrilled for that Prime 1 shadow drop in the Feb Direct last year, especially with such high quality and at a surprisingly low price. I’m just perplexed now that there haven’t been any other Primes released since, and Switch’s days are numbered.

I feel like a new 3D Mario would be the Switch 2's launch title with Metroid Prime 4 being the big fall release. However, it might also be the big swan song we've been waiting for on the current hardware. If we see nothing at this Direct, then development has almost certainly been moved to the new system.

At least we got the best 2D Metroid in years with Dread on the Switch. It could have been like the N64 with no appearance from Samus outside of Smash Bros.

I reckon we’ll get an HD release of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption before we see Prime 4…

@rjejr Funny you should mention Pikmin 4. That game was announced in 2015 and was supposedly close to being finished on the Wii U. It came out 8 years after its announcement so Prime 4 still has some hope of not being Nintendo's most delayed game ever.

2-3 years AFTER the announcement it got completely scrapped, 100% scrapped. Nintendo took it back in house and started fresh, including hiring some pretty big names. i still wish we had even a glimpse at the game. i hope soon!

I sincerely hope it won't appear in June's Direct. I don't want this game on the Switch. I want it on the Switch 2.
We waited 7 years, a few more months is nothing.

BREAKING NEWS: Nintendo announcing Metroid Prime 5 for Nintendo Switch 2!

I assumed Prime 4 would be pushed back to the Switch 2 long ago at this point. Maybe we'll see the remaster of Prime 2 this summer though? Maybe they'll release it as soon as this June direct?

@rjejr aha, I had forgotten how long they made us wait for Bayonetta 3. It was well worth it imo, so fingers crossed they won't disappoint with MP4.

@WiiWareWave Yeah the comments here are always wild to me. People saying hundreds for plastic statues is a great deal or buying the same game for the 4th time because it's on another system now. I don't imagine that being the case a year from now as things continue to get worse for 99% of us.

I hope it’s a switch 2 1st year exclusive that showcases the extra grunt under the hood. Not hindered by being a cross-gen release. I want to be wowed!

@TrueBlueYoshi No, at this point the main focus should be in the new system. Don’t try to retrofit on switch. It’s time to move on. Give us a great running game on a brand new system with amazing graphics. Out with old in with the new.

Prime Remastered probably serves as a primer (haha) for both the development team and the audience for Prime 4.

And... I really hope they don't call it Metroid Prime 4.
Call it Metroid Prime, but give it a subtitle instead of a number, and please don't let the phazon story go on. Let the new game be its own thing.

I still think this is a couple of years out. These days games this ambitious take around 7 or 8 years. Yes its been 7 years, but development was reset a couple of years in so knock a couple of years off, then it was the pandemic which would have set it back by at least a year so my guess is they're about 4 years in. I'm guessing you'll be able to scan almost anything in the game - that takes time to develop.
I think we'll get drip fed Prime 2 & 3 remasters and maybe a Samus Returns port first.
Having said all that, I'm ALWAYS wrong with my predictions so it'll probably get announced next week lol

@Tendogamerxxx Development was restarted 5 years ago, long before any Switch 2 specs would have been finalized. There's nothing even remotely resembling "retrofitting" in releasing Prime 4 on the console where its development began.

Metroid Prime 4K ✨

It makes sense to make this their killer app for poaching photo realistic AAA fans 🤙🏻

Mom: no son, you cannot play that game it's for 16 years and up, and you're only 9!
Nintendo: I got u

Also, people who saw the teaser when in primary school, good luck in college 👍🏻

@FirstEmperor Keep in mind that switch specs were already a whole GEN behind. What I meant to say was- that at this point I hope they’re making the best looking game ever without trying to cater to the current switch. Time to move on to the next system.

This is coming from a long-time Nintendo fan that ran his 13yr old butt to buy the very first Metroid Prime game.

@Friendly It’s crazy how possible this is lol.

@TrueBlueYoshi At this stage, I'd say theres a good chance of that happening which is fine

@Tendogamerxxx A whole generation behind what? Certainly not any handheld, which the Switch most certainly qualifies as. It's a full generation ahead of the 3DS and certainly more powerful than the Vita as well.

If Nintendo is developing MP4 for Switch 2 from the ground up then that makes it twice that development has restarted. This rarely ends well (just see what happened with Final Fantasy XV). It also means breaking their promise to the Switch userbase, which would be a terrible business decision.

I think the only way it ends up as a Switch 2 exclusive is if it's delayed for so long that the Switch is no longer even in production, similar to what happened with Pikmin 3 and 4.

Better on Switch 2 then released as a bad game. Sure got Dread so Switch unlike the N64 got an entry

I hope they build this for the switch 2. And make it a graphical showcase. What the new machine is capable of.

Only four and a half decades left until it releases you guys!

Well I think it's fairly safe to say that if we DON'T see it this month in the direct, it's not coming to the Switch. So no news in this case will still be news.

Unless the Switch 2 is not out till November 25 which would be surprising in and of itself.

@FirstEmperor They can break their promise all they want! As long as the game is built on a newer system with better graphics/FPS/and gameplay, they can break their initial promise however they please. The only vocal and unsupportive minority, is going be the broke/cheapskate minority unwilling to upgrade their systems. It’s time to move on! If Nintendo has AAA titles in the works, don’t bother bringing to the switch. Make them happen on the new system. Don’t let old tech stifle creativity. They Gave you over 5 years of having a home console. Learn to MOVE ON!

I didn't mind the wait tbh. I prefer they get it right.

Realistically the game has only been in development for 4 years. And this is not the most outlandish wait for a game I've ever seen. Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018 and it's still apparently no where near done. Dragon Age Dreadwolf was announced in 2018 and is only getting released now as Veilguard. Games take time to develop and I hardly count the first 3 years of Prime 4's development as it all got scrapped 4 years ago.

@Tendogamerxxx Wrong. The vocal minority is the one that wants Nintendo to abandon their 130 million+ Switch userbase for no good reason. Metroid has never been a system seller so making it exclusive for a new system would be an incredibly stupid business decision.

Taking the first two years out and leaving 5 years and depending on the size of the studio, 5 years is far to long for a game like this and the system it is on and single player only.

Depends on the size of the studio Retro has about 180 so smaller than I thought, but still 5 years at 180 staff is many many hours of work.

I'm really hoping we have some news about it in this June Direct, but when it comes to anything Nintendo, I've learned not to get my hopes up.

Remember, if they release it for Switch 2, then they lied to everyone.

Convinced it'll be a launch title for the next console. There's a reason they haven't shown it off, because it won't be on current hardware. As of right now the only other major franchise I can see them launching with is Mario Kart. It's too soon after the last Zelda, we've not long ago had a side scrolling Mario. I'm thinking they want to launch with Metroid.

@Snatcher came here to post this. Should be a poll over which one comes out first.

My money's still on Silksong.

@ShonenJump121 We're actually just a few years away from two decades in fact!

@Tandoori I really hope you’re right 😭

@Spider-Kev Yeah the only thing holding that game back was the lack of second analog

@d2k They want to make sure it sells this time. So they’re probably trying to make it more appealing to more people

@Baker1000 They’re definitely ready soon with a new 3D Mario too.

It’s been so long now, may as well just hold on until it’s a masterpiece

@FirstEmperor The Pikmin 4 saga wasn't funny to me, there's a piece of my brain that's still scarred from keeping track of all of that info for so many years. 😂

Post 38 for a quick recap.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/09/pikmin-4-is-set-for-a-2023-release-following-years-of-speculation

@Yalloo I preordered Bayonetta 3 when it was announced, Amazon kept sending me yearly updates about it being delayed, but in the end I still got my 10% Prime discount of whatever it was, think I paid $50 instead of $60.

Now if Silksong releases, well that will be something.

Retro games make some excellent games, but dang they take a long time to makes games. I am surprised they are still around.

@WiiWareWave keep voting for 'free' healthcare and education and thats all you'll ever 'have' .. hope this is a lesson for many to reduce governments everywhere

It was pretty obvious it was moved to next gen a long while ago.

@Blue_Dread They lie every generation.

Hello, you may have forgotten me and my friend’s name? My name is F Zero and my friends is Punch Out, can we enter the conversation please? It’s been a while for the both of us to.

The whole Metroid Prime 4 situation is just embarrassing. Not the fact that they restarted development (that's perfectly fine and likely for the best) but the fact that they announced it when they didn't have anything to show.

Thankfully we got Metroid Dread which is in my opinion the best Metroid since Zero Mission. Metroid Prime Remastered was good too.

I don't mind. just live your lives dudes. it's ok if it never comes out

At least we know it's in development. Assuming it's going to be on the quality level of the previous Primes, it also goes to show how long it takes to develop a game of that caliber.

This game has now been in development for longer than Link was sealed in the Chamber of Sages.

I ordered it from Amazon 7 years ago today. They were doing 20% off for prime members on games back then. It’s still sitting in my Upcoming Orders.

It's going to be a launch window game for the Switch 2 at this stage. Maybe cross-gen too. It'd make more sense to remaster the MP2 and MP3 and get those out for holiday this year so the original trilogy will at be playable in some form on current platforms, especially if Switch 2 is BC.

@andyg1412 Rushing it out in a shoddy state would have been the much greater mistake. The fact that Nintendo has taken this long to make sure they get it right is why they're the cream of the crop.

Hopefully it's not a very pretty but ultimately overblown and boring release like Dread. But at this point I'd rather have an HD Samus Returns. Prime ended smoothly with the trilogy. I don't know what else they could do without either more of the same or risking a manhandling of what made it good like Dread. If it happens that's cool and I'll check it out but otherwise meh.

nintendo alrdy stated prime 4 development is going well so let retro take their time but in the mean time i hope they shadow drop prime 2 and 3 remasters between now and prime 4 official release date.

if Nintendo has let Retro Studios develop Metroid Prime 4 in the first place, we should be already be playing the game a long time ago.

It was never like Nintendo to be so mum about a game in development for so long, but I have no doubt this will be a Switch 2 announcement. Expectations are going to be at an all time high once it releases, so I really hope it can deliver more than the first 3 games did.

As you have said it has been 5 years since Retro took over. We don't know if any of the pre-production or anything transferred over if not then it is on a totally normal game life cycle.
I know people are waiting on the game but just let them make it if they're devoting the time and budget to it then that is for the better. Took use forever to get Dread and that was absolutely amazing.
Best to just forget it and pick it back up when they actually announce something.

At this point, MP4 is almost guaranteed to be a cross-gen game.

@KoopaTheGamer In my opinion it is a good thing they didn't or they'd be locked into things they (Retro Studios) don't want. Go read some Final Fantasy XV interviews and you'll notice a trend of the director and staff being locked into parts of Versus XIII that they had to include because it was shown off in early builds. I'd much rather Retro being free to do their own vision than locked into what the original devs wanted to do and failed to achieve. It's unfortunate that Retro is bagged with the "long development cycle" even though they have hardly had anytime with the game in comparison to other comparably sized releases.