Metroid fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for nearly two decades. Officially announced in June 2017, the hype grew as preorders became available soon after. However, in a surprising turn of events, longstanding preorders were canceled, raising concerns among fans.
While the cancellation of these preorders could lead to speculation regarding further delays or even the game’s potential cancellation, it is presumed to be an error rather than a sign of any serious issues. Reports indicate that some customers, who had maintained their preorders for years, received notifications of the cancellation, adding to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the title.
Since the initial announcement, Metroid Prime 4 has undergone significant changes, with Nintendo revealing in 2019 that the project’s original development had been scrapped. The company decided to restart the project with Retro Studios, the renowned team behind the acclaimed Metroid Prime trilogy. In the interim, Nintendo has successfully expanded the Metroid universe, introducing titles like Metroid Dread and a remastered edition of the original Metroid Prime on Nintendo Switch. There are also plans for remastered versions of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for the platform.
As fans await further updates, they can look forward to Metroid’s iconic character, Samus Aran, continuing to appear in the Super Smash Bros. franchise. For those looking to dive deeper into the lore, now is a great time to catch up on the previous Metroid Prime installments. Nintendo has confirmed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is set for a 2025 release, although an exact launch date has yet to be announced.
