Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is Finally Coming!
Twenty years ago, Metroid fans received the Prime franchise – a single-player adventure with Samus as the main lead of the games. Three games of the series have been incredibly successful, which is why the teaser of the 4th game dropped at E3 2017 was welcomed more than heartwarmingly. Since the release of Metroid Prime for GameCube, the fans have been eager to explore further the interesting world of alien planets with the help of courageous Samus Aran. Let’s conclude everything we know about the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond so far.
Since the first announcement, the game has turned out to be a promise and a mystery. Long years of silence and countless speculations were eventually broken, as Nintendo officially revealed gameplay and plans to release Metroid Prime 4 in 2025.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – The Road So Far
There has been no easy road to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. On June 13, 2017, Nintendo presented the first Metroid Prime 4: Beyond teaser at E3 2017 by showing its logo and the announcement of a new Metroid Prime journey on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Nintendo provided a setback in 2019. The game, initially managed by Bandai Namco, was not progressing as expected. Retro Studios, the developers of previous Prime games, assumed ownership once again. Supporters were terrified – more waiting. There was, however, a sunny side to the news.
In Texas, Retro Studios had already created the first trilogy into a legendary production mixing shooting back to first-person, investigations, and puzzles with a Gothic atmosphere. There was no better team to work with on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Let’s skip the timeline up to June 18, 2024. A two-minute trailer revealed that Samus was landing on an attack planet, scanned Space Pirates, rolled into a Morph Ball, and was confronted by an unknown Metroids creature in her hands. The name Beyond, along with a 2025 release period, caused a panic wave in the community.
In March 2025, a second trailer revealed a new planet called Viewros, new psychic powers, and a sleek new suit on Samus. However, this game is real. It’s coming. And it is turning out to be a huge hit for Nintendo fans.
| Year | Event |
| 2017 | At first announced at E3 with a logo, with Bandai Namco as a major developer |
| 2019 | The development was rebooted. Retro Studios takes over once again |
| 2023 | Metroid Prime Remastered release, fueling speculation about Metroid Prime 4. |
| 2024 | June’s Nintendo Direct reveals Metroid Prime 4: Beyond with a 2025 release window |
| 2025 | March’s Direct revealed more gameplay, confirming Viewros and psychic abilities. |
Official Proofs and Facts About Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
To prevent any rumors and speculations, let’s list some of the officially proven and even revealed facts about the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond:
- A first-person action-adventure game by Retro Studios;
- The game will be released in both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025;
- There is no Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date;
- New psychic abilities of Samus for solving puzzles and combats;
- The appearance of Sylux, a competing bounty hunter featured in previous games;
- The storyline will start at Viewros – a new planet with an unknown game design and map;
- Samus has a new suit;
- The Switch 2 version of the game will have improved graphics with 4K at 60 FPS or 1080p at 120 FPS. The support of Joy-Con 2 controls;
- It is based on Unreal Engine 5.
What Do We Know About Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Storylines?
Metroid Prime is a narrative adventure. The story pieces are scattered all over the scan logs, when players scan the surroundings and find the Chozo artifacts. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will make some new attempts and bring even more lore to the walkthrough. This is what we may think we can see, to what we do and have seen.
The initial trilogy was focused on Phazon, which is the radioactive substance connected to both Metroid Prime and to the downfall of the Chozo on Tallon IV. During the events of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Samus ended the era of Phazon because she destroyed it. Phazon and Dark Samus are finished, Kensuke Tanabe dogsat in 2015. Metroid Prime 4 will follow different paths but with a hint at the previous adventures.
The Major Antagonist
Sylux is a bounty hunter who shows up in 2006’s Metroid Prime: Hunters. He despises Galactic Federation and Samus, but his other motives remain unclear at the moment. He possesses high-tech technology and is strictly affiliated with Metroids.
The trailers of Prime 4 demonstrate that Sylux is at the helm of the Space Pirates and is in charge of Metroids. This can be an indication of a larger conspiracy. Is Sylux creating an army? Is he connected with the older acquaintances, the Chozo who raised Samus and made the Metroids? Hopefully, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will disclose the answers to all these questions.
New and Old Worlds to Explore
Planet Viewros is a totally new location for investigation. According to Metroid Dread (2021), this jungle planet is the hub for the dangerous flora and fauna, the inhabitants of which Samus confront and encounter ancient statues that endow her with new psychic abilities. There is also a confirmation about the vanished Chozo settlement. The Chozo is one of the major themes of Metroid games; their technology and predictions have already influenced Samus.
Metroid: Dread also unveiled the tribes of the Thoha and Mawkin Chozo. The Mawkin experimented on Metroids, and Prime 4 could explore further, for example, by displaying a forgotten branch of the Chozo on Viewros or with failed experiments.
There is another thought: Viewros might conceal another foe, an ancient being or AI that existed before the Chozo comes out after Sylux gets involved. The subtitle of Metroid Prime 4 – Beyond – might also be regarded as indicative of the metaphysical style. There are hints at time travel or alternate dimensions touched on in the previous Metroid games (Dark Aether in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes).
Samus’s Next Mission
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will begin in the Cosmic Year 20X9. Samus goes to the planet Tanamaar to retrieve a Galactic Federation artifact. Space Pirates, headed by Sylux, attack a research base, and Metroids participate in the attack. Samus retaliates, and once again, she is taken to Viewros and gets lost there.
Such a premise is typical for Metroid Prime. Read the Reddit thread about previous Samus adventures to understand what we mean. One again, Samus is outnumbered, outgunned, and cannot fit in the hostile world. The artifact may represent a Chozo relic, a weapon, or the key to secrets behind Viewros. Sylux as a villain gives the personal stakes.
Sylux is a slick, clever competitor as opposed to the brute Ridley. The same may be said about the issue of his hatred towards the Federation. Possibly because he was a Federation bounty hunter who went rogue. Or maybe because he lived through a massacre like Samus did. The latest trailer has the words “The Chosen One” appear, suggesting that this is a prophecy, potentially belonging to the ancient inhabitants of Chozo or perhaps the Viewros.
The game may reveal more about the identity of Samus. Metroid Dread considered her Metroid genes and Chozo ancestry. Prime 4 can even go further and request whether she is a real human being or should defend the galaxy. Sylux would challenge the consistency of Samus with the Federation. There is an additional level of the Metroids.
The following table shows the potential storylines in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
| Narrative Element | Details |
| Protagonist | Samus Aran, bounty hunter with Chozo and Metroid’s DNA |
| Antagonist | Sylux, rogue bounty hunter with Metroid allies and anti-Federation motives |
| Setting | Viewros (jungle planet), Tanamaar (Federation facility) |
| Plot Driver | Galactic Federation artifact, possibly a Chozo superweapon |
| Themes | Isolation, destiny, Chozo legacy, betrayal, cosmic horror |
Gameplay Mechanics in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Metroid Prime games combine first-person shooting, zooming, exploration, puzzle-solving mechanics, and a creepy environment. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is expected to be even more experimental. The trailers refer to the old-school gameplay mechanics, such as the lock-on system, the Morph Ball, and scanning, and to the new ones, such as psychic powers and Switch 2 modifications.
Core Mechanics
Most of the game will be based on a first-person perspective when Samus is blasting Space Pirates and aliens with a powerful cannon. The classic lock-on system will make the battles feel skillful as you can continue the movement and aim at the same time (circle-strafing).
The Morph Ball will enable you to squeeze through narrow crevices along the way, similar to Metroid Prime Remastered. Scanning also enables Samus to research enemies, items, and lore by placing additional information into the Logbook with secrets of Viewros.
The most surprising is the psychic powers. Trailers depict Samus bending and breaking the beams and solving the puzzles with telekinetic abilities. It means you could be picking up objects, activating machines, and stunning the enemy with these new skills. When a Space Pirate is about to launch a plasma shot, you may also deflect it by moving it. These skills could be related to Chozo technology and improved when Samus gets new artifacts.
Exploration and World Design
Viewros resembles a giant network of alien species in a hostile world. There are rumors that the game will feature free roam with a heavy focus on exploration. Open-world locations are expected. There are rumors of wall-running, parkour, and zero-gravity areas, which allow more verticality and dynamic mobility to movement.
The exploration of the series flourishes in loneliness. There is a good chance that Samus will essentially start her way with weak powers. She has lost some equipment in a catastrophe at the beginning (a Metroid staple). You will have to search for the power-ups, such as Ice Beam, Grapple Beam, or brand new weapons, adapted to the enemies of Viewros. The scanning system can be elaborated to provide interactivity, like using glyphs used by the Chozos to access secret locations.
Fights and Bosses
The shooting will be combined with strategy. Look forward to Space Pirate waves, mutated creatures, and Metroid species. New psychic powers may add depth, such as freezing enemies or chaining attacks. Prime games always feature grand boss fights. We should also expect environmental puzzles and an interactive playspace that may be intertwined with boss battles.
Enhancements on Switch 2
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2 will be a game changer. Better graphics, new framerates, and Joy-Con 2 controls are the main enhancements expected by fans. According to rumors, the Switch 2 model can also have exclusive features, such as new areas or VR support. Metroid Prime Remastered demonstrated that even on the original Switch, Retro is capable of stunning visuals, and Prime 4 is going to challenge it to the max.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Release Date
Despite all the rumors, leaked screenshots, and other important facts, we still have no official release date for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Nintendo has confirmed it for 2025 with high expectations for November. Some fans claim the release date will happen much sooner, at the end of August, 2025.
What is Next for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
Besides the well-known and officially shared facts about the game, we’ve gathered some thoughts, opinions, insights, and rumors about the future development of the Metroid Prime series.
Cross-Generation Release
Several sources indicate that Prime 4 will be released on Switch and Switch 2, as was the case in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Wii U and Switch. The Switch 2 version will be visually appealing and better-performing, but not at the cost of the original Switch model, which has to be accessible to Retro.
Trilogy Remasters
The demand for the remastering of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Prime 3: Corruption is loud because of the success of Metroid Prime Remastered in 2023. Renewed trademarks between Prime 3 and Hunters fanned speculation even further. Let’s hope for the upcoming announcements, though, we won’t get remastered versions before the Metroid 4 Prime release.
FAQ
Why is the Metroid Prime 4 release taking so long?
The development was rebooted in 2019, with Retro Studios taking over. Building a massive, polished game using Unreal Engine 5 takes time, and we hope the wait is over as of 2025.
Is Metroid Prime 4 coming to Switch or Switch 2?
It’s coming to both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with enhanced visuals and performance on Switch 2.
Does Metroid Prime 4 exist?
Yes, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond surely exists. The trailers revealed in June 2024 and March 2025 confirm it’s in development for a probable 2025 release.
Conclusion
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond seems to be closer than we thought. The game promises to be more than just another sequel. After so many years of delays, reboots, and radio silence, Samus Aran is ready to blast back into our lives. The trailers tease a game that honors the Metroid Prime legacy while pushing into new, bold mechanics and lore. We expect the launch during the fall months of 2025. Keep on following this blog to learn more about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
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