When Nintendo first revealed Metroid Dread at E3 2021, it labeled the game as "Metroid 5." Some fans may have been scratching their head as to why this title was shown before the official Metroid Dread title, but there's a good reason for it. Nintendo wanted to convey the message that Metroid Dread is the fifth installment in the core Metroid series, continuing the storyline that started with the NES original. And not only is Metroid Dread a continuation of that story, but it appears it will also be bringing it to an end.
Longtime Metroid developer Yoshio Sakamoto appeared during the Nintendo Treehouse Live segment following the E3 2021 Nintendo Direct. During this segment, Sakamoto discussed how the core 2D Metroid series has mostly stayed focus on Samus Aran and her relationship with the titular Metroid creatures from one game to the next. However, Metroid Dread "will mark an end to that story arc."
What exactly this means for the future of the Metroid franchise remains to be seen, but fans shouldn't take this as a sign that new Metroid games will go away. After all, Metroid Prime 4 is in active development at Retro Studios for the Nintendo Switch, and the previous three Metroid Prime games show that Nintendo has already been willing to step away from the main story arc from time to time.
Metroid Dread marks the first new 2D Metroid game since Zero Mission released in 2004, and the game preceding it narratively, Metroid Fusion, was first released in 2002. Those who want to catch up on the story can play the original Metroid through the Nintendo Switch Online service, and they could also play Metroid: Samus Returns on a Nintendo 3DS if they have one. Super Metroid is also available to play through Switch Online, though Metroid Fusion is mostly stuck on the Game Boy Advance.
3DS Ambassador Program members have access to Metroid Fusion, and those with Wii U consoles can play the game through that system's Virtual Console service. At the time of this writing, there is no way to play Metroid Fusion on a Nintendo Switch. Some fans are hoping that will change, but Nintendo has so far shown no desire to add anymore of its classic games to Switch Online beyond NES and SNES titles.
This may make it difficult for fans to catch up in regards to Metroid Dread's story, which is a bit of a shame, but many are likely happy that there's a new 2D Metroid game coming out at all. More information on Metroid Dread should come to light in the months leading up to its release, so fans should stay tuned.
Metroid Dread launches October 8, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.