Nintendo's E3 2018 press conference wasn't particularly rich with reveals or announcements, but one specific game's absence was of note. Metroid Prime 4, announced during E3 2017, was not mentioned in any capacity in the E3 2018 Nintendo Direct. It wasn't long after the end of the Nintendo Direct, however, that Nintendo provided some comments on just why Metroid Prime 4 is missing from E3 this year.

The disappointing news is that Nintendo simply doesn't have anything to show for Metroid Prime 4. Nintendo marketing manager Bill Trinen offered up the following explanation:

"I think the main thing is, as people have probably realized by now – we show things when we think we’re ready to show them. And when we think we’re ready to show Metroid Prime, we’ll show Metroid Prime."

Trinen goes on to re-explain that Metroid Prime 4, or more accurately Metroid Prime 4's logo, was only shown at E3 2017 because it "was the first year for the hardware." From here on Nintendo will return to what it says is its usual approach to E3, which is to focus on games launching in the relatively near future. Metroid Prime 4 is sadly not one of those games.

The frustrations over Metroid Prime 4's absence from E3 2018 wouldn't likely be so acute if not for a couple reasons contextual to E3 2018. For one, while Metroid Prime 4 was absent from E3, the Metroid franchise certainly wasn't. Ridley was announced as a brand new playable fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch and Samus was also featured in the Ridley announcement's cinematic trailer. The hype for more Metroid was high Tuesday morning.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, Nintendo's E3 2018 line-up was surprisingly thin. Both Pokemon Let's Go and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate look incredible and are sure to be hugely successful, but relatively few games were featured beyond those two. Nintendo Switch owners looking towards 2019 were hoping for a look at the next big thing. They just might end up having to wait for 2019 to get that look, it seems.

When Metroid Prime 4 arrives, it will undoubtedly be met with unbelievable excitement. But for now, it might be fair to feel a little frustrated.

Metroid Prime 4 has no currently announced release window and is a Nintendo Switch exclusive.

Source: Game Informer