One of the most highly-anticipated games from Nintendo's library is Metroid Prime 4, a new entry in the Metroid Prime series. While the game was first announced in 2017, the game got delayed as it restarted its development two years later, going from Bandai Namco to the original studio that developed the Metroid Prime trilogy, Retro Studios. A few years after that rebooted development announcement, however, there has been absolutely no news since then.
This is compounded by the fact that it has more than 1,000 days after Metroid Prime 4 had announced that it restarted development, to the frustration of some fans. The only other mention of the elusive game was at E3 2021 in passing, saying that Nintendo and Retro Studios were hard at work developing it, right before the reveal of Metroid Dread. While Metroid Dread was released this year to the jubilation of fans and critics, Metroid Prime 4 isn't so lucky and doesn't have a release date.
In a recent financial report from Nintendo, it covered the second half of the company's fical year, which will end in 2022. This report covered various aspects of the company, including Nintendo Switch games coming out in 2022. This includes the similarly anticipated Bayonetta 3, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Splatoon 3, and the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. These are all scheduled to come out next year, while Metroid Prime 4, which is also on the launch schedule, is currently listed as TBA.
As such, Metroid Prime 4 will more than likely miss another year and will not be showcased in any capacity in 2022. Even The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's sequel, with a temporary name on Nintendo's report will be able to be released next year. Many fans who have been waiting for this game will be disappointed to hear that there likely won't be any news for another long while.
Meanwhile, other fans are celebrating the Metroid series' coming back in full flourish, thanks to the release of Metroid Dread. It encapsulates the best parts of the series, from its dark and oppressive atmosphere to the deep environmental storytelling, combined with the occassional cinematic cutscenes.
Fans are hoping some aspects of Metroid Dread can somehow be incorporated into Metroid Prime 4, even more so than ever since Dread brought an end to the current Metroid arc. For the time being however, fans are going to have to wait until Nintendo and Retro Studios are able to confidently give a release window before more news can be given.
Metroid Prime 4 is currently in development.
Source: Nintendo