The Switch is home to many of Nintendo's biggest franchises, but one that is so far absent from it is Metroid. Metroid Prime 4 is currently in development, but who knows how much longer fans need to wait for it to come out. However, a new rumor is suggesting that 3DS game Metroid: Samus Returns is being ported to the console.
The rumor comes from YouTuber PapaGenos, who spotted an image of the game apparently being played on the Switch on Nintendo's own website. Specifically, it comes from a listing for a Super Metroid skin and screen protector set for the Switch, which uses an image of someone playing the console, and on the screen appears to be the opening cutscene for Metroid: Samus Returns.
However, Metroid fan website Shinesparkers believes it has found proof that debunks this Metroid: Samus Returns rumor. According to their findings, the product in question has had themes matching other Nintendo titles like Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2. There are similar images of those products showing the associated game running on Switch, except they're just pictures of the games being superimposed on a Switch screen.
What's more, the product has been available since 2018 and the picture of Samus Returns supposedly being played on the Switch has existed since then too. If it's been around for two years, then it's probably safe to say that the port isn't real. The picture was probably just picked to help promote the product and it being from a 3DS game is an oversight.
At the time of writing, Nintendo hasn't commented on the rumor and the image hasn't been removed from the website. If Nintendo was working on this Metroid port, it likely would've taken the image down by now.
What probably helped this rumor pick up steam is that Nintendo has inadvertently leaked its own games in the past; back in September, it prematurely revealed Kirby Fighters 2 before officially announcing it.
What's more, there have been hopes for some of the 3DS' library to be brought to Switch for a while now, such as Metroid: Samus Returns, A Link Between Worlds and Fire Emblem Awakening, so as to give them a second lease of life now that the 3DS isn't being supported anymore.
As for Metroid Prime 4, though there has been no concrete information about the game itself, Retro Studios has been on a hiring spree throughout the year, with its latest hire being a new producer, whose credentials include the Grand Theft Auto series and Overwatch.
Metroid: Samus Returns is available on Nintendo 3DS.
Source: Nintendo Life, Nintendo