Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally inching closer to its long-awaited release. First announced all the way back at Nintendo’s showcase at E3 2017, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond went through a long period of radio silence before finally seeing a gameplay reveal last year. Now, gamers are closer than ever to experiencing the proper follow-up to 2007’s Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
While Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally set for its long-awaited release this year, it feels like Nintendo and developer Retro Studios have been holding some of its cards close to their chests thus far. Gamers have only gotten to see some very short portions of the game, several of which seem to be the early stages of the game. As much excitement as the game has already created, it feels like Nintendo wants to save the game’s big hook until the game is closer to release.
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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Should Just Be the Tip of the Iceberg for the Switch 2
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond undoubtedly has players excited, but Nintendo needs to keep the Metroid ball rolling with even more releases.
Nintendo Has Remained Secretive With Metroid Prime 4
The first Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gameplay trailer came during the Nintendo Direct in June 2024. The gameplay seems to be taken from a fairly early portion of the game, given that Samus’ health is still at 99 with no Energy Tank upgrades. Nintendo also seemed keen to show gameplay features familiar to longtime players, such as the Morph Ball and Scanning abilities.
The March 2025 Nintendo Direct showcased more gameplay, notably illustrating one of the game’s new features in Samus’ psychic powers. Even so, it felt as though this trailer was focused largely on the game’s new setting, Planet Viewros. Throughout the trailer, the bulk of the gameplay shows Samus’ health bar with one Energy Tank (though it eventually grows to two bars by the end), indicating this portion of the gameplay comes not long after that of the first trailer.
Metroid Prime 4’s Subtle Approach Isn’t Unusual For Nintendo
Nintendo may be holding its cards to its chest with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond because it believes there is still plenty of time to show off the new game. While this new trailer showed some interesting new content, it did not confirm the game’s release date, only reiterating that the game will be out in 2025. Nintendo probably feels there is plenty of time to drip-feed new content into the game, especially with the launch of the new Nintendo Today app that will offer daily Nintendo news updates.
This is also not the first time Nintendo has played the subtlety game with one of its big exclusives, as the publisher was notoriously secretive with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom before its release. Specifically, Nintendo outwardly refused to reveal the game’s subtitle until less than a year before its eventual release, only referring to it as “The Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” for several years. Nintendo has surely given Metroid Prime 4: Beyond top billing on account of the sheer amount of time fans have had to wait for it, and may simply want to hold onto its surprises until the game is almost ready.
Metroid Prime 4 May Save Its Hype For The Switch 2
One elephant in the room that may also be a factor in Nintendo’s decision to withhold information may be the impending release of the Nintendo Switch 2. While it’s currently unconfirmed whether Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be a cross-generation game between the Switch and the Switch 2, there’s a chance its release could coincide with the new platform. Furthermore, with the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct coming up, Nintendo may have more to say about Metroid Prime 4 at this show.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond no doubt stands as one of the year’s most anticipated games, but Nintendo has bitten its lip with its early gameplay showings. This isn’t unusual for the publisher, which may simply be holding its biggest surprises for its players to find. Whenever the game is ready to go, it’s in good position to help the Nintendo Switch go out with a bang.
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