Summary
Metroid Prime 4: Beyondis perhaps the most highly anticipated game of Nintendo’s 2025 line-up, with fans having waited over eight years since the game’s initial announcement in 2017 for the release—nearly the entirety of the Nintendo Switch’s lifespan. AlthoughMetroid Prime 4: Beyondlacks a specific release date outside a general 2025 window, the game feels more tangible than ever thanks to the gameplay showcases and promise of a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition at launch. However, the longer 2025 goes on, the smaller the window Nintendo has to release another long-rumoredMetroidproject ahead ofMetroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Rumors have swirled about a fullMetroid Prime Trilogyremasterever since Nintendo re-released the first game asMetroid Prime Remasteredin 2023. Despite the game receiving near-universal acclaim, remasters of the rest of theMetroid Primeseries have yet to manifest, though rumors that these releases are still planned continue to persist. As 2025 marches on, it’s starting to feel less and less likely that Nintendo will capitalize on the ideal time to catch players up on theMetroid Primeseries ahead of its next entry with remasters of the remaining games.
The Window For More Metroid Prime Series Remasters is Rapidly Closing
Metroid Prime 3 and Hunters Trademark Renewals Add Fuel to the Remaster Fire
Hope for moreMetroid Primeremasters has been renewed thanks to recenttrademark renewals forMetroid Prime 3: CorruptionandMetroid Prime Hunters, the Nintendo DS spin-off. While it’s very possible these renewals could simply be Nintendo ensuring they retain trademarks for their legacy IPs, it also could mean that the company is planning to utilize these IPs in the near future. If the latter is the case, releasingMetroid Prime 3: CorruptionandMetroid Prime Hunterswould be a great way to prepare players forMetroid Prime 4: Beyond, provided thatMetroid Prime 2: Echoesgets a release in there as well.
Metroid Prime Remasteredoriginally released as a digital-only title with a physical version releasing later, so it’s possibleMetroid Prime 2,3, andHuntersremasters could follow a similar release format.
In particular,Metroid Prime Huntersis important toPrime 4since it introduces Sylux, who is set to be the main antagonist of the upcoming title. The DS entry is often overlooked due to the limitations of the handheld console’s graphics and an emphasis on its multiplayer component, but the story ofMetroid Prime Huntersgives players their first look at Sylux and his motivations as a bounty hunter out to take down the Galactic Federation and Samus by association.Metroid Prime 3: Corruptionis also a surprisingly important entry for establishing Sylux’s character, as although his appearance is brief, the game’s secret ending further establishes a connection between him and Samus that sets the stage forPrime 4: Beyond.
With Metroid Prime 4 Looming on the Horizon, Remasters Are Needed Sooner Rather Than Later
With that said, these foundational parts ofSylux’s arc in theMetroid Primeseries only help supportPrime 4if players can experience them before the new game’s release. At this point, it seems likely thatMetroid Prime 4: Beyondwill be released sometime in Fall 2025, with either October or November being the safest bet. Therefore, if Nintendo wants to give players access to the completePrimesaga beforeBeyond’s release, there isn’t much time left for these remaster rumors to come to fruition.
Releasing the rest of thePrimeseries as remasters afterPrime 4can still help provide some context for Sylux’s actions in the new game. However, depending on how the events ofBeyondplay out, Sylux’s past appearances may not be as impactful for the player as they would have been if players experienced them before jumping intoPrime 4. It’s possible that Nintendo still has some tricks up its sleeve for 2025 after theSwitch 2’s launch, and these could include moreMetroid Primeremasters.
GameCube titles being added to the Nintendo Switch Online library for Switch 2 owners could provide players the chance to experienceMetroid Prime 2: Echoes, even if it doesn’t get a remastered release.
