Fresh insights from a respected source in the gaming news arena hint that the much-awaited Metroid Prime 4 could be approaching the final stages of its development. Fans of the Metroid Prime series have been yearning for a new installment since 2007's Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, eagerly anticipating the continuation of Samus Aran's spine-tingling first-person saga. The announcement of Metroid Prime 4 at E3 2017 stirred excitement, but the journey to completion has been fraught with delays.
Initially placed in the hands of Bandai Namco Studios, Nintendo opted to reboot the development process in 2019, entrusting the game to Kensuke Tanabe, an original Metroid Prime series co-producer, and Retro Studios, who were responsible for the original trilogy. Since the reset, updates have been scarce, with only occasional hiring updates from Retro Studios and whispers of a possible release this summer percolating among the fans.
A recent video from Nintendo-focused YouTuber SuperMetalDave64 has gathered hints that Metroid Prime 4’s production might be rounding off. One vital piece of evidence noted is quality checks purportedly carried out around ten months ago on the game's demo builds, as inferred from Edwin Atwell's resume. Atwell is a seasoned quality tester involved with other major game franchises. To bolster the workforce for Metroid Prime 4, Retro Studios also seems to have been on a hiring spree during 2021 and 2022, seeking individuals with a wide array of expertise in the industry.
Another intriguing collaboration believed to have taken place is between Retro Studios and Next-Gen Dreams 3D—an outfit recognized for crafting captivating debut trailers for games. Next-Gen Dreams 3D has a track record with various developers, including their recent work on the inaugural trailer for the FPS Judas developed by Ghost Story Games. Curiously, Retro Studios' insignia was spotted on the Next-Gen Dreams 3D’s website, listed among the studio's partners, before it was removed.
Although these clues provided by SuperMetalDave64 are not definitive proof of an impending reveal, they suggest that Metroid Prime 4 is making significant strides toward its launch. It has been nearly five years since Retro Studios overtook the project, and in the interim, titles like Metroid Dread in 2021 and Metroid Prime Remastered have satiated the appetite of Samus's followers. If the leads uncovered by SuperMetalDave64 hold substance, it may not be long before fans are treated to the return of Samus in the forthcoming Metroid Prime 4.