image

It’s been almost 4 years since Nintendo released a video stating that Metroid Prime 4’s development was basically being completely restarted. At this same time, Nintendo revealed that Retro Studios would be working on the project going forward. Unfortunately, we haven’t really heard a peep about the game since that announcement video.

While Retro is no doubt continuing efforts on Metroid Prime 4, it seems like they might have something else cooking. Just to be 100% clear, this information doesn’t come from an official Retro statement. Instead, this is potential info gleaned from various job listings and LinkedIn profiles.

According to Doctre81, who regularly digs through LinkedIn to find potential updates on projects, Retro Studios could very well be working on something else with Nintendo. From details gathered through a variety of job listings, it seems somewhat possible that Retro is working on a new game based on an established IP. Of course, no mention of that IP is made, so any discussion of a franchise is pure speculation at this point.

These listings do show verbiage that indicates this project is separate from Metroid Prime 4, and some of the jobs in particular wouldn’t make much sense for Metroid Prime 4, especially considering Samus’ next adventure is at least 4 years into development at this point. We’ll certainly keep an eye on all of these listings and see if any other info pops up that makes this insight a bit more concrete.

Add Comment

Comments (13)

kingbroly

1y ago

This 'unannounced title' is most likely Metroid Prime 4, but with the subtitle, since that hasn't been announced. I know people want to believe Retro is working on some super secret project, but I simply don't see it.


sligeach_eire

1y ago

What have Retro Studios been doing since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze? 9 years ago that released. 9 YEARS! They were initially rejected for development of Metroid Prime 4. Why weren't they the logical go-to-devdloper from the get go? Only called in when things went pear shaped. I've watched so many videos from ex Retro Studios employees recently. The studio that made those great games doesn't exist anymore. Nintendo have hired so many new Retro Studios employees, hopefully it works out. But to me at least, they're Retro Studios in name only nowadays, until they prove otherwise. Ramble. Ramble.

Edited 1 time

tendonin

1y ago

It's not *actually* strange that MP4 has taken this long considering:
a) The development restart
b) The pandemic hitting not long after
c) Game development not being the same as it was in the 2000's (given how normalized crunch was back then we shouldn't complain too hard)

And if there's another project too, that's exhibit d).

Edited 1 time

sligeach_eire

1y ago

Metroid Prime 4 isn't happening on Switch. Maybe I'm wrong, but when this reboot was announced, I thought not a chance until the next system. Prime wowed people on Gamecube. On Switch it would underwhelm people. The system is underwhelming, it's not Retro Studios fault. A beefy new system could help sell this struggling franchise. A last gen port could exacerbate just what we've been missing, when compared.

Edited 1 time

thedestructo94

1y ago

It better be a 3rd entry in their DKC series but with K.Rool and the Kremlings this time as the main antagonists. K.Rool is now in Smash Bros. No more excuses to exclude him Retro/Nintendo.


I think you’re right. There’s a reason this game has had no public updates in 4 years. It’s not coming to Switch. The Switch 2 will need big titles at launch. This is undoubtedly one of them.

Strangely, mainline Zelda games for generations now have had a similar issue. The game “designed” for that console releases so late in the lifecycle that it inevitably gets dual-ported to current *and* next-gen console. Happened with Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and now Tears of the Kingdom??? Is a new Switch imminent? It seems hard to believe Nintendo would “waste” such a big Zelda game on the console in its end-game…

Edit: My mistake. Skyward Sword released late in the Wii’s lifespan, but did not dual-release on Wii U. Though I’m sure for the sake of the Wii U, I bet Nintendo wishes it had.

Edited 1 time

Not gonna happen. The Kremlings are property of Rare. Just like with all the other racers in the Diddy Kong Racing roster.


shmuga9

1y ago

@mereel

Rare doesn’t own the Kremlins or King K. Rool. There was a DK Bongo Racing game on the Wii, they appeared in Super Sluggers, and Microsoft/Rare isn’t credited in Smash Ultimate’s base game, which includes King K. Rool. It’s only when Steve and Banjo arrived that there was a credit. The only reason they didn’t appear in other DKC games was because Retro wanted to create their own characters.


shmuga9

1y ago

@mereel

The Switch 2 is still going to be years away still. We likely haven’t heard much about MP4 for the same reason as Zelda… they don’t want to say much/anything until they’re at least within a year of release. For MP4, they’ll likely be even stingier, simply because they already had to restart development once. So they probably want to make darn sure what they show is high quality and near complete to assuage any fears people might have. Remember, they made an actual video announcing the restart, not just a press release. Clearly they took the move very seriously, not just internally, but externally. I imagine they won’t show it until they can put a date on it or at least month.

I could see the Switch 2 releasing in 2 years, while the OG stays on the market for a few more. 6 years for a game is not unheard of, and of course Covid pushed things back a bit, blah blah blah. But I don’t think Switch 2 is the most likely answer. For the Switch’s life especially, they typically don’t like announcing games more than a year away, and more likely 6 months away. Except for very few cases, mainly Zelda. If they don’t have a trailer in next year’s January/February Direct, then I might start getting concerned.


joeshabadoo

1y ago

@kingbroly

Retro kinda always have at least two projects going in some state or form. A main focus and something secondary. If the secondary project has moved from pitching it to ‘show us a working prototype’, they might easily be staffing up for something like that. It sucks lots that the studio has probably had a series of projects killed over the last decade+. Recent DYKG videos show how that stuff shapes out. Extra shame because that’s the kind of stuff that makes the top talent migrate to other devs or corners of the industry

Edited 1 time

aussiemcbucket

1y ago

They've been working on a new game since 2014. We all figured that got set aside so they could focus on Metroid Prime 4. Maybe it did, and maybe it didn't.


kingbroly

1y ago

@joeshabadoo

Retro rumors are as consistently wrong as Metroid rumors. Maybe even a bit more.


prophet-of-games2019

1y ago

First, I really hope they are picking up development of that rumored Star Fox Racing game. It seemed really cool the way it was described.

Secondly, Switch 2 is probably coming late this year or next year. The pandemic stopped the release of the Switch Pro, and the chip shortage has not helped. Very likely, they switched (pun intended) gears to a next Gen console when those challenges presented itself. So I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being a Switch 2 release.

Lastly, Retro has a long history of show and troubled development. But they haven’t released a bad game yet, and they have gone through many different leaders and developers since even the Prime Trilogy was first being developed.