Nintendo Direct June 2024 Recap: Metroid Prime 4 Reveal Steals the Show Amid Surprises and Remakes

In today’s highly anticipated June 2024 Nintendo Direct, fans were treated to a barrage of announcements that ranged from long-awaited sequels to unexpected remakes, but it was the official re-reveal of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond that seized the spotlight. After years of radio silence following its troubled development restart in 2019, the game was showcased with a cinematic trailer and gameplay snippets that confirmed a 2025 release window.

Samus Aran returns in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond with a sleeker suit and darker tone, exploring unfamiliar regions of space teeming with alien threats and mysterious ruins. The reveal confirmed Retro Studios remains at the helm, retaining the atmospheric, exploration-focused design the series is known for while introducing seamless transitions between first-person combat and third-person traversal, a first for the franchise.

Beyond Metroid, Nintendo delivered plenty more to get excited about. A surprise announcement of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Past, a top-down 2.5D Zelda game, delighted fans of classic entries like A Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening. Arriving this holiday season, the game features a unique “memory shard” mechanic that allows players to manipulate time-lost dungeons.

Remakes had a significant presence too. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is officially swinging onto the Switch in September, with revamped textures, widescreen support, and new co-op functionality. Additionally, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is getting the remake treatment, rebuilt in the Fire Emblem Engage engine and slated for early 2025.

First-party wasn’t the only focus. Several third-party and indie titles received spotlight, including Hollow Knight: Silksong finally getting a release date (October 10, 2024), and Atlus unleashing Persona 6 with a worldwide simultaneous release next March.

With a balance of new IP, beloved franchises, and thoughtful remakes, the June 2024 Nintendo Direct was one of the strongest in recent memory. But without question, it was the chilling notes of Metroid Prime 4’s haunting score and Samus’ iconic visor illuminating the darkness that defined the presentation and reignited hype for what could be the Switch’s victory lap or the dawn of its successor.