Nintendo Direct Surprise: Metroid Prime 4 Finally Resurfaces with First Gameplay Trailer

After years of radio silence, Nintendo has finally cracked open the vault on one of its most anticipated titles—Metroid Prime 4. During today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, fans of the iconic sci-fi franchise were treated to the first-ever gameplay trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, along with a tentative release window set for 2025.

Metroid Prime 4 was first announced back in 2017 to much fanfare, but development complications—including a complete reboot in 2019 under original Prime developer Retro Studios—led to years of uncertainty. Since then, both fans and industry insiders alike have speculated on the game’s fate, with occasional rumors failing to provide solid reassurance that the title was anywhere near completion.

Today’s reveal finally delivers. The trailer, clocking in at just under three minutes, showcased an atmospheric look at the galaxy once again through the eyes of Samus Aran. The visuals appear to be a significant leap forward for the franchise, with refined graphics, smoother animations, and expansive alien environments that hint at more open-ended level design. Gameplay segments featured classic scan visor mechanics, new suit abilities, and a glimpse at a mysterious new threat, fueling speculation that Prime 4 will try to bridge narrative elements from both the Prime and mainline Metroid timelines.

Perhaps even more encouraging, the trailer confirmed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is still in development for the Nintendo Switch, quelling fears that it would become a next-gen exclusive or fade into obscurity.

Fans immediately took to social media to express collective shock and relief. “I thought it was never coming,” one Reddit user commented. “This is the biggest moment in Metroid history since Dread.”

With a 2025 release window, players will still have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on Samus’ latest mission. But for now, Metroid fans finally have something tangible to hang their hopes on. The re-emergence of Metroid Prime 4 has reignited excitement for the franchise and solidified its position as a core pillar in Nintendo’s future lineup.