Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally has a firm release date! That's right, after years of waiting, Nintendo has finally revealed when Samus's next big outing is, and it's only a few months away. This news came our way during the most recent Nintendo Direct, and personally, we are buzzing at the fact that 2025 will be Metroid's big return.
However, while we wait for December to roll around, there's still plenty for us to unpack in the meantime. Having been in development for a long time, Metroid Prime 4 was first announced all the way back in 2017, with a very brief teaser. And after rebooting part way through development, we've at long last gotten to see the game in action With showcases like the April Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, which was later followed up by a Nintendo Treehouse stream, we've gotten some proper insight into the action, from its Star Wars-style opening cutscene, to confirmation that there will be a Switch 2 version that will support the console's mouse control feature.
Also set to land on the original Switch as one of the new games for 2025 to look out for, it's undoubtedly one of the biggest upcoming Switch 2 games coming to us from Retro Studios. For a full recap of everything that's been revealed so far about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, read on below.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date
Nintendo has now confirmed that the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date is December 4, 2025!
This news came our way during the recent Nintendo Direct and was a long time coming. For months, fans have been waiting for this update and have had to deal with a ton of teases. In June, there were unconfirmed reports that an advert for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was spotted in the London Underground with the information "out now" on the poster. The tube station that was reportedly running the ad was Oxford Circus Station. We've also had a few previous Directs that had no news.
Luckily, our wait is almost over, and we'll be able to pick up the game just in time for the holidays.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond platforms
Metroid Prime 4 is set to land on Switch and will also be coming to the Switch 2.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct confirmed Metroid Prime: 4 Beyond will be getting a Switch 2 Edition release alongside its launch on Switch. This version will run on the new-gen console with two different available modes: Quality mode runs at 4K 60FPS, while Performance mode runs at 1080p at 120FPS.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond trailer
The best Metroid Prime 4 trailer debuted during the March 2025 Nintendo Direct. In this new teaser, we see Samus navigating the jungle planet of Viewros, where she must explore and scan mysterious statues to escape.
However, Samus isn't alone, and the trailer shows us plenty of exciting new enemies for us to blast. But, one of the most curious bits of information shared during this teaser is Samus' new psychic powers. The clip shows off abilities that will fling players towards enemies and assist in navigating the map as you can unlock doors.
While that may sound like a big departure from the series, worry not! The trailer also has us occupying a first-person perspective as Samus navigates hostile environments, bringing back the FPS stylings of Metroid Prime 3 as she guns down enemies, and scans the corpses.
Metroid Prime 4 screenshots
Nintendo released new Metroid Prime 4: Beyond screenshots. You can see these by scrolling through the gallery above, which should give you a good sense of the visual fidelity Nintendo is striving to deliver for this Switch release. You'll see Samus in combat with Space Pirates, some beautiful new environments, and get a glimpse at some returning abilities.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gameplay
The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gameplay experience is going to be a delicate blend of quiet exploration, puzzle solving, and frantic shootouts, something the best Metroid games always capture with ease.
You see these sides of play represented in the reveal trailer: Samus using her Scan Visor to assess the environment and gather information, shifting into her Morph Ball to explore new areas of the environment, and blasting away Space Pirates with her Power Beam and Missile Launcher.
During a Nintendo Direct a few months ago, we also saw that psychic abilities will be a new feature in the gameplay. You'll be able to use these powers to solve puzzles around the map and control beams as you face off against enemies. From the most recent trailer for Metroid Prime 4, these new abilities will play a large part in the story, too.
The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Switch 2 Edition will also make use of the Switch 2's new Joy-Con controller mouse-function, for more "intuitive gameplay". We saw during the Direct Showcase how this can be effectively used to direct and aim Samus' arm canon, and after checking it in the game, it proves to work very well.
If you're looking to get a better idea of how Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may play, be sure to check out our glowing Metroid Prime Remastered review - which should convince you to pick up the classic!
Metroid Prime 4 powers and abilities
There's still plenty more we need to learn about the game, but there's already some details that can be gleaned from the gameplay and trailers we've seen so far to pick out all the returning powers and abilities in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond:
- Power Suit
- Power Beam
- Missile Launcher
- Morph Ball
- Scan Visor
- Psychic Abilities
Metroid Prime 4 story
The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond story is still tightly under wraps, although we do know the general premise thanks to a recent Nintendo Treehouse presentation.
The game opens with Samus being tasked by the Galactic Federation to protect and defend an artifact from Space pirates. While trying to complete that objective, she sees that Metroids have seemingly teamed up with the game's main antagonist, Sylux, with the bounty hunter reappearing after their showing in Metroid Prime Hunters.
While we are unsure about what happens next, we do know that the artifact will end up sending Samus to a new world. In previous trailers, we know that Samus will be trapped on an alien Jungle planet called Viewros. And after interacting with some statues, we also know that she'll be granted some ancient powers that give her psychic abilities. While we are still unclear on how she was trapped or why, Metroid Prime 4's story will focus on Samus trying to escape her current situation and get off this strange planet.
We're curious to discover more, especially regarding this uneasy alliance between the Space Pirates and Metroids.
Metroid Prime 4's Sylux explained
Retro Studios has confirmed that Sylux will play a massive role in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but who is this mysterious character? Little is known about this powerful bounty hunter, and that's despite multiple appearances in the series. So here's what I can tell you: Sylux carries a strong distrust of the Galactic Federation and views Samus Aran as an enemy for her association with the organization.
Sylux made their debut in 2004's Metroid Prime Hunters, attacking Samus as she explores the depths of the Vesper Defense Outpost. It's also believed that Sylux is piloting the ship that tracks Samus in the 'special ending' of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. There's a history here, so expect Sylux to be a formidable threat in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Why Metroid Prime 4 restarted development
Metroid Prime 4 has been in some form of active development for nearly a decade – first teased in 2015, and later revealed at E3 2017.
The game was originally in development at Bandai Namco Studios, although it wasn't to be. Citing concerns over the quality of the production, Nintendo opted to restart development of Metroid Prime 4 in 2019 – handing the project over to Metroid Prime creator Retro Studios. It appears that everything is back on track now, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond set to launch for Nintendo Switch - and Nintendo Switch 2 - in 2025.
Check out the best Switch 2 games to play while you wait for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
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