After years of silence, delays, and reboots, Nintendo has finally broken cover on Metroid Prime 4. Titled Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the long-anticipated sequel will be playable later this August at Fan Expo Canada, where attendees will get their first hands-on demo across both Nintendo Switch and the recently launched Switch 2.
Originally announced in 2017 and rebooted in 2019 with development handed over to Retro Studios, Metroid Prime 4 has spent the better part of a decade as vaporware. That’s changed. The playable demo is expected to feature an early mission on the jungle planet Viewros, showcasing Samus’s new psychic abilities alongside classic tools like the morph ball, scan visor, and charge beam. Nintendo reconfirmed that the game is still slated for release later in 2025, though a specific launch date remains unannounced.
Beyond continues the first-person adventure and Prime storyline, this time with optional motion-aiming Joy-Con controls and Switch 2 enhancements like 4K resolution at 60 FPS or 1080p at 120 FPS. Nintendo is expected to reveal more soon, including how the game builds on its predecessors’ legacy and integrates new mechanics into its exploratory combat loop.
For now, the demo confirms one crucial thing: this isn’t just another teaser. It’s real. It’s happening. And it’s close.
For those keeping score, it’s been over 17 years since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Finally, it’s starting to feel like we’ll get a resolution before we all retire—which might still be a while.
