Quite possibly the biggest surprise (of many surprises) from the Nintendo E3 2017 spotlight presentation was the announcement of Metroid Prime 4 in development for the Nintendo Switch.
It’s been seven years since the last console Metroid game, Metroid: Other M , but it has been 10 years since Metroid Prime 3 graced the Nintendo Wii. So why is now the right time for a new Metroid Prime game?
“The developers have to feel like they have new creative ideas to bring any franchise to life in a new way,” Charlie Scibetta, senior director of corporate communications for Nintendo of America told Player.One. “So one of the great things about Nintendo is that we have such a deep library of IP that our developers can draw on. So a lot of times it’s about what gameplay dynamics developers want to create, what characters they want to bring to life. As for Metroid Prime 4 , now they have a new story they want to tell; a new way to showcase the game and the characters in the Metroid universe in the best way they can.”
Metroid Prime 4 is not being made by Retro Studios, the development team that handled the first three Prime games. Instead, it was revealed that Metroid Prime 4 will be built by a “talented new development team.”
However, longtime producer Kensuke Tanabe will be returning to helm the upcoming installment of the Metroid Prime series.
“I can tell you that Mr. Tanabe is in charge of it, he’s the producer, so there will be that continuous thread from those past titles,” Scibetta said. “I can’t tell you any details as to how the future playstyle is going to be, but I can tell you it’s in good hands and we’re going to be doing everything we can to make sure fans respond to it and we have a great game.”
“Continuous thread” seems to suggest that this will be a proper sequel instead of a reboot or prequel, but we’ll have to wait and learn more as we get closer to a release date.
Metroid Prime 4 is coming soon to the Nintendo Switch.
Are you happy Tanabe is returning as the producer for Metroid Prime 4 ? Do you think the Nintendo Switch is the right platform for this new game? Let us know in the comments section below.
