Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is officially on the way, and while it's been a long time coming, we've gotten to see a lot more of the new adventure in recent months. With its appearance in recent showcases, the recent Switch 2 Direct gave us the exciting news that it will be coming to the new-gen console this year.
Yes, it's set to get a Switch 2 Edition release, which means it will officially be among the lineup of upcoming Switch 2 games alongside all of the upcoming Switch games we have to look forward to. While we don't yet have a concrete release date, we have seen lots of gameplay, which is already giving us plenty of reasons to get excited about Samus' return in future.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been in the works in some form since 2017, with its development even restarting with Retro Studios at the helm. But with a closer look at what's in store and more details revealed, it looks like it's on track to be one of the biggest new games for 2025. For a full recap of everything we know so far about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, read on below.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date speculation
Nintendo has confirmed that the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date will be set for sometime in 2025, although the publisher is yet to confirm a firm date.
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 latest 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 recent Nintendo Direct, 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 as well. From the most recent trailer for Metroid Prime 4, these new abilities will play a large part in the story as well.
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.
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 that hasn't stopped me from analysing that reveal trailer 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. However, 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 likely Nintendo Switch 2 - in 2025.
Check out the best Switch games to play while you wait for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
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