The next Metroid game gets a release date (yes, it's still Federation Force)

Metroid Prime: Federation Force has a set of official release dates, nearly a year after it was first revealed back at E3 2015. Nintendo confirmed that the 1-to-4 player co-op 3DS shooter will come out in the US on August 19 and in the UK on September 2.

Rather than doing the usual Metroid thing and letting players explore a lonely, dangerous world as Samus Aran, Federation Force sends teams of players into battle through several smaller mission areas. Many fans were angered that the first Metroid game in six years (and that's just since Metroid: Other M, which wasn't much of a crowd pleaser either) was a co-op game starring a bunch of cartoony marines in giant robot suits. In a few months we'll get to see whether it can at least make good on that premise.

I'm a pretty big fan of most things missile upgrading and space-pirate blasting, myself. While I'd prefer a new side-scrolling Metroid most of all, I'm interested to see how Federation Force turns out. I just hope that Nintendo takes some serious lessons from The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes and improves the infrastructure for Federation Force's multiplayer; no more losing all your level progress if somebody disconnects, please.

Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!

CATEGORIES
Connor Sheridan

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and now I'm a staff writer here at GamesRadar.

Latest in Action
The Last of Us 2
Naughty Dog has done it: it's remastered the PS5 controller with a Last of Us-themed DualSense announcement 24 hours after Neil Druckmann dashed our hopes for The Last of Us 3
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows reverses roles to show off Naoe's combat and Yasuke's stealth, and I'm suddenly sold on playing Yasuke like a clumsy Snake in Metal Gear Solid 3
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time screenshot showing Link, a young boy with elf-like ears and blond hair, with a surprised expression on his face
"I can't go through [with] this": The weirdest Zelda ad didn't get Nintendo's approval, but it probably happened anyway because the marketing execs were already on-site
Key art for Gears of War.
Rumored Gears of War Collection reportedly includes campaign co-op for the OG Xbox 360 games, but no PvP multiplayer
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows' DLC will take place after the main game's "definite ending" in a "spookier" location, creative director says
Link and Epona
A Zelda movie is finally happening, but Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto used to adamantly oppose the idea even "if Steven Spielberg himself" wanted to do it
Latest in News
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Starfield
Bethesda breaks silence as Starfield fans hope for an update: "We have a lot of exciting things planned for the game this year"
The Last of Us 2
Naughty Dog has done it: it's remastered the PS5 controller with a Last of Us-themed DualSense announcement 24 hours after Neil Druckmann dashed our hopes for The Last of Us 3
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows reverses roles to show off Naoe's combat and Yasuke's stealth, and I'm suddenly sold on playing Yasuke like a clumsy Snake in Metal Gear Solid 3
Alien Earth teaser
New Alien: Earth teaser introduces us to new cast members and the cutest little cat – and if a Xenomorph eats it, I will be furious
Three RTX 5070 gaming PCs on a purple background
I'm surprised to see some RTX 5070 gaming PCs under $2,000 - these are the three prebuilds I'd buy this week