There's no doubt that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is currently the most anticipated title for the Nintendo Switch. From its initial announcement during E3 2017, Prime 4 has remained a popular talking point during the Switch's lifespan as fans eagerly awaited the game's release. With that in mind, it will surely be a relief for those fans that they'll finally get their hands on Prime 4 when it makes its way to the Switch in 2025.

However, in the years following Prime 4's first reveal, the Metroid franchise as a whole has gone through some major changes. From new releases, to development struggles and delays, the series suddenly has a whole new set of eyes on it, and with that comes a wealth of new expectations. Prime 4 is no longer another game in a slew of anticipated releases, but a key moment in determining the future of the series as a whole, making its release more important than ever.

Metroid Saw A Huge Renaissance On Switch

The Switch Includes Some Of Metroid's Most Successful Games

Despite being responsible for some of Nintendo's greatest games, the Metroid series hasn't always seen huge success. The franchise's lackluster sales, which pale in comparison to the likes of The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario, meant that Metroid was often overlooked. In fact, prior to the series' return on Switch, the Metroid series was at a low point in its history, thanks in large part to many long hiatuses interspersed with some disappointing entries, including Metroid: Other M and the infamous Metroid Prime: Federation Force.

Thankfully, Nintendo has made an effort to revitalize the beloved series on the Switch. Players were treated to some major releases, including the remaster of Metroid Prime, one of the franchise's most popular and acclaimed titles. These titles ended up being the boost that Metroid desperately needed, resulting in some of the best-selling games in its history and renewing interest in the series after its decade-long struggle.

More important than the success of these titles is the clear message Nintendo is sending out to Metroid fans. The company is demonstrating a renewed commitment to Metroid, with its new releases, inclusion of classic titles on Nintendo Switch Online, and the Prime 4, all the while promising that the series could continue to deliver new and original experiences 38 years on. As reassuring as this may be to fans of the series, it places even higher expectations on Prime 4 to fulfill this promise, and maintain the momentum that Metroid has garnered during the Switch's lifespan.

Metroid Prime 4 Is The Switch's Most Anticipated Title

The Game Has Had A Long Development Period

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond already holds high expectations as one of the Switch's most-anticipated games, and it's not hard to see how it achieved that title. For many, Prime 4 achieved that status from its initial announcement alone. As the first original mainline Metroid Prime game since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption in 2007, the excitement and anticipation of Prime 4's announcement would naturally result in high expectations for the title to continue and improve on the original trilogy of games, before players were even shown a glimpse of gameplay.

Of course, at the time of Prime 4's announcement, no one could have predicted the long and arduous journey that the game would find itself on. Less than two years after Prime 4 was announced, development on the title restarted from scratch, as the project was handed back over to Retro Studios, who had previously worked on the first three Metroid Prime games. Since then, Metroid fans have had to suffer long periods of radio silence, yearning for any inkling of information until Nintendo finally revealed gameplay for Prime 4 during its Direct in June 2024.

Prime 4's years of development and anticipation have changed how the title has been perceived. No longer is Prime 4 just another game in a beloved series, but it has become this legend that has been a defining part of the Switch's entire lifespan. Prime 4's release is now this gargantuan event, a culmination of one of Nintendo's most successful eras in gaming, putting insurmountable pressure on this single game to be the big pay-off that the Switch deserves.

Metroid Prime 4 Must Be Able To Maintain The Series' Success

There's A Lot Of Pressure On The Title To Succeed

These are the reasons why Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is so important now, more than ever. Not only must Prime 4 live up to the same expectations of any new entry in a long-running series, but it must be able to maintain the momentum of success Metroid has seen in the last few years, while also fulfilling its almost unattainable status as the Switch's swansong. There's a lot of important roles and expectations that Prime 4 is currently juggling, and there's no telling whether this title will be able to pull it off.

That's not to say Metroid Prime 4 has no chance of achieving this. Given the Metroid series' incredible reputation, and Retro Studios' consistent quality of work, Prime 4 will likely continue the critical acclaim that the franchise is well accustomed to. Despite this, there's no doubting the amount of pressure on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to be able to deliver an exciting, revolutionary experience that matches the level of importance that the title now holds.