Metroid Prime 4 guide: release window, story, timeline

TL;DR:

• Official release window is 2025. No exact date yet. 
• First reveal trailer dropped June 18, 2024. Gameplay trailer followed March 27, 2025. 
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch confirmed. A Nintendo ZA page also lists a Switch 2 Edition with enhancements.
• New elements include psychic abilities, planet Viewros, and Sylux.
• Development restarted in 2019 with Retro Studios. 

Nintendo lists Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for 2025 on the official store, with ESRB content descriptors “Animated Blood” and “Violence,” plus “In-Game Purchases.” There is no day-and-month date yet. Platform status today:

• Nintendo Switch is confirmed on Nintendo’s product page. 
• A Nintendo South Africa page promotes a “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” coming in 2025, citing enhanced visuals, performance, and optional mouse-style control using “Joy-Con 2.” Treat this as regional, pending broader pages.

If you plan to buy physical, expect the usual Nintendo Game Card listing near launch. The ZA page also lists supported languages across regions, which often mirror the final pack-in options. 

Story and gameplay basics

Nintendo’s store description sets the scene on planet Viewros, where Samus is suddenly transported into an ancient jungle environment. The page highlights psychic abilities, returning scanning and exploration, and the presence of Sylux, a long-teased rival. These are the clearest official beats so far.

Two official trailers anchor what we have seen:

• Announcement trailer on June 18, 2024 confirmed the title “Beyond” and the 2025 window. 
• Gameplay trailer in a Nintendo Direct on March 27, 2025 showed combat, jungle traversal, and environmental puzzles. 

Development history at a glance

• 2017: Metroid Prime 4 was announced by Nintendo.
• January 25, 2019: Nintendo’s Shinya Takahashi posted a video stating that development was restarting and moving to Retro Studios, the team behind the original Prime trilogy. 
• June 18, 2024: First public trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, slated for 2025. 
• March 27, 2025: Gameplay trailer aired in a Nintendo Direct. 

Full timeline with dates and sources

What we know about versions and features

Base game on Switch

• First-person exploration, scanning, and combat.
  
• New psychic abilities to alter paths and interact with mechanisms.
  
• Key characters include Samus, Sylux, and references to Lamorn.

Potential upgraded version

• The Nintendo ZA page describes a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with improved visuals and performance, and optional mouse-style control via Joy-Con 2. Until Nintendo updates more regions, treat those specifics as regional marketing. 

Preorder and editions

Digital listings tend to appear first on Nintendo’s store, then retailer pages follow with steelbooks or amiibo bundles if any are planned. Check the official product page for the final SKU names and any exclusive bonuses once the date locks.

Quick preorder checklist

• Wait for the exact date before prepaying.
• Check your region’s Nintendo page for version differences. If you want physical, watch for limited editions and confirm language support.
• Verify save transfer or cross-progress details if a Switch 2 Edition is relevant to you.
• Confirm ESRB/PEGI and any in-game purchases info for parental settings.

Beginner tips for the Prime formula

• Scan everything. Logs reveal weak points, lore, and puzzle hints.
• Mark doors you cannot open yet. Backtracking is core to Prime.
• Conserve missiles for shielded enemies and boss phases.
• Watch for environmental tells, like cracked surfaces or conduits.
• Adjust sensitivity early, then leave it consistent to build muscle memory.

Common questions

Is there a firm release date?
Not yet. Nintendo lists 2025 without a day and month. Any change will appear on the official product page first.

Will it be on Switch 2?
The US page lists Switch and notes compatibility info. A Nintendo ZA page promotes a Switch 2 Edition with enhancements. We are watching for broader confirmation.

Who is making it?
Retro Studios. The project restarted there after a 2019 update from Nintendo. 

Where do the new psychic powers fit in?
They appear to gate paths and augment combat aim and mechanisms, per Nintendo’s store description and recent trailers.

Why it matters

Prime is Nintendo’s flagship first-person adventure series. A 2025 launch would give Switch owners a major late-cycle release, and a potential upgraded build could help showcase next-gen hardware if rolled out widely. Clear info helps players decide on platform, edition, and timing. 

One-page checklist

• Follow the official store page for date changes.
• Rewatch the June 18, 2024 and March 27, 2025 trailers for mechanics. 
• Decide between Switch and any enhanced edition once broadly confirmed. Plan accessories, like a Pro-style controller, for comfort.
   

Sources:

• Nintendo US Store, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” product page, https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/metroid-prime-4-beyond-switch/, accessed September 11, 2025. 
• Nintendo South Africa, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Coming 2025,” https://www.nintendo.com/en-za/Games/Nintendo-Switch-games/Metroid-Prime-4-Beyond-2593922.html, accessed September 11, 2025. Nintendo of Europe SE
  
• Nintendo YouTube, “Development Update on Metroid Prime 4 for Nintendo Switch,” January 25, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLIv_UXI_So. YouTube
  
• Nintendo YouTube, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Official Announcement Trailer,” June 18, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-zfNxitS4A. YouTube
  
• Nintendo YouTube, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Nintendo Direct 3.27.2025,” March 27, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwAhBxakw4