After 7 Years, Nintendo Makes Metroid Fans' Dreams Come True

There was a Nintendo Direct this morning — and if we're being honest, we all thought this one would be a bit of a sleeper. Even Nintendo seemed to want fans to keep expectations low, even going out of its way to announce the fact that it wouldn't be saying anything about the Switch 2 during the event.

Join us for a #NintendoDirect livestream focused on #NintendoSwitch games coming in the second half of 2024! There will be no mention of the Nintendo Switch successor during this presentation.

📅 June 18
🕓 7:00 AM PT
⏳ Roughly 40 minutes

Watch it here: https://t.co/rYjTHHpayb pic.twitter.com/uAs6JYu31A

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 17, 2024

To be fair, even seven years after its release, the Switch still has some advantages over other consoles. Nintendo's hybrid system has managed to hold onto a smoldering flame of energy, but this morning the company poured out a gallon of gasoline and transformed the Switch into a raging fire once more. After nearlya decade since its original announcement, "Metroid Prime 4" is finally real.

The Nintendo Direct event was nearly wrapped up when the company suddenly pivoted into the reveal trailer for "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond." Samus is back, and the trailer shows off her usual array of powers while also highlighting the return of Sylux, a longtime "Metroid Prime" antagonist who's apparently returning for this new installment. If you felt a disturbance in the Force this morning, it's because gamers everywhere are shrieking with delight.

"Metroid" is one of the longest-running, most-loved franchises in all of gaming. Explaining the entire history of the "Metroid" series would take more time than we have here, but suffice it to say that fans have enjoying blasting aliens and transforming into a rolling ball for nearly 40 years. The "Metroid Prime" series brought the franchise to 3D back in 2002, and over the years it's become a fan-favorite sub-series.

The original "Metroid Prime" trilogy was completed in the aughts, but fans have been hoping for more ever since. Back in 2017, "Metroid Prime 4" was officially announced, only to be delayed and have its development completely rebooted in the intervening years. Now, it seems like Nintendo is going to let "Metroid" be the Switch's swan song. The trailer for "Metroid Prime 4" proudly proclaims that the game will launch on the Switch in 2025. After all this time, a year away doesn't seem long at all — and fans are losing it.

Naturally, fans are losing their minds about this announcement. It doesn't even take a diehard "Metroid" fan to realize how big this news is. In the comments on the Nintendo Direct video, one fan wrote, "I don't even play 'Metroid' games, but the 'Prime 4' announcement had me so excited for that entire fan-base." Elsewhere online, fans are posting their reactions to the surprise trailer drop. Fair warning: you'll want to turn your volume down if you're wearing headphones:

IT'S REAL. IT'S HAPPENING.

Here's my recorded reaction to the Metroid Prime 4 trailer. pic.twitter.com/BvbRmXKKqf

— Trav Guy 🏳️‍🌈 🔜 TMG (@TheOtherTravGuy) June 18, 2024

Fans aren't just thrilled to see Samus returning in 3D. They're also stoked that Nintendo is bringing back a classic villain like Sylux. Others are busy pointing out that it has been a truly unbelievable amount of time since we got a new "Metroid Prime" game, and there are plenty of fans who'd long since given up hope of getting another entry in the series.

the wait for Metroid prime 4 lasted longer than The Confederacy pic.twitter.com/cmBB4F1faw

— Lise 🏳️‍⚧️ 🔻 (@cs_deathmatch) June 18, 2024

Nintendo's fans are also pointing out that this Direct couldn't have possibly hit any harder. Nintendo really is pulling out all the stops and trying its best to make the Switch's final years utterly amazing. The Switch may not be the best-selling console in Nintendo's history, but it's likely going to be remembered as one of the company's most-loved consoles of all time.