Why Fans Are Worried About Metroid Prime 4
Fans of the Metroid series who are concerned that there may never be another sequel to Metroid Prime are in for some troubling news. A recent tweet from Retro Studios revealed that the company is still in search of a Boss/AI designer for Metroid Prime 4. Since the team hasn't yet finished staffing for the new Metroid Prime, there's good reason to believe the game is in the early stages of development.
Some fans have shared their concerns by commenting on Retro Studios' Tweet. One user said, "Switch is already at least half-way through its lifespan and the game many people bought it for doesn't have enemy AI yet." Another jested, "Designing a boss for a game that will never come out? Good prank, Retro Studios."
While gamers are definitely worried, in general, they appear to offer encouragement to Retro Studios. With the recent release of Cyberpunk 2077, which saw numerous delays and countless problems upon launch, it's easier to look at this news in a more positive light. One user commented, "Take your time, we don't want it to end up like Cyberpunk 2077," while another stated, "Game of the century is coming, you guys got this!"
As Jonathan Ammerman pointed out on Game Rant, job listings offer the only available glimpses into Metroid Prime 4's progress, as Nintendo has been tight-lipped about the game since announcing its development reboot almost two years ago. While he is confident in the current team, Ammerman did remind his readers that Retro Studios hasn't put out a new game since 2014 with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. With that said, is it possible that the devs are in over their heads with a new Metroid Prime in their hands?
Metroid Prime 4 has had quite a stormy development process. First announced at E3 2017 with nothing more than a logo, the original developers faced trouble for two years before handing the project to Retro Studios. Ever since, the team has had staffing troubles. With all of these issues, it's easy to see why some gamers might doubt that Metroid Prime 4 will ever be released.
Even so, Metroid fans shouldn't lose hope yet. There are plenty of games that were released years after their original launch dates, so gamers still may get their Metroid Prime fix yet. At the very least, there are several great games you can play while you wait for Metroid Prime 4.