The February 2023 Nintendo Direct presentation was packed full of surprises. During the show’s 40-minute runtime, fans were given updates on upcoming titles, such asLegend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe, andPikmin 4, as well as the surprise addition of Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games to Nintendo Switch Online. The day’s most significant reveal wasNintendo’s announcement of the long-rumoredMetroid Prime: Remastered, a redesigned version of the original Gamecube classic for the Switch. However, the end of this announcement held the Direct’s biggest surprise for fans, as Nintendo pulled aHi-Fi Rushand shadow dropped the digital version ofMetroid Prime: Remasteredlater that day.
Metroid Primewas one of the most popular Gamecube games ever released, taking the treasured 2D-platformer and evolving it into a modern first-person shooter. The success ofMetroid Primeled to two sequels: 2004’sMetroid Prime 2and 2007’sMetroid Prime 3: Corruption. Since the launch of the Switch, fans have been requesting a remastered release of the series. Few could have predicted that the first of those remasters would be revealed and shadow dropped during Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct presentation.
RELATED:Metroid Prime 4 Wasn’t at the Direct, But There’s More Hope Than Ever Before
Nintendo’s Shadow Drop of Metroid Prime Differs From That of Hi-Fi Rush
Last month,Microsoft shadow droppedHi-Fi Rushafter its announcement at the Xbox Developer Direct. The move shocked the industry, asHi-Fi Rushwas kept entirely hidden prior to its release. More shocking was how great the game was received, once fans got their hands on it.Hi-Fi Rushreceived positive reviews across the board, and was an absolute hit with fans, making it not only notable for its release, but for providing Xbox gamers one of the best titles of 2023 so far.
Nintendo’s shadow drop ofMetroid Prime: Remasteredbrings to mind that ofHi-Fi Rush, as both are notable early 2023 releases for their respective consoles. However, the release of the two games differ in thatMetroid Prime: Remasteredis a long-rumored entry in one of Nintendo’s biggest first-party franchises, whereasHi-Fi Rushis an original IP. Nintendo’s shadow dropping of such a huge game, one which fans have been requesting for so long, makesMetroid Prime: Remasteredfeel more like a direct gift to gamers. Nintendo knows how muchMetroid Primemeans to its fans, and making it digitally available upon its announcement - with a physical release coming July 03, 2025 - shows some much-needed love from Nintendo to its community.
Metroidis enjoying a bit of a renaissance on the Switch. The originalMetroidandSuper Metroidhave been available via theNintendo Onlineservice for quite a while, with the newest entry in the franchise,Metroid: Dread, launching last year. The Nintendo Direct also revealed thatMetroid 2will be included in Nintendo Online’s Gameboy and Gameboy Advanced library, making its release, alongsideMetroid Prime: Remastered, a shadow drop of its own. However positive, the addition of these titles to the Switch library could call into question the status of Nintendo’s next entry in theMetroid Primeseries,Metroid Prime 4.
Nintendo’s Shadow Drop of Metroid Prime: Remastered May Indicate A Larger Shift In Focus
Nintendo’s fans know the company has been working onMetroid Primecontent.Metroid Prime 4was announced in 2017, though it is still without a release date. Therefore, it comes as a huge surprise that the company would shadow drop a complete remaster of the original game during a Nintendo Direct, without revealing a single detail about either game’s development. This points to another potential reason forMetroid Prime: Remastered’s shadow drop release, a much longer wait forMetroid Prime 4.
After such a long period of silence,some fans thinkMetroid Prime 4may not release on the Switch, instead targeting a launch alongside Nintendo’s next console.Metroid Prime: Remastered’s development and shadow drop may point to this being the case, as fans of the series are given a reason to focus on the past, rather than the future. If so, remasters of the game’s sequels may follow in an effort to bridge the gap of time fans will need to wait beforeMetroid Prime 4is available.
Nintendo’s pulling aHi-Fi Rushwith its shadow drop ofMetroid Prime: Remasteredcould have a variety of origins. However, one thing is for sure:Metroid Prime: Remastered, likeHi-Fi Rush,is a gift to gamers. The trend of shadow dropping may be an indicator of a larger movement in the gaming industry, one in which fans take center stage.Bethesda Gameworks decided to shadow dropHi-Fi Rush, stating that “it’s fun to have some positive surprises.” With Nintendo’s release ofMetroid Prime: Remasteredthis week, it appears the company hopes to provide some positive surprises of their own. While fans ofMetroid Primeeagerly await news of the series future, Nintendo is giving them plenty of reasons to return to its past.
Metroid Prime Remasteredis available on the Nintendo Switch for digital download with physical copies coming on June 11, 2025.
