Vague Release Window For 'Metroid Prime 4: Beyond' Headlines Nintendo Direct As Fans React With Excitement And Memes

Fans waiting roughly 3,000 years for Metroid Prime 4 will have to wait for one more, but the good news is the long-awaited sequel (now titled Metroid Prime 4: Beyond) headlined today's Nintendo Direct presentation, getting a two-minute trailer and a release window of "2025."

This morning's Direct, which may be remembered as the Direct Nintendo expressly said was not going to feature the Switch successor, still featured plenty of eye-popping announcements, including The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, a game in which Zelda will play protagonist, a new Mario & Luigi RPG called Mario & Luigi: Brothership and a new Mario Party.

Still, "IT'S REAL" was trending on Twitter / X after the Direct because Metroid Prime 4, first announced in 2017, finally had a release window.

The game has had a troubled development history, and in January 2019, it was delayed indefinitely after switching developers. While a vague release window of "2025" may not sound like much, it confirmed for fans that the game was actually happening after years of wondering if it was going to toil in the depths of development forever.

Samus has drawn plenty of interest over the past several years, as 2021's well-received Metroid Dread was a hit for the franchise, while the first Metroid Prime rereleased on Switch earlier this year.

While today's Nintendo Direct didn't feature the much-hyped Switch 2 announcement, it seems to have proved Nintendo still has big plans for the humble Switch while the world waits for its successor.