Metroid Prime 4 Rated at Last—Is a Release Finally Near?

Okay, folks. The Metroid Prime 4 saga just got a bit more interesting than the last six years of complete and utter silence. That’s right, after what feels like an eternity worthy of a Samus Aran cryostasis nap, things could finally be heating up. Reports show that Metroid Prime 4 has officially received an age rating from South Korea’s classification board, clocking in at a “12 and up” due to mild violence. A bit tame for a space-faring bounty hunter battling ancient alien tech, but we’ll take it. 

If you’re clutching your Nintendo Switch and frantically refreshing the eShop in the hopes of a “Buy Now” button, take a breath. This isn’t a release date—but it does suggest we’re closer than we’ve ever been to finally getting our hands on one of the most delayed yet eagerly anticipated titles in the galaxy. 

Wait… Wasn’t This Game Announced in [Checks Calendar] 2017? 

Yes. You read that right. 2017. Back when “Despacito” was the song of the summer and fidget spinners ruled the world. Metroid Prime 4 was first teased during E3 in June 2017 with a logo that Nintendo fans swore would tide them over. (Spoiler alert: it didn’t.) 

Then came the rollercoaster. In 2019, development was unceremoniously rebooted with Retro Studios taking the helm. For perspective, Retro was the same team that blessed us with the original Metroid Prime trilogy, so naturally, fans thought, “Okay, maybe this isn’t so bad.” Cut to 2023… nothing. Not a trailer. Not a single playable frame. Not even a cheeky concept art leak to keep us dreaming. 

What Does an Age Rating Even Mean? 

Here’s the thing about age ratings in gaming: they typically stomp onto the scene right before a release date is announced. I mean, they’re not slapping a “12+ Mild Violence” tag on this thing just to tease us further, right? (Actually, don’t put it past them.) It’s a solid, tangible step that tells us the game is far enough along in development to show to regulatory boards without risking a collective LOL instead of approval. 

Considering this comes hot on the heels of rumors about a Nintendo Direct happening soon, the stars might actually be aligning. Could we get a 2025 holiday release? A Switch 2 dual-platform launch, perhaps? Hope springs eternal. 

The Long Road to Samus’s Comeback 

And what a painfully long road it’s been. Seriously. Do you remember when London commuters were trolled by an ad in the Underground that falsely declared “Metroid Prime 4 Out Now”? Not cool, marketing team. Not cool. 

It’s clear that Metroid Prime 4 has had development hurdles, creative overhauls, and the collective weight of millions of fans expecting perfection towering over it. After all, the original trilogy practically defined first-person adventure games in the 2000s. The stakes? Immense. The expectations? Even higher. 

But wait, there’s hope. Rumors of earlier behind-closed-doors “hands-on” sessions paint the game as polished and worth the wait. Reports whisper of fan-favorite mechanics paired with Beyond-scale visuals, designed to leverage every last ounce of the Switch’s (aging) hardware while teasing what’s possible when it finally hits the Switch 2. 

What Now? 

Now, we wait and watch. Again. This time, though, it might actually end with a release date rather than disappointment. The full-blown hype machine hasn’t rolled into town yet, but this age rating feels like the starting gun, and I’m betting the next Nintendo Direct could finally give us answers. 

Nintendo, if you’re out there, just give us a trailer. A date. Heck, even an approximate season of release. We deserve it after nearly 70 dog years of waiting. 

Until then, Metroid fans, polish those arm-cannons and emotionally prepare yourselves. Samus is coming… eventually. And when that day arrives, we’ll finally be able to stop metaphorically rolling into our morph-ball forms and crying in disappointment. 

TL;DR 

• Metroid Prime 4 just got its age rating, signaling a possible release in the near(ish) future. 
• Development started back in 2017 but suffered major delays, including a reset in 2019. 
• Rumors of a Nintendo Direct in the works might finally give us the release date we’ve been begging for. 
• Start saving those pennies for that sweet, sweet collector’s edition when it eventually drops. 

Is it happening this year? Who knows. But one thing’s for sure—we’re ready to break the cycle of disappointment. Your move, Nintendo.