Metroid Prime 4

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Metroid Prime 4
Metroid Prime 4.jpg
Logo from the E3 2017 announcement
Developer(s) Retro Studios [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Producer(s) Kensuke Tanabe
Series Metroid
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch

Metroid Prime 4 is an upcoming video game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was announced at E3 2017, and was reportedly initially developed by Bandai Namco Studios. In January 2019, development restarted under Retro Studios, the developer of the previous Metroid Prime games. Kensuke Tanabe, who worked on the first Prime games, returned as a producer.

Contents

Development

Nintendo announced Metroid Prime 4 during the Nintendo Direct presentation at E3 2017. Bill Trinen, director of product marketing at Nintendo of America, confirmed that the game would involve Metroid producer Kensuke Tanabe but not Retro Studios, which had developed the previous Metroid Prime games. [2] [3] While not confirmed by Nintendo, Eurogamer reported that Prime 4 was being developed by both the Bandai Namco Studios of Japan and Singapore, respectively; the Bandai Singapore staff included former LucasArts staff who had worked on the canceled Star Wars 1313 . [1]

In 2018, then-Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé stated that Metroid Prime 4 was "well into development" and "proceeding well". [4] [5] However, Nintendo did not show it during their E3 2018 Nintendo Direct, and said they would only share more information once they believed they "had something that would wow people". [6]

In a video released online in January 2019, Nintendo EPD general manager Shinya Takahashi announced that development on Metroid Prime 4 had restarted under Retro Studios with Tanabe. Takahashi said that development under the previous studio had not met Nintendo's standards and that the decision to restart the project was not taken lightly. [7]

In October 2020, Retro posted a job advertisement seeking storyboard artists to work on "emotional" and "interesting and innovative scenes that elevate the narrative". Video Games Chronicle took this as an indication of a more cinematic focus than previous Metroid Prime games. [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Reportedly developed by Bandai Namco Studios until development was restarted in 2019. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 Phillips, Tom (February 9, 2018). "Yes, Bandai Namco is working on Metroid Prime 4". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  2. ↑ McFerran, Damien (June 13, 2017). "Metroid Prime 4 Confirmed For Nintendo Switch, But Retro Studios Isn't Involved". Nintendo Life . Nlife Media. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  3. ↑ Reeves, Ben (June 13, 2017). "Metroid Prime 4 Is Being Developed By "A Talented New Development Team"". Game Informer . Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  4. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (July 1, 2018). "Reggie Fils-Aimé Sheds Light On The Future Of Switch And His Progress In Breath Of The Wild". Game Informer . Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  5. ↑ Doolan, Liam (November 15, 2018). "Reggie Says Metroid Prime 4 Is Well Into Development". Nintendo Life . Nlife Media. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  6. ↑ Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (June 12, 2018). "Nintendo On Metroid Prime 4's E3 2018 Absence". Game Informer . Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ Kato, Matthew (January 25, 2019). "Nintendo Restarting The Development Of Metroid Prime 4". Game Informer . Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  8. ↑ Robinson, Andy (October 13, 2020). "Metroid Prime 4 job ad mentions 'emotional scenes' and 'cinematic pillars'". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
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