Metroid Prime 4 - Update about the game from Nintendo

[Sweetley]

Nintendo just gave an update about Metroid Prime 4. Basically, Nintendo explained that
they are not satisfied with the current development of the game, as it not reached the
standards their seek for a sequel to the Metroid Prime series. Because of this, they
decided to scrap the development and will restart it now with Retro Studios on their
side. That means: The game got delayed and it will take a while till Nintendo can give
another update to it.

Since it's a big deal, they made video and also apologize to the fans for the situation:

Actually, I'm happy to hear that Nintendo does anything to release games with a good
quality. And it's also a good thing in my opinion that Nintendo is honest and tell the fans
what's going on.

 

[WeiMoote]

Wow, it's very rare when Nintendo addresses the news directly, and not via Twitter...

 

[SensaiGallade]

This is very suprising and I think the first time Nintendo has come forward and publically addressed a situation such as this appropriately.

I can't speak for how disappointed people may be since I haven't played a Metroid game before, but the fact that Nintendo had the balls to come out and say they've scrapped and restarted development just because they weren't happy with the progress says a lot. It means that we can expect a good game to be delivered by Nintendo and the delay will be worth it (eg, BOTW's delay and look how well that done).

 

[LambdaDelta]

ngl, my first thought upon hearing this was "metroid prime forever"

even though it should hopefully not even be close to that level of quality

 

[Snowesque]

My partner was just wondering about this game the over day; guess this answers what's going on haha.

It makes me interested in what they scrapped; could it really of been that off-par?
It's a shame they lost that all that work, but if it's not good I'm all for them in trying to do better.
Anyhow, it's refreshing to see transparency about these things instead of leaving people just wondering.
I'm excited in seeing the finished product.

 

[Blue Cup]

Their transparency with this has been very appreciated, and fan reaction has been almost universally positive. Going back to Retro can only be a good thing, and if what some insiders are saying is true and that the demo they pitched to Nintendo was what netted them the development go-ahead, then we're in good hands.

I feel this transparency was also done to benefit them in two ways.

1) To squash any complaints that will come from future Directs when Metroid is absent.

2) To let the investors know what is going on before the meeting on Thursday.

 

[MasterM64]

As someone who absolutely loved all the Metroid Prime games, I'm really glad that Retro Studios will be in control of the development now of this upcoming game and I have strong confidence that it is going to be absolutely amazing when it is finished! I am also very pleased and proud to be a Nintendo fan because very few gaming companies have the balls to be honest and transparent to their fans. I think they handled the situation perfectly and it shows how much they care about their fans and how important quality is to them for their products!

 

[Stalfos]

A shame that. Was really looking forward to Metroid Prime 4. But all things considered I think this was the best thing Nintendo could have done. Just makes you wonder why Retro Studios wasn't the devs from the get-go.

 

[MasterM64]

A shame that. Was really looking forward to Metroid Prime 4. But all things considered I think this was the best thing Nintendo could have done. Just makes you wonder why Retro Studios wasn't the devs from the get-go.

My guess is that Retro Studios was most likely working on a project so they couldn't at the time of the initial development. Seeing that Retro Studios is taking over the development of MP4, this could indicate that we may see a new game that they were working on soon!

 

[Stalfos]

My guess is that Retro Studios was most likely working on a project so they couldn't at the time of the initial development. Seeing that Retro Studios is taking over the development of MP4, this could indicate that we may see a new game that they were working on soon!

Oh, yeah. Maybe that rumored Star Fox Grand Prix. I'm looking forward to seeing what it is they've been working on for all these years.

 

[MasterM64]

Oh, yeah. Maybe that rumored Star Fox Grand Prix. I'm looking forward to seeing what it is they've been working on for all these years.

Star Fox Grand Prix? That would be a really cool concept taking the Star Fox approach of level navigation and transforming into a organized track that players race on! It definitely would be a very different game in comparison to Mario Kart and F-Zero especially since the tracks will have more in depth in terms of what directions players can navigate, etc. (can you imagine some of the cool shortcuts they can come up with?)!

 

[G0DFlesh_88]

Wow I just read up on this, crazy. It must have been in such a bad state for Nintendo to step in. Retro Studios should do fine if they still have the same people who worked on the Trilogy and Nintendo helps them out. Hopefully Retro has a good understanding of the Switch Hardware. I heard they had a engine update, but I wouldn't mind them use the UE4 Engine if they can optimize it for the switch. I think they should stick to what they know and make the 4th game based on all that experience though.

 

[Stalfos]

Star Fox Grand Prix? That would be a really cool concept taking the Star Fox approach of level navigation and transforming into a organized track that players race on! It definitely would be a very different game in comparison to Mario Kart and F-Zero especially since the tracks will have more in depth in terms of what directions players can navigate, etc. (can you imagine some of the cool shortcuts they can come up with?)!

It would open up for some very interesting gameplay indeed. Could they pull it off though? Just thinking about how it could play is making my head spin. I've got faith in Retro Studios though. Whatever it is they've been working on, it will be a huge title for the Switch.

 

[MasterM64]

It would open up for some very interesting gameplay indeed. Could they pull it off though? Just thinking about how it could play is making my head spin. I've got faith in Retro Studios though. Whatever it is they've been working on, it will be a huge title for the Switch.

I bet they can knowing what they did in past games especially the first Metroid Prime (quite coincidental considering what this thread is about) since it was absolutely ambitious & risky at the time bringing a series that traditionally was a 2D platformer into the third dimension! I think the key to the rumored game being successful with such an innovative approach definitely comes down to the level design itself & doing it in a way that it doesn't take away from the experience/immersion.

 

[Stalfos]

Wow I just read up on this, crazy. It must have been in such a bad state for Nintendo to step in. Retro Studios should do fine if they still have the same people who worked on the Trilogy and Nintendo helps them out. Hopefully Retro has a good understanding of the Switch Hardware. I heard they had a engine update, but I wouldn't mind them use the UE4 Engine if they can optimize it for the switch. I think they should stick to what they know and make the 4th game based on all that experience though.

I think i read that one of the key people behind the Prime games left Retro Studios a while ago. A bit worrying admittedly, but there should still be people left at Retro who worked on the trilogy. They're still a very competent developer.

 

[G0DFlesh_88]

I think i read that one of the key people behind the Prime games left Retro Studios a while ago. A bit worrying admittedly, but there should still be people left at Retro who worked on the trilogy. They're still a very competent developer.

Yeah I think so. The Donkey Kong Country games they made show a lot of the potential still left at the company. But it makes me wonder how the previous team assembled by Nintendo did. The bar must be set high for Nintendo to scrap what they had. Nintendo probably doesn't want another "Other M" situation where it did good, but not ground breaking.

 

[Tao]

I'm glad they scrapped it if it wasn't shaping up to be a good game.

...But it makes me wonder what on earth could have been wrong with what they had if steaming hot turds like Star Fox Zero or Amiibo Festival are absolutely fine by their quality standards. It must have been literally unplayable.

 

[lars708]

I feel for the Metroid fans. But personally I don't really mind it. It will be the first time I'm going to seriously play a Metroid game and I'll just play it whenever comes out. Orrrr if Nintendo releases Metroid Prime Trilogy on Switch I could play that

And yes it's nice to see Nintendo is transparent about this. Although it makes me wonder why Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival didn't get canceled, apparently their ''standards'' are just that low I guess???? Must mean that Prime 4 was REAL bad. Let's hope that the final product will meet consumer standards as well lmao

 

[WeiMoote]

I think all of us are morbidly curious as to what the original product for Metroid Prime 4 really was for Nintendo to scrap it and start over.