Galgavias
Koopa
The reason I'm sceptical of these rumours is the timings don't add up. Nintendo pushing to release it this year solely on Switch 1 would have meant, if the plan was to release Switch 2 between September - November, the latest they realistically could have released the game without it getting swept up in Switch 2 marketing would have been July. And if Nintendo's initial plan all along was to make it a summer game like TTYD remastered, then surely they'd have revealed it by now?
Prime 4 has been a huge investment from Nintendo, with two different teams and 7 odd years of development costs. They're going to want to make their money back, and the best way to do so is get it on the new console and aim for those BOTW-esque evergreen sales. As I've said before, chucking it out at the end of the Switch 1's life doesn't really do anyone any favours. It doesn't push consoles, it won't sell more than 2-3 million, it doesn't grow the Metroid brand, and you're taking away an anticipated release from the new console's launch lineup. And if rumours are to be believed, a lack of launch games is the reason Switch 2 got delayed to 2025, making a decision to release Prime 4 this year even more confusing.
I have no doubt the original plan was to launch it this year, but logically speaking if Switch 2 has been delayed, then you have to imagine Prime 4 has been too.
Prime 4 has been a huge investment from Nintendo, with two different teams and 7 odd years of development costs. They're going to want to make their money back, and the best way to do so is get it on the new console and aim for those BOTW-esque evergreen sales. As I've said before, chucking it out at the end of the Switch 1's life doesn't really do anyone any favours. It doesn't push consoles, it won't sell more than 2-3 million, it doesn't grow the Metroid brand, and you're taking away an anticipated release from the new console's launch lineup. And if rumours are to be believed, a lack of launch games is the reason Switch 2 got delayed to 2025, making a decision to release Prime 4 this year even more confusing.
I have no doubt the original plan was to launch it this year, but logically speaking if Switch 2 has been delayed, then you have to imagine Prime 4 has been too.