Rumor: Metroid Prime remaster/remake planned for 2022

[Raccoon]

The idea that Nintendo shares my severe anniversary brain makes me so very happy.

 

[Papaya]

It can't be stressed enough. Nintendo truly does love releasing remasters/remakes during anniversaries.

Anniversaries are one the easiest marketing templates.

• Xenoblade Chronicles: Definition Edition - Released during Xenoblade Chronicle 1's 10th anniversary.
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Released during Skyward Sword's 10th anniversary.
• Super Mario 3D All Stars - Released during Mario's 35th anniversary.
• Advance Wars 1 + 2 - Releasing during Advance War's 20th anniversary
• Pokemon Diamond & Pearl - Releasing during Pokemon's 25th anniversary (and Diamond & Pearl's 15th anniversary)

Plus, Metroid Prime wasn't just any game. It's one of the greatest games that Nintendo has ever created. It sits at 97% on Metacritic.

Prime 1 was Metroid's Ocarina of Time moment. It would be almost insulting if Nintendo didn't acknowledge Metroid Prime's anniversary in some way.

And who can forget all the times Metroid Prime been compared to Citizen Kane...

IGN - Citizen Kane: Is Metroid Prime Our Citizen Kane?
Kotaku - The Man Who Never Wanted To Make The 'Citizen Kane' for Games

That Citizen Kane article is great. I haven't read that in years but it still echoes (if you'll excuse the pun) true. I like the line where he mentions Prime is still relevant "today", 7 years ago. It's particularly striking cause we're sitting here, actually today, almost 20 years later, and it's even more true now.

"And like the experience it describes, it will live on." Perfect way to end it.

I remember when Trilogy released, there were people out there kinda tired of the Prime games. 3 games in a row, and, understandably, many wanted something different. It was also at the height of that era when games were trying to be Hollywood. Despite us being farther away from when the article was published, than that article was from Prime being released, the Prime series feels even more unique and missed than ever before.

Reminds me of that other jewel that's caught attention over the years. That one contemporary Metroid Prime review that described it as feeling like you were playing the game of the year 5 years from "now", but in the "present" day. There was something about Prime where you couldn't quite tell what made it special, but you knew it was there.

I can't think of a set of games, that by all of accounts, should have aged terribly, but have barely aged at all. That Citizen Kane article is able to, in a poetic sense, really illustrate why that's the case. Comparing Prime to other games of its time, really just shows the difference.

 

[Phendrift]

It can't be stressed enough. Nintendo truly does love releasing remasters/remakes during anniversaries.

Anniversaries are one the easiest marketing templates.

• Xenoblade Chronicles: Definition Edition - Released during Xenoblade Chronicle 1's 10th anniversary.
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Released during Skyward Sword's 10th anniversary.
• Super Mario 3D All Stars - Released during Mario's 35th anniversary.
• Advance Wars 1 + 2 - Releasing during Advance War's 20th anniversary
• Pokemon Diamond & Pearl - Releasing during Pokemon's 25th anniversary (and Diamond & Pearl's 15th anniversary)

Plus, Metroid Prime wasn't just any game. It's one of the greatest games that Nintendo has ever created. It sits at 97% on Metacritic.

Prime 1 was Metroid's Ocarina of Time moment. It would be almost insulting if Nintendo didn't acknowledge Metroid Prime's anniversary in some way.

And who can forget all the times Metroid Prime been compared to Citizen Kane...

IGN - Citizen Kane: Is Metroid Prime Our Citizen Kane?
Kotaku - The Man Who Never Wanted To Make The 'Citizen Kane' for Games

Have they been using Advance Wars 20th anniversary as part of the marketing? Wouldn’t be shocked at all if they tweeted it out at some point.

But when you put it all together like that, it really does seem they do pay attention to that.

I think Zelda’s 35th being kind of a dud made me think they didn’t as much. The G&W is the only thing that feels like a celebration, SSHD felt more of a “we were gonna do this anyway” situation.

 

[MondoMega]

Depending on what Fire Emblem game IntSys decided to remake they're either going to miss the 30th anniversary of Genealogy of the Holy War by one year (understandable, probably planned for this year and delayed like a lot of their 2022 lineup) or accidentially stumble into the perfect release timing for Binding Blade's 20th.

Next year just happens to be Wind Waker's 20th as well, so what better time to pull that one out of their Wii U port reserves.

Anniversaries are clearly super important... until they aren't; poor DK's 40th went by with nothing to show for it yet.

 

[frog]

have a tough time buying that Nintendo would sic Retro onto Metroid Prime remake-master and leave their designers twiddling their thumbs for a while (in the Belmont post), doesn't seem very efficient

this post probably won't age well

 

[Phendrift]

Depending on what Fire Emblem game IntSys decided to remake they're either going to miss the 30th anniversary of Genealogy of the Holy War by one year (understandable, probably planned for this year and delayed like a lot of their 2022 lineup) or accidentially stumble into the perfect release timing for Binding Blade's 20th.

Next year just happens to be Wind Waker's 20th as well, so what better time to pull that one out of their Wii U port reserves.

Anniversaries are clearly super important... until they aren't; poor DK's 40th went by with nothing to show for it yet.

Yeah it’s easy to see how they miss some, I mean you can come up with an anniversary for every month of every year. I guess it just depends partially on if said anniversary lines up nicely with a series they want to revive or remaster, and then they take action.

Wind Waker port next year would be perfect, especially if BotW2 is late next year. But I really don’t know how many Zelda games Nintendo wants to flood the switch with until it. They’ve already had to pull the “we’re working on it, please be patient” twice with Age of Calamity and Skyward Sword HD.

 

[Papaya]

have a tough time buying that Nintendo would sic Retro onto Metroid Prime remake-master and leave their designers twiddling their thumbs for a while (in the Belmont post), doesn't seem very efficient

Nah. Finding work for people to do is sometimes one of the hardest problems for a director to tackle. At least from what I've read. I work in an adjacent field to game development, and personally had experience where the company had me working on a bogus project for 6 months, just cause they knew they'd need us later.

 

[Mbolibombo]

Potentially a release schedule of

2021 Metroid Dread
2022 Metroid Prime Remake
2023 Metroid Prime 4 + Maybe a crossgen launch of the game with Switch 2/Superlative

Makes for a very compelling thought and Nintendo giving the franchise and it's fanbase a big ol' hug.

 

[hologram]

No clue. I wish I had a good answer to give you.

At the end of the day, Retro Studios put a lot of work into it. In my opinion, the branding of "remake" or "remaster" doesn't matter.

Example: On Activision's website, they talk about Crash Bandicoot N'sane Trilogy being "fully-remastered". When obviously the game's assets and engine were re-made from top to bottom.

To be honest, gamers always have seemed to care way more about the distinction than publishers

 

[FossilPhantom]

I’m on board with Nintendo just focusing on the first Prime for now. I do absolutely want all three available on modern hardware, but all three games at once is a lot of content. I’ve just barely played Galaxy on 3D All-Stars, and I would do the same thing on a Metroid collection. Getting a new version of Metroid Prime that has a lot of love put into it in the lead up to Prime 4 while the other 2 games comes later seems like a great way to keep up the stream of Metroid without overflowing

 

[Dark Cloud]

I can’t contain my excitement with a Metroid Prime remake/remaster and everything else coming in 2022.

 

[Zalman]

Speculating on announcement timing, I think The Game Awards would be a perfect venue for it, but something also tells me they want to give Dread some time to breathe this holiday. Depending on how close they want to stick to its anniversary date we may have to wait a while, as Metroid Prime was released in November.

Either way, I'm super stoked about it and I can't wait to see it.

 

[MondoMega]

To be honest, gamers always have seemed to care way more about the distinction than publishers

I feel that in specific cases like Crash and Spyro the marketing team figured that calling them "remasters" would appeal most to the target audience (long-time fans of the original PS1 versions); it implies that the core of the game will be the same and most of the changes will be aesthetic. "Remake" isn't as assuring of a term, because that could entail major changes to the games they love.

Makes sense for Prime 1 to go the same way; people adore that game and wouldn't want them to make major sweeping changes. I personally do want a more modern FPS control scheme as an option though.

 

[Robert]

We're definitely getting twin stick controls, as an option at least. Making the old-school controls the default or only option will be a source of "WTF" for a lot of people. Gyro will probably be an option as well, although with how not precision focused the game is, it wouldn't make too much of a difference.

 

[Phendrift]

We're definitely getting twin stick controls, as an option at least. Making the old-school controls the default or only option will be a source of "WTF" for a lot of people. Gyro will probably be an option as well, although with how not precision focused the game is, it wouldn't make too much of a difference.

I can’t remember which, but i definitely remember the free aim on the Wii trilogy definitely trivializing some bosses in Prime 1 and 2. Even twin sticks probably would, but oh well

 

[Sadist]

As much as I would dig a Trilogy…

Metroid Prime getting a makeover makes me happy. Haven’t played the game in forever.

 

[Dragoncaine]

I can’t contain my excitement with a Metroid Prime remake/remaster and everything else coming in 2022.

I've never been this excited about a year in gaming this far ahead of the actual year arriving lol. Like, it's unbelievable how much we ALREADY have to look forward to in 2022 without even being in 2022 or having had a single 2022 presentation yet.

- BOTW 2
- MP1 remakester
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Splatoon 3
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3
- 3D Kirby
- Bayonetta 3
- Triangle Strategy
- N64 NSO additions
- GB/GBC/GBA on Switch?
- Possible hardware revision?
- Possible DK?
- Possible Mario?
- Possible Zelda ports?

 

[Dark Cloud]

I wonder if they’ll be able to do anything for the ending collection or warping from save spots.

 

[Emily]

Speculating on announcement timing, I think The Game Awards would be a perfect venue for it, but something also tells me they want to give Dread some time to breathe this holiday. Depending on how close they want to stick to its anniversary date we may have to wait a while, as Metroid Prime was released in November.

Either way, I'm super stoked about it and I can't wait to see it.

It's way, way more likely to release during the second half of 2022. So I highly doubt it will appear at The Game Awards.

You said it perfectly: They will want Dread to breath this holiday.

I could see them announcing it sometime between June and September. (3D All Stars was announced + released in September).

 

[KC Hazel]

I've never been this excited about a year in gaming this far ahead of the actual year arriving lol. Like, it's unbelievable how much we ALREADY have to look forward to in 2022 without even being in 2022 or having had a single 2022 presentation yet.

- BOTW 2
- MP1 remakester
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Splatoon 3
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3
- 3D Kirby
- Bayonetta 3
- Triangle Strategy
- N64 NSO additions
- GB/GBC/GBA on Switch?
- Possible hardware revision?
- Possible DK?
- Possible Mario?
- Possible Zelda ports?

Honestly, if this year delivers on most of what is expected, it will give 2017 a run for its money. If an Odyssey follow up or 3D DK also arrive, it's pretty much going to be the best year ever for me. Almost seems too good to be true.

 

[Jersh]

It's way, way more likely to release during the second half of 2022. So I highly doubt it will appear at The Game Awards.

You said it perfectly: They will want Dread to breath this holiday.

I could see them announcing it sometime between June and September. (3D All Stars was announced + released in September).

I've been thinking the same, but in part because I believe they want to show something from MP4 in-engine before revealing Prime 1 if at all possible. They've been very, very careful about how they're presenting their care for the Metroid IP since E3 2017, and I don't think they want to have to do the same "we're working very hard on MP4" song and dance again.

Of course, I have no idea how far along Retro is on that. Maybe it won't be possible to show next year regardless.

 

[NateDrake]

Speculating on announcement timing, I think The Game Awards would be a perfect venue for it, but something also tells me they want to give Dread some time to breathe this holiday. Depending on how close they want to stick to its anniversary date we may have to wait a while, as Metroid Prime was released in November.

Either way, I'm super stoked about it and I can't wait to see it.

TGA would be the absolute earliest, but I'd expect it closer to E3 -- to limit the gap between announcement and release.

Prime's reputation is known & its legacy strong.

 

[Robert]

I wonder if they’ll be able to do anything for the ending collection or warping from save spots.

Echoes would probably need a rethink for the Sky Temple Key hunt, as that's a genuine pace-killer, but for Prime's Artifacts, I'd imagine they'd leave them untouched. You can pick up quite a few as you go through the game, especially considering the game has a few mandatory backtracking sections that give you an opportunity to grab some of em. The main thing that I would change would be to have all the hints available from the first time you visit the Artifact Temple, so you don't have to constantly come back to get them all.

I can't see a warp function being added, but I can definitely see Corruption and Samus Returns's checkpoint feature getting added in. Although whether or not they'll add one for everyone's favorite invisible drone in the Phazon Mines is another story. : p

 

[Dark Cloud]

I don’t expect the announcement until E3. This doesn’t need a long announcement to reveal. E3 can reveal it and release September-October. They would also show Metroid Prime 4 at E3.

 

[Helix]

a remake sounds like a massive undertaking. looking forward to it! can't pin point as to where they could announce it but it would be dope if they attached it with more Metroid Prime 4 info and then shadow drop the remake just to tide you over until MP4 finally launches

 

[Mbolibombo]

It's way, way more likely to release during the second half of 2022. So I highly doubt it will appear at The Game Awards.

You said it perfectly: They will want Dread to breath this holiday.

I could see them announcing it sometime between June and September. (3D All Stars was announced + released in September).

H2 for 2022 feels like it could be HEAVY. Which would ofc be a very Nintendo thing to do.. especially if there's a hardware revision of sort.

2022 confirmed:
BotW2
Bayonetta 3
Mario + Rabbids 2

Rumored/Speculated titles for H2
Xenoblade 3
Prime Remaster
Likely Pokémon something

I'd love for a Prime Remake to slot in very nicely in H1

 

[garf02]

This is literally "a broken clock is right twice a day", this been "happening" since forever. to the point that is statistically plausible it will happen more than not at some point in time.

 

[MondoMega]

An E3 reveal makes sense for this one, right alongside the first real look at Prime 4. Gotta give Dread some time to breathe.

Agree with the sentiment that 2022 is looking amazing. We're already going into the year with a confirmed lineup of

• Pokémon Legends: Arceus
• Triangle Strategy
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land
• Splatoon 3
• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (fuck Ubisoft, but I have to list it)
• Bayonetta 3
• Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

and there's still one more opportunity to unveil another game during TGA this December, all before 2022 has even started. Assuming (hoping) none of those announced titles are delayed, and that the rumored titles expected for next year (this Metroid Prime Version Up, Xenoblade 3, EPDK, the next FE Remake) all show up... yeah, 2022 is going to be a great time. I'm sure some surprises will show up too, like every year. Just going to sit here and hope for Tomodachi 3 and Style Boutique 5. Hopefully Pikmin 4 shows up sometime soon...

Likely Pokémon something

Do people think another mainline game is coming in 2022 after BDSP and Legends? Feel like they're more likely to have an extended break between installments, like the two years between ORAS and SuMo.

Unless you're talking spin-offs, then yeah, Detective Pikachu has to show up eventually. It's just that and Prime 4 sitting in the "announced but we've seen nothing and it has no release window" club now that Bayonetta 3 recently escaped from.

 

[Mbolibombo]

Do people think another mainline game is coming in 2022 after BDSP and Legends? Feel like they're more likely to have an extended break between installments, like the two years between ORAS and SuMo.

Doubt a mainline, feels reasonable to expect a break considering Arceus. But I strongly feel DLC for Arceus will release during the holiday or whatever else project they have cooking. I dont even know if there's been any rumbling, just my assumption based on the Switch era so far

Holiday:
2018 - Let's Go
2019 - Sword & Shield
2020 - Sword & Shield - Expansion Pass version of the game instead of third edition
2021- BP & BP
2022 - Arceus Expansion Pass - Something similar to 2020 maybe?

 

[Dark Cloud]

I think the Resident Evil switch game has the best chance of being revealed at the Game Awards.

 

[oracion]

It seems that there are really still many titles that need to be announced next year.
I am really curious to see how Nintendo will place their lineup.

 

[Mkhashouf]

A Halo anniversary-style remake would be great if anything.

 

[Pooroomoo]

It's a remaster that approaches remake territory -- essentially, they are redoing assets but the core may remain untouched.

As mentioned in the thread, Nintendo views it as a remaster. Ultimately, the terminology don't matter much. The project is ambitious & one Prime fans should be excited for come 2022.

Well I'm definitely excited, my one fear is that I get stuck in the same place again... (I don't recall where exactly but there was this fight pretty far along with these mostly invisible whatevers where no matter how many times and what I did, I kept failing, and none of the walkthrough videos helped at the time)

 

[Jet Jaguar]

Hoping they do a full on 5.1 surround sound audio for it

 

[MetalLord]

It shouldn't be long now,the game is already finished.

 

[Semajer]

Ideally all three games will be brought up to the same standard and release before 4 is out, but that doesn't seem likely to me unless development on 4 takes too long. I'd also like them to do something with Hunters and Federation Force, although the only way I can see them going back to those two is if they really want to reintroduce Sylux to the Switch audience before 4 is out. Assuming he's going to be a major part of the story. Or maybe if they want to boost their catalogue with some first party online multiplayer titles.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Metroid Prime was the best of the three anyway. Best gameplay, music and mix of locations. Would be happy if MP4 was a direct follow up to that game

 

[Mkhashouf]

I hope this ends up forming a small team in retro to remake the next 2 games instead

 

[Mr_No_U]

TGA would be the absolute earliest, but I'd expect it closer to E3 -- to limit the gap between announcement and release.

Prime's reputation is known & its legacy strong.

Oh snap! Welcome, Nate!

 

[Dragoncaine]

Imagine E3 2022 revealing Metroid Prime 1 remake for release in a few months, a blowout for BOTW2, and the first solid look at MP4...my heart...

 

[Mori Medinayo]

Continuing with the announcement speculation.
I think, as Nate and Emily have stated, that it fits a summer announcement of Prime 1, and it should be bounded to a Prime 4 teaser.
In my opinion, it's a bomb that should be announced like a "one more last thing" to finish a Direct. So I have problems fitting it, and that makes me think that Prime 1 or the final BotW sequel name should be in TGA.

First quarter direct (February/March) fits more for Xenoblade 3 like last trailer. And for E3, in my opinion it fits more a big Zelda trailer. So that gives me hope it could be TGA for metroid. Or viceversa between Zelda and Metroid.

It doesn't fit september direct last announcement because that's on a next year's game.

This is assuming we'll have 3 directs per year.

 

[Josh5890]

E3 announcement for an August/September release would be awesome!

 

[SiG]

I wouldn't mind if it's just an aesthetic remake...however, I would like the developers to let cleaver players allow to sequence break if they want to, unlike the numerous revisions of Metroid Prime where they subsequently nerfed Morph Ball exploitables.

 

[drewchebag]

The idea of an aesthetic makeover is exciting but also a little worrying to me. Sometimes remakes in this vein (like Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus) make visual changes that feel like they pull the aesthetic in a different direction (to me). To be clear, I know people have opinions all over the place about that stuff, and I'm not trying to say I know what would be best or imply that everyone should have the same opinion! It sounds like the buzz is good, so hopefully they have struck a good balance between honoring the original and updating it. Looking forward to when it is revealed.

 

[TreIII]

Anniversaries are clearly super important... until they aren't; poor DK's 40th went by with nothing to show for it yet.

I just know his and K. Rool's time is coming.

Frankly, the dude I'm worried about at the moment is Fox.

Surely, those internal prototypes from ages ago will lead to something real, some day...I hope.

 

[Emily]

Timeline based on information I know.

2018
- Retro initially intended to remaster/remake the entire Metroid Prime Trilogy.
- But Nintendo hands Metroid Prime 4 to Retro Studios.
- Retro now has less time to work on trilogy, so they focus energy on finishing Prime 1.

2019
- Nintendo begins looking for external studios to provide additional help + assistance to Retro Studios.
- Original plan: Core work (engine, art assets) on Prime 1 could "potentially" lead into sequels: Prime 2 and 3. (Don't get your hopes up for this)
- Original plan: Prime Trilogy games would be developed and released sequentially. (Prime 1 would be developed and released first)

2020
- Covid-19 pandemic has a negative impact on the entire game industry.
- Many game developers are now working from home.
- Everything has become more complicated.

2021
- Metroid Prime 1 finally wraps up development.
- Prime 1 remaster is a bit more ambitious than anticipated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
- It's currently unknown whether Nintendo scrapped/cancelled future plans for remasters/remakes of Prime sequels.
- No journalist/insider seems able to get a clear, straight answer on Nintendo's plans for Prime 2 and Prime 3.
- An insider named Belmont (on Resetera) seems convinced plans for Prime 2 and 3 were scrapped. (Source)

2022
- It's Metroid Prime's 20th anniversary.
- Switch also turns five years old.

2023
- Metroid Prime 4 aims for a release this year.

 

[Chauzu]

Feels surreal to have Metroid Dread, Metroid Prime 1 Remake, and Metroid Prime 4 in consecutive years. Us Metroid fans are finally eating!

 

[HockeyBird]

Based on what Nate has said, I'm still thinking this will be similar to Halo CE Anniversary. Improved graphics wrapped around the old framework.

 

[k samedi]

I've never been this excited about a year in gaming this far ahead of the actual year arriving lol. Like, it's unbelievable how much we ALREADY have to look forward to in 2022 without even being in 2022 or having had a single 2022 presentation yet.

- BOTW 2
- MP1 remakester
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Splatoon 3
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3
- 3D Kirby
- Bayonetta 3
- Triangle Strategy
- N64 NSO additions
- GB/GBC/GBA on Switch?
- Possible hardware revision?
- Possible DK?
- Possible Mario?
- Possible Zelda ports?

Yeah 2022 is like 2017 in that regard. Zelda will be the most important one for me but MP1 remaster is a close second if you ask me. I hope it won't take too long to remaster 2 and 3 as well.

 

[Josh5890]

Timeline based on information I know.

- It's currently unknown whether Nintendo scrapped/cancelled future plans for remasters/remakes of Prime sequels.
- No journalist/insider seems able to get a clear, straight answer on Nintendo's plans for Prime 2 and Prime 3.
- An insider named Belmont (on Resetera) seems convinced plans for Prime 2 and 3 were scrapped. (Source)

Great timeline! Thank you for doing that.

I'm trying to figure out Nintendo's plans (good luck , I know) as to how they want to handle the Prime series. To me it would make perfect sense to build off of Prime 1 HD and make 2 and 3. Reasons why I could see Nintendo being hesitant on making Prime 2 and 3 HD right away would be,

• Avoid Metroid burn out with 5, Prime 1 HD, and Prime 4 already due in the near future.
• Don't want to put their eggs in one basket incase Prime 1 HD fails commercially.
• Retro Studios doesn't want to stay on the Prime series indefinitely.
• Save Prime 2 and 3 HD for down the road

Personally I think having Retro work on Prime 2 and 3 make more sense than not.