Retro Studios to Focus on Metroid Prime 5 After Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Says Insider

Retro Studios, the acclaimed development team behind the Metroid Prime series, is set to continue its focus on the franchise with Metroid Prime 5 following the completion of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

This news comes from Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly, a respected industry commentator known for exclusive interviews and reliable connections at Retro Studios.

His statements, shared on social media, offer insight into the studio’s future direction and shed light on the evolving relationship between Retro Studios and major Nintendo properties on the Nintendo Switch. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, currently in development for the Nintendo Switch, marks a long-awaited return for Samus Aran in a 3D first-person adventure.

Retro Studios' reputation was solidified with the critical and commercial success of the original Metroid Prime trilogy.

Since the announcement of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s restart under Retro Studios in 2019, fans have been eager for updates.

Now, according to Reilly, Retro will immediately move forward with development on Metroid Prime 5 after completing the fourth entry, highlighting the studio’s commitment to the highly regarded series. Reilly clarified that Retro Studios is unlikely to revisit the Donkey Kong Country series in the near future, despite speculation following Nintendo's statements about the future of both 2D and 3D Donkey Kong games.

He explained, "Many are interpreting Nintendo’s comments about additional 2D and 3D Donkey Kong games to mean that Retro Studios will continue with the 2D series.

That’s a misconception.

It is improbable that Retro returns to Donkey Kong at this juncture.

Unique circumstances previously enabled them to work on Donkey Kong Country, but the studio was established to create experiences that other Nintendo teams could not," Reilly stated. He added that, while Retro Studios’ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze remains highly acclaimed—often cited among the top 2D platformers—the modern landscape of Nintendo development brings new priorities and opportunities.

Reilly emphasized, "There are numerous internal teams capable of handling a 2D Donkey Kong game, but Retro is the only studio with the expertise to develop a Metroid Prime title of this caliber.

However, they are unlikely to become exclusively a Metroid Prime studio; following Prime 4 and 5, the team is expected to pursue other intellectual properties to avoid franchise fatigue." With this renewed focus on Metroid, Retro Studios is entering a pivotal era.

The company’s achievements, including award-winning titles and technical innovation on hardware like the Nintendo Switch, reinforce its legacy as a cornerstone of Nintendo’s first-party development power.

As anticipation mounts for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s eventual launch, industry watchers and fans alike can look forward to a continued evolution of the Metroid Prime series, while recognizing that Retro Studios may chart a fresh creative path beyond the completion of its next major projects.

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