Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Confirmed for Nintendo Switch, Not Switch 2

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Confirmed for Nintendo Switch, Not Switch 2 After years of eager anticipation and a long period of silence from both Nintendo and Retro Studios, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond made a dramatic return at the latest Nintendo Direct.

Fans across the gaming industry immediately wondered if the highly awaited sequel would debut on the original Nintendo Switch or be reserved for the company's next-generation console, widely referred to as 'Switch 2.' The speculation around Metroid Prime 4’s target platform intensified in May 2024, when Nintendo officially acknowledged the development of the Switch's successor, stating the upcoming hardware would be revealed within the next financial year.

This led to growing assumptions that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond could skip the current generation entirely, much like previous cross-generational releases such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, industry analysis has now provided solid evidence that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is designed primarily for the Nintendo Switch.

In a statement to IGN, Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter closely examined the game’s debut footage and provided his technical insights: "Visually, the game is impressive with several refined visual effects that stood out during our analysis.

Our technical evaluation shows that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond operates at an internal rendering resolution of 900p, identical to Metroid Prime Remastered, and consistent with what is achievable on the Nintendo Switch hardware." Leadbetter further noted minor visual artifacts, such as some aliasing and slight frame-rate drops, which are also indicative of software optimized for the current-generation console. Leadbetter summarized his findings by stating that every aspect of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s graphics aligns with a well-crafted Nintendo Switch title.

He praised Retro Studios for their technical expertise, remarking that their track record continues to deliver high-quality experiences tailored to Switch capabilities.

While the developer would likely be pleased to see excitement around potential next-generation hardware, the current evidence points firmly to a Nintendo Switch release. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond represents a major milestone for Retro Studios, marking their return to the celebrated Metroid franchise after years out of the spotlight.

While fans should not rule out the possibility of a future cross-generation release, all verified data and technical analysis confirm that the immediate focus is on the Nintendo Switch.

This development ensures the game will be accessible to the platform’s extensive install base, which surpassed 140 million units sold worldwide as of early 2024. For more updates on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, including release date information and future Nintendo Direct announcements, stay tuned to your trusted source for Nintendo news and industry analysis.

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