Metroid Prime 4 being delayed was a bittersweet announcement. It’s disappointing that we won’t be seeing it for awhile, but it is a comforting thought that Retro Studios is on the project now. To hold fans over, it would make sense to release a Nintendo Switch port of the Metroid Prime Trilogy. This has been rumored in the past, but a Switch collection could already be completed.
According to Game Informer’s Senior Editor, Imran Khan, the Switch port of the Metroid Prime Trilogy has already been completed. In fact, he believes that the “initial announcement” of its release was supposed to be in December.
If this is true, it sounds like Metroid Prime 4’s delay could be a root cause of the delay in the Prime Trilogy. It could be that Nintendo wants to release the trilogy closer to Prime 4. With the fourth game now coming out in the distant future, it may not make sense to release a trilogy until late this year at the earliest. With the Nintendo Switch being many’s first video game console, the company’s plan could be to provide more details into the release of Prime 4, and then announce the trilogy port. That way, new fan interest in the overall Metroid series will be high.
The original Metroid Prime Trilogy release was on the Wii. It was an acclaimed port, successfully bringing the three popular games - Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Interestingly, it did not support the GameCube controller, instead going for full-on motion control support. If this trilogy sees release on Switch, it’s interesting to think how it will control. Presumably there will be motion control via the Joy-Cons, but since you can use the GameCube controller on Switch, you may be able to play the first two Primes as they were originally controlled on the GameCube.
As for the reason why Metroid Prime 4 was delayed, Nintendo stated that the quality of the development up until that point did not satisfy the company’s standards. So, Nintendo has restarted the game’s development with Retro Studios. Retro has proven time and again with Metroid Prime and also Donkey Kong Country Returns, that it knows how to handle properties with the utmost excellence and respect. Prime 4 should be another fantastic entry.
If Metroid Prime Trilogy for Switch really was supposed to be announced last month, then there’s a chance we’ll hear something later this year. If you have a Wii U console, you can also buy the trilogy digitally for $19.99.
