With The Legend of Zelda celebrating its 35-year anniversary, all eyes are on Link and co. in 2021.
However, Zelda isn’t the only franchise celebrating an anniversary at Nintendo.
2021 is also the 35-year anniversary of the Metroid series, which made its debut for the Famicom Disk System in 1986.
To coincide with the 35-year anniversary of the Metroid series, Nintendo is releasing Metroid Dread in October.
The company is also hard at work on Metroid Prime 4, which is currently without a release date.
If the latest reports are to be believed, Nintendo may have another Metroid release ready to go.
According to Giant Bomb journalist Jeff Grubb (via VGC), Nintendo has finished work on the Switch port of the Metroid Prime Trilogy.
“The game is done and Nintendo is holding it,” Grubb said. “I think Metroid Prime trilogy is done and whether or not Nintendo releases it now or later depends on other factors.
“I think that game is sitting in their pocket for whenever Nintendo decides it’s the right time, and Nintendo’s done this a lot recently so it’s not unusual, it’s not a sign of some bad thing happening, it’s not a sign of a lack of faith in Metroid… Nintendo can afford [to sit on it] and that’s how they’re treating it.”
Grubb believes that Nintendo may hold on to Metroid Prime Trilogy until closer to the launch of Metroid Prime 4.
QA testing has also been a problem during the pandemic, as Nintendo prioritises higher-profile games during lockdown.
“I think a big problem for Nintendo for quite some time during the pandemic was QA,” Grubb continues.
“I think Nintendo was focusing its quality assurance resources on one or two big projects at a time and that meant that some games that were basically finished were sitting on the side, while they had their lockdown secure QA processes focused on one or two more important games.
“The other factor for Metroid Prime Trilogy is that it’s definitely going to be a marketing beat for Metroid Prime 4, almost certainly.
“So right now we’re getting Metroid Dread this year and then I would imagine that Metroid Prime trilogy is something they’ll release close to the release of Metroid Prime 4, whenever that is.”
Speaking of Metroid Dread, the new side-scrolling game will launch in October.
“Samus’ story continues after the events of the Metroid Fusion game when she descends upon planet ZDR to investigate a mysterious transmission sent to the Galactic Federation.
“The remote planet has become overrun by vicious alien lifeforms and chilling mechanical menaces. Samus is more agile and capable than ever, but can she overcome the inhuman threat stalking the depths of ZDR?
“Face off against unrelenting E.M.M.I. robots. Once DNA-extracting research machines, the imposing E.M.M.I. are now hunting Samus down. Tensions are high as you evade these E.M.M.I. to avoid a cruel death while finding a way to take them down.
“Find out what turned these robotic wonders into the scourge of ZDR and escape with your life.”