Nintendo announced a significant development change regarding Metroid Prime 4 in 2019 when they revealed that the project had been restarted, with Retro Studios taking over as the developer5. This decision was made after the initial development progress failed to meet the standards Nintendo sought in a sequel to the Metroid Prime series. The restart aimed to ensure the game's quality and align with fans' expectations.
Metroid Prime 4 was initially teased in 2017, following the launch of the Nintendo Switch. The game's development faced some challenges and was eventually rebooted with Retro Studios taking over. The first gameplay trailer and a 2025 release window were revealed during a Nintendo Direct presentation in 2024.
Metroid Prime 4 has been in development for over seven years as of the latest update. It was first announced during E3 2017 and has experienced a troubled development cycle, including a complete restart in 2019. The game is now scheduled for a 2025 release.