Despite its predecessor releasing nearly two years ago, the purported remaster of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes remains missing in action. Rumors of Nintendo having remastered the entire Metroid Prime trilogy for the Switch have existed almost as long as the Switch itself, and multiple reliable leaks from industry insiders have pointed to Nintendo having remasters of both Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption ready for release following the overwhelming success of Metroid Prime Remastered. It begs the question, then, of when Nintendo is planning to give Metroid fans what they've been waiting for, and the ideal window for such a release is rapidly closing.
2025 is already shaping up to be a banner year for the Metroid franchise, with the reveal and confirmed release window of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond making fans understandably hyped. But both Metroid Prime 2 and 3 each deserve to be more than just footnotes in the franchise's history, needing remasters and releases on modern hardware befitting games of their caliber. Given the success of Metroid Prime Remastered and how well it continues to hold up in a modern context, Nintendo needs to make good on bringing the whole trilogy to the Switch, and quickly, if it's going to beat Metroid Prime 4 and the Switch 2 to the punch.
Metroid Could Be Starting 2025 with a Bang if Rumors Are True
2025 is shaping up to be a big year for Metroid thanks to the release of Metroid Prime 4, but recent rumors suggest it may be even bigger.
A One-Two Punch of Metroid Prime 2 and 3 Remastered Might Be Nintendo's Best Bet
Despite rumors pointing to Nintendo having remastered the Wii release of Metroid Prime Trilogy for the Switch, the company surprised fans when it dropped just the first game in the series last year. Metroid Prime Remastered was first released digitally on February 9, 2023, before physical versions became available on February 22. Demand for the game quickly caught up with Nintendo, with the company going so far as to reassure upset fans that more cartridges were in production. It's a wonder, then, why Nintendo hasn't quickly followed up the initial Metroid Prime Remastered with its two sequels, but 2025 presents the perfect opportunity for both games to drop in rapid succession.
Current projections seem to suggest Nintendo might release the Switch 2 at some point in Q2 or Q3 2025, which tees up a one-two punch of releasing Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption remasters ahead of what's sure to be a busy year for the company. The wait between the first Metroid Prime remaster and remasters of its sequels may have been long, but an anniversary launch of the rest of the trilogy in February 2025 could kill two birds with one stone. Not only would it go a long way toward appeasing Metroid fans who have been eagerly anticipating both games on the Switch, but it would also fill what's an admittedly skint first-party release schedule for Nintendo.
Having the Metroid Prime Trilogy Available on Switch Would Be a Great Way For Nintendo to Promote Metroid Prime 4
Releasing the remasters of the other two Metroid Prime games would also go a long way toward building up hype for one of Nintendo's most important first-party releases in 2025, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Metroid Prime 4's development has been drawn out extensively, and there's an argument to be made for it being one of the year's most anticipated releases. Combined with the potential launch of the Switch's successor, a lot is riding on Metroid Prime 4. Nintendo would do well to preemptively start building hype for the game, and there's no better way than to get fans reacquainted with the series' past.
It's been a gamble on Nintendo's part to stretch out the releases of the Metroid Prime remasters in the way it has, but it's a gamble that has a chance to deliver a massive payoff should it make good on the promise of making the whole trilogy and its long-awaited successor available on a single platform. Better yet, the confirmation of the Switch 2's backward compatibility means the Metroid Prime franchise would be readily accessible for years to come.
- Released
- November 15, 2004
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Retro Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Heavily modified Metroid Prime engine
WHERE TO PLAY
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Metroid
- Platform(s)
- GameCube, Wii, Nintendo Wii U
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Metroidvania
- How Long To Beat
- 17 Hours
