Some early copies of Metroid Prime 4 are out in the wild

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is still a few days away from its December 4th launch, yet it seems that some copies of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition have already appeared. A post by Reddit user Shadow-Gang shared an image of a physical copy of the game in hand, with comments in the thread jokingly suggesting that Nintendo would be knocking on their door soon.

The appearance of early copies like this is not unprecedented for Nintendo titles, but for high-profile releases like Metroid Prime 4: Beyondit carries risks. Recent Switch and Switch 2 games like Pokemon Legends: ZA and Donkey Kong Banana she also slipped through their street data, leading to data mining attempts and warnings from Nintendo about potential spoilers. WITH Metroid Prime 4 now apparently following a similar pattern, the same could happen to him, and his long history of development makes the situation particularly precarious.

The long road to Metroid Prime 4's release complicates matters

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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is not only one of the most anticipated Metroid games in recent memory, but one of the most anticipated games of all time. After Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was released in 2007, there was no official word on a sequel to the series until ten years later when Metroid Prime 4 was officially announced via a trailer during Nintendo's E3 presentation. Since then, the game has fought an uphill battle throughout its development, surviving a change in studio and a complete reboot.

June 2017: Metroid Prime 4 he announced
February 2018: Development confirmed by Bandai Namco Studios
January 2019: Announcement that development has restarted under Retro Studios
June 18, 2024: The game is revealed with a new name, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
September 12, 2025: Nintendo announces the game's official release date of December 4, 2025

Needless to say, for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond copies to already be in the wild borders on disruptive timing. The game has been under scrutiny for years, and any leaked footage or early impressions have the potential to affect its reception before Nintendo intended. This option especially stands out because every trailer and preview for Metroid Prime 4 raised questions about whether this entry would stay true to the series' identity or leave it all behind in search of new territory.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Fans have some concerns

Open Zones and the Vi-0-La motorcycle

Firstly, Metroid Prime 4: BeyondThe open exploration segments have raised concerns among fans, although the only thing to judge at this point are the game's trailers. One post by Reddit user Improbable Flattery opened the comment floodgates with an image of an open desert Metroid Prime 4 and attached negative sentiment. Still, plenty of fans in the thread expressed hope that these open sections would only act as a gateway between more traditional gaming Metroid Prime zones.

Samus' new motorcycle Vi-0-La v Metroid Prime 4: Beyond also sparked some debate. While early previews of the game didn't get a chance to try out the new bike, some fans still voiced their concerns online: like this post from Reddit user GrassForCats. More than anything else, most fans' concerns with the bike seem to be that it could disrupt the slower, more methodical pace of traditional Metroid Prime games.

A social figure

Metroid Prime 4: BeyondThe companion character was another point of contention for the game, with early previews calling the character “annoying”. The secondary – a Galactic Federation engineer named Myles Mackenzie – is seen as having the potential to negatively impact the show's signature sense of isolation, but that remains to be seen.

Even with these concerns, however, Retro Studios has a good reputation. original Metroid Prime trilogy is highly valued and the studio is on the later work Donkey Kong Country returns and Tropical frosts she only strengthened her reputation. So it is appropriate to remain optimistic Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Exclusive features of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's Switch 2

Some fans of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may try the game early

It's worth noting that this is a Switch 2 release, according to the aforementioned Reddit post Metroid Prime 4 which is currently in the wild. On switch 2, Metroid Prime 4 offers higher resolution targets, improved texture quality, HDR and up to 120 frames per second. Finally, the improved Joy-Con system also allows for mouse-style aiming, which is described in the preview as beneficial for quick combat encounters.

With early copies Metroid Prime 4 supposedly already in circulation, the last stretch before launch became even more important. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond brings years of anticipation and debate, and the next few days will determine how much it reaches gamers before release.