According to popular Nintendo YouTuber, SuperMetalDave64, two new Metroid games are currently deep into development for Nintendo Switch, with at least one being highly likely to be shown at E3.
Dave appeared on SpawnCast Saturday to share this information.
According to him, Retro Studios has been hard at work on a new 3D Metroid Prime game (he refers to it as Metroid Prime 4), as well as a new IP.
This would line up with recent reports from Emily Rogers, stating the studio has been developing a new title for over three years.
Second, Dave also mentions that another studio, Climax Studios, is developing a new Metroid game, and it’s “probably not going to be a 2D Metroid.” He says that while both projects could be shown off at E3 this year, the Climax Studios project is much more likely to be revealed.
Climax Studios has a history of 2D and 3D games. They released Silent Hills: Shattered Memories for the Wii back in 2009, the 2.5D Assassins Creed Chronicles series in 2015/2016, and are working on the space title Riftstar Raiders. They would be a great fit for the Metroid franchise given the types of games they have produced.
This news would also make sense, as others have speculated that the reason Metroid-like games such as Axiom Verge have not come to Nintendo Switch yet, is that a new 2D Metroid game could be coming soon, and Nintendo wants to keep Metroid to itself once it is announced, to ensure no similar game competition and the most excitement around its announcement.
A new pair of Metroid games would certainly be exciting, and this E3 may be the perfect time to announce one.