Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, announced in 2017, is set to launch on December 3, 2025, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Many fans who pre-ordered the game years ago have experienced major life events during the long wait. Stories from players highlight how much has changed since their initial excitement.
Announcement and Development Background
Nintendo revealed Metroid Prime 4 on June 13, 2017, sparking immediate pre-orders from eager fans. Originally slated for development by Bandai Namco, the project was restarted and handed to Retro Studios, the original Prime developers. The game, now titled Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, has faced delays, but recent updates confirm its release on both the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2.
Pre-Order Stories and Life Changes
Pre-orders began shortly after the announcement, with many placed through retailers like Best Buy using discounts such as the Gamer Club program. Fans who secured deals in 2018 and 2019 now see them as bargains amid rising game prices.
Bluesky user Bucket Mouse, who pre-ordered in 2018, shared: "Since my preorder, I’ve finished grad school, switched careers, started a small business, bought a house, and had three children." They remain enthusiastic, planning to take off work to play. Elliot, pre-ordering in 2019, was surprised by a Best Buy email update: "Oh, okay, thanks for the email. I definitely forgot I already ordered Metroid Prime 4 six years ago." They intend to buy the physical Switch version, preferring tangible copies over the Switch 2's digital key card.
Rebecca Stone revived a canceled 2019 pre-order and anticipates receiving her copy soon. Milton, who pre-ordered in March 2020, noted: "I’ve had a whole-ass child, bought a house, and Nintendo released a whole new console in that time." Not all pre-orders survived; Amazon canceled many earlier in 2025. These anecdotes underscore the game's prolonged development and its place in fans' evolving lives.