Metroid Prime 4, Announced Back in 2017, Has Pre-Orders Cancelled by Amazon

Amazon has begun canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and is notifying customers via email. This development has sparked concerns about the game's future and its anticipated 2025 release. Let's delve into the details and what this might mean for fans eagerly awaiting this long-awaited title.

Amazon Cancelling Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s Pre-Orders

Reservation Charge will be Refunded

On January 11, 2025, reports surfaced across Reddit, Resetera, and other online forums that Amazon was canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4. Screenshots shared by users revealed that Amazon cited "a lack of availability" as the reason for the cancellations. Despite the disappointment, Amazon assured affected customers that their reservation charges would be refunded within 1-2 business days.

This news has understandably upset some Metroid fans, especially those who pre-ordered the game back when it was first announced at E3 2017. However, it's important to note that the cancellation of pre-orders does not indicate that the game has been canceled. Instead, it suggests that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is currently unavailable for pre-order on Amazon.

For more detailed information about the game, be sure to check out our comprehensive Metroid Prime 4 article.

Metroid Prime 4’s Development History

Metroid Prime 4 was first unveiled at E3 2017, with Nintendo America's director of product marketing revealing that the project would not be developed by Retro Studios, the team behind previous Metroid titles. At the time, the identity of the new developer was kept under wraps.

Two years later, in January 2019, Nintendo announced a significant change in the game's development. In a YouTube video, senior managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi disclosed that development had been restarted under Retro Studios due to the project not meeting the expected standards for a sequel in the Metroid Prime series.

Fast forward to June 2024, Nintendo showcased a full gameplay trailer for Metroid Prime 4 during its Nintendo Direct, confirming the game's title as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and setting its release for 2025. The trailer introduced the game's antagonist, Sylux, leading a group of Space Pirates in an unnamed facility.

More recently, on January 3, 2025, Nintendo reaffirmed the 2025 release window for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in a news post, alleviating some concerns raised by Amazon's pre-order cancellations. This reaffirmation suggests that the game is still on track for release this year.

With the imminent announcement of the Switch 2, speculation continues about whether Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will launch on the original Nintendo Switch or its successor. Only time will provide clarity on this eagerly awaited title's platform and release details.