The uncertainty surrounding where Metroid Prime 4: Beyond fits in the story has finally been cleared up. In a recent statement to Famitsu, Nintendo confirmed that the latest installment in Samus Aran’s first-person adventures takes place between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. This marks a significant shift for the Prime sub-series, which has traditionally served as a link between the original Metroid and its Game Boy sequel, Return of Samus.
By placing Beyond after Super Metroid, Nintendo is exploring new ground for the Prime brand. However, the company was quick to explain that the game exists in “another dimension,” ensuring that the established story of the main 2D games remains intact. This decision seems to give the developers at Retro Studios more creative freedom. It allows the team to introduce major changes, like new psychic abilities and the pilotable Vi-O-La motorcycle, without being bound by the strict gameplay rules seen in Samus’s later missions.
This approach to a “fresh start” also goes beyond the timeline. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is being promoted as a starting point for new players, removing the complex story of the Phazon arc that defined the previous trilogy. The game replaces the tight corridors of past titles with the expansive, open-world settings of the planet Viewros. While this shift to a desert-hub structure has sparked discussions among fans, the core gameplay still emphasizes the franchise’s signature isolation within its intricate dungeon sections.
Despite a rocky development process that included a full restart in 2019, the December 2025 release has already made a notable impact on the market. The initial reviews have been mixed, with some longtime fans questioning the inclusion of NPC companions like Myles Mackenzie. Nonetheless, the title has reached the top spot on the North American eShop. As the franchise enters this new phase, it’s clear that Nintendo is focusing on growth rather than nostalgia, trying to redefine what a Metroid experience can be in today’s gaming world.
