"Metroid Prime 4 Pre-Orders Canceled by Amazon"

Amazon has begun canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, notifying customers through email. This move has sparked concerns about the game's future and its anticipated 2025 release. Let's delve deeper into what this means for fans and the game's trajectory.

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 about Amazon canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4. Screenshots shared by affected users revealed that Amazon cited "a lack of availability" as the reason for the cancellations. Despite the disappointment, Amazon promised to refund the reservation charges within 1-2 business days.

This news has left some Metroid fans disheartened, especially those who pre-ordered back when the game 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; it simply means it's no longer available for pre-order on Amazon.

For more detailed insights into Metroid Prime 4, be sure to check out our comprehensive article on the game.

Metroid Prime 4’s Development History

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

Two years later, on January 25, 2019, Nintendo announced a significant shift 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 Metroid Prime sequel.

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

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

As the Switch 2's official announcement looms on the horizon, it remains to be seen whether Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will launch on the original Switch or its successor.