Nintendo invoked Metroid Prime 4’s name at E3, but didn’t show it

That honor went to Metroid Dread

So, Metroid Dread was a huge surprise, and I don’t think some people understand just how big of a deal it is. Not only is the name a hat tip to Metroid fans who have been waiting nearly two decades for a saga to close out, but the game itself is, well, the only completely original 2D Metroid in nearly two decades. Funny how that works out! Dread is kind of like Nintendo’s delivery on a many-years-long contract with 2D Metroid followers. Oh, and it has amiibo! Everything’s coming up Milhouse.

But what about Metroid Prime fans? Well, there’s bound to be a lot of crossover (if there isn’t, y’all should play those 2D Metroid games and find out why Metroid can’t crawl!), but you’ll have to wait a bit. During Nintendo’s Direct presentation yesterday for E3, they re-confirmed the existence of Metroid Prime 4, but pulled a fast one on us. Oh, you were expecting Metroid Prime 4, well, what about this other Metroid?! It was slick.

Here’s what Nintendo general manager Shinya Takahashi actually had to say about Metroid Prime 4, though (which you can find at this timestamp here):

“Before we show this next trailer, I’d like to say one thing. Currently we’re working hard on the next game in the Metroid Prime series, Metroid Prime 4, which we previously announced. But today we’d like to introduce another new entry in the Metroid franchise.”

Once they said that, I was in! Like a moth to a flame. But like the “Breath of the Wild 2 isn’t being shown yet” mention of old, it’s nice to see a project even get mentioned. And confirmed that it still exists! Just in case you were worried.