Metroid Prime 4: Beyond might be Nintendo’s boldest financial gamble yet, with recent claims suggesting the highly anticipated sequel carries a development budget of $100 million – ten times more expensive than the original Prime.
The Shocking Budget Revelation
KiwiTalkz, a content creator known for interviewing current and former Retro Studios employees, dropped a bombshell on social media recently. According to their sources, Metroid Prime 4 has cost approximately $100 million to develop – a staggering increase from the original game’s $10 million budget.
“Prime 1 cost about $10 million dollars to make, Prime 4 is costing about $100 million to make,” KiwiTalkz stated. When pressed about the source of this information, they simply replied, “I’ve been told that.”
The Massive Sales Target Challenge
With such an enormous budget comes equally massive pressure. The leak suggests that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond needs to sell between 4.5 and 5 million copies just to break even. This represents a monumental challenge for the franchise, considering the series’ sales history.
For context, the best-selling Metroid game to date is Metroid Dread, which sold just over 3 million copies on Switch. The entire Prime trilogy combined has sold around 6.8 million units across multiple platforms and years. Essentially, Metroid Prime 4 needs to outsell nearly any previous entry in the franchise by a significant margin.
Development Hell and Rising Costs
The eye-watering budget becomes more understandable when considering the game’s troubled development history. Originally announced at E3 2017, the project began under Bandai Namco Studios but was completely restarted in 2019 when Nintendo handed development back to Retro Studios.
This development restart alone likely contributed millions to the overall cost. Starting over means throwing away years of work, assets, and progress – all while continuing to pay development teams. The project has now been in active development for over eight years since its initial announcement.
Nintendo’s Budget Philosophy Under Pressure
Nintendo has traditionally maintained strict control over development costs, making this alleged $100 million budget particularly shocking. For comparison, industry experts estimate The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom cost between $100-150 million, while most Nintendo first-party games historically cost much less.
The company’s approach has typically focused on creative gameplay innovations rather than massive production values. However, modern AAA game development costs have been spiraling upward across the industry, and Nintendo appears to be facing the same pressures.
| Game | Estimated Budget | Sales Target |
|---|---|---|
| Metroid Prime (2002) | $10 million | Achieved profitability |
| Tears of the Kingdom (2023) | $100-150 million | 21+ million sold |
| Metroid Prime 4 (2025) | $100 million (rumored) | 4.5-5 million needed |
Cross-Generation Strategy for Success
Nintendo’s decision to release Metroid Prime 4 as a cross-generation title for both Switch and Switch 2 makes strategic sense given these budget constraints. The December 4, 2025 release date positions it as a major holiday title that can capture both existing Switch owners and early Switch 2 adopters.
The Switch 2 version offers enhanced features including 4K resolution at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps options, and mouse-like Joy-Con 2 controls. These improvements could justify premium pricing and attract graphics-focused gamers who might have otherwise skipped a Metroid title.
Industry Context and Competition
While $100 million sounds astronomical for Nintendo, it’s worth noting that modern AAA games routinely exceed this budget. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 cost PlayStation $315 million, while Grand Theft Auto 6 reportedly has a $2 billion budget including marketing.
Even with Metroid Prime 4’s rumored budget, Retro Studios’ upcoming adventure remains significantly cheaper than most major AAA productions from Sony, Microsoft, or third-party publishers. Nintendo’s efficiency in game development has historically been one of their competitive advantages.
What This Means for the Franchise
The success or failure of Metroid Prime 4 could determine the future of the entire franchise. If the game fails to meet its sales targets, Nintendo might reconsider investing heavily in future Metroid projects. Conversely, success could revitalize the series and justify continued high-budget development.
The game introduces new elements like Samus’s motorcycle (the Vi-O-La) and psychic abilities, suggesting Nintendo is betting on innovation to broaden the franchise’s appeal beyond its core fanbase. These additions represent calculated risks to attract new players while potentially alienating traditionalists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the $100 million budget for Metroid Prime 4 confirmed?
A: No, Nintendo has not officially confirmed any budget figures. The $100 million claim comes from KiwiTalkz, an industry insider, but should be treated as an unverified rumor until officially confirmed.
Q: How many copies does Metroid Prime 4 need to sell to be profitable?
A: According to the leak, the game needs to sell between 4.5-5 million copies just to break even, not including marketing costs or profit margins.
Q: Why is Metroid Prime 4 so much more expensive than the original?
A: Modern game development costs have increased dramatically due to higher resolution graphics, larger development teams, longer development cycles, and the game’s troubled development history including a complete restart.
Q: When does Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release?
A: The game is scheduled to release on December 4, 2025, for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Q: Will Metroid Prime 4 be worth the high budget?
A: That remains to be seen. The game promises new gameplay mechanics, enhanced graphics for Switch 2, and the return of classic Prime gameplay, but whether this justifies the reported budget will depend on sales performance and critical reception.
Q: How does this budget compare to other Nintendo games?
A: If accurate, this would make Metroid Prime 4 one of Nintendo’s most expensive first-party games ever, comparable to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s estimated budget.
Q: What platforms will Metroid Prime 4 be available on?
A: The game will launch simultaneously on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with enhanced features and performance on the newer console.
Conclusion
Whether the $100 million budget claim proves accurate or not, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond represents a significant financial and creative gamble for Nintendo. The company is betting that modern production values, cross-generation appeal, and franchise nostalgia can drive unprecedented sales for the Metroid series. With its December 2025 release date approaching, we’ll soon discover whether this expensive bet pays off or becomes a cautionary tale about ballooning development costs in the gaming industry.