On Christmas Day 2025, Nintendo staff sat down with Famitsu for a brutally honest interview about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and the details paint a picture of a development that was even messier than fans realized. After nearly eight years since the original announcement and a complete development restart in 2019, the team finally opened up about the pressure to make it open-world, why Sylux’s backstory took 19 years to finalize, and how Retro Studios essentially had to make the best of a bad situation.
The interview, published on December 25th and translated by the Famiboards community, reveals that Metroid Prime 4 barely avoided becoming yet another open-world game chasing Breath of the Wild’s success. The team acknowledged that online comments during development were screaming for an open-world Metroid, but by the time they restarted at Retro Studios, it was too late to pivot even if they wanted to. So they didn’t.
The Open-World Question Everyone Asked
When development restarted at Retro Studios after Nintendo scrapped the original version, the gaming landscape had shifted dramatically. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild had redefined what open-world games could be, and seemingly every developer was trying to replicate that success. The Famitsu interview reveals that Nintendo was very aware of this pressure.
“At the inception of the project, perhaps inspired by The Legend of Zelda, we noticed numerous online comments expressing a desire for an open-world Metroid,” the development team explained. “We acknowledged that finishing the game took longer than anticipated and that players’ perceptions of open-world experiences had shifted.”
But here’s the crucial part. Once they restarted development at Retro Studios, they couldn’t revert to an earlier stage in a project they had already redefined. They decided to proceed with the original vision of a more traditional Metroid Prime experience rather than chase trends. Throughout the extended development period, shooters and action games had progressed toward faster gameplay, but the team made a conscious choice not to incorporate those elements either, as doing so would disrupt the rhythm suited for an adventure game.
In other words, Metroid Prime 4 remains largely unaffected by the evolving trends of the industry because the development team was too far along to change course, and they believed changing would make the game worse anyway.
Retro Made the Best of a Bad Situation
The interview clarifies something important about the 2019 development restart. Retro Studios didn’t reboot the game from scratch. They revived it. There’s a significant difference. A reboot means starting over with a blank slate. Reviving means taking what exists and making it work.
According to community discussion on Reddit, the situation can be summarized as Retro Studios being handed a troubled project without a sufficient development team for a major AAA shooter, leading to necessary reorganization. They inherited concepts, design documents, and partial work from the cancelled version, then had to figure out how to transform that into something shippable.
This explains a lot about why Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has drawn mixed reactions since release. GameSpot’s review called it “Prime, But Not Quite Prime Prime,” praising standout moments like the thunder factory and ice levels while criticizing significant drawbacks including repetitive gameplay loops and the insufferable companion character Myles who won’t stop calling you every few minutes to remind you where the base is even after you’ve been there dozens of times.
As one Reddit user put it: “Despite being a troubled title stuck in development limbo, the final version turned out better than it could have been. There are certainly some standout moments within the game. However, I believe the drawbacks are simply too significant to overlook.”
Timeline Placement Finally Confirmed
One of the most significant revelations from the Famitsu interview is the official timeline placement for Metroid Prime 4. The game takes place between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion, specifically after Federation Force. This contradicts what many fans assumed based on the Prime series traditionally occurring early in the timeline.
This creates some interesting lore complications. Super Metroid seemingly wrapped up the Space Pirates and Metroids for good with the deaths of Mother Brain, Ridley, and the last Metroid hatchling. Yet Metroid Prime 4 features both Space Pirates and Metroids. The explanation, according to fan theories attempting to reconcile the timeline, is that Sylux has been secretly creating his own Metroids using genetic samples stolen from the Federation.
The timeline now looks something like this according to Reddit discussions: Metroid Prime 1-3 and Hunters all happen between Zero Mission and Metroid II. Federation Force occurs shortly after Prime 3. Metroid II Samus Returns happens next, where Samus eliminates all Metroids except the hatchling. Super Metroid follows immediately. Then Metroid Prime 4 occurs a year or two later when Sylux re-emerges with his cloned Metroids. Finally, Metroid Fusion takes place several years after that.
Sylux’s Backstory After 19 Years
Perhaps the most fascinating revelation from the interview involves Sylux, the enigmatic bounty hunter who first appeared in Metroid Prime Hunters back in 2006. The Famitsu interview confirms that the developers of Hunters were specifically instructed to keep Sylux’s backstory unresolved, paving the way for his return in future titles.
For nearly two decades, all we knew was that Sylux hated the Galactic Federation and Samus for unexplained reasons. Metroid Prime 4 finally provides answers through flashback sequences where Samus interfaces with Sylux’s consciousness using psychic technology from the extinct Lamorn civilization.
The backstory revealed is that Sylux was once a Galactic Federation field captain. During a ground war against Space Pirates, his self-righteous and narrow-minded nature led him to disobey orders and attempt to claim a Space Pirate superweapon for himself. This reckless decision got his entire squad killed, with Sylux being the sole survivor. Rather than accepting responsibility, he blamed Samus and the Galactic Federation for the incident and vowed revenge.
The Galactic Federation enhanced Sylux’s stolen suit using nanotechnology, resulting in the sleek blue and green armor design reimagined by Retro Studios artists for this game. He also somehow gained the ability to control Metroids, which becomes the central threat driving the plot.
Fan reaction to this backstory has been mixed. Some appreciate finally getting answers after 19 years. Others find the motivation weak compared to iconic Metroid villains like the SA-X from Fusion or the original Metroid Prime, both of which built dread and anticipation through environmental storytelling and gameplay rather than expository flashbacks.
Development Challenges and Philosophy
The interview provides extensive insight into the design philosophy that guided Metroid Prime 4’s development. The team explicitly rejected open-world design, explaining that free exploration contradicts ability-based progression. Metroid games are built around obtaining new abilities that unlock previously inaccessible areas, creating a sense of growth and discovery. True open-world design where you can go anywhere from the start would undermine that core loop.
Instead, they designed a hub with limited exploration that gradually expands as you gain new abilities. This maintains the Metroidvania structure fans expect while offering larger, more ambitious environments than previous Prime games. Think of it as bigger interconnected areas rather than a seamless open world.
The team also discussed their approach to modernizing the series without betraying its identity. While shooters and action games had evolved toward faster, more frenetic gameplay during the eight-year development cycle, Metroid Prime 4 maintains the deliberate pacing and exploration focus that defines the series. They consciously chose not to incorporate trends like battle royale elements, crafting systems, or live service features that infected other franchises.
The Amiibo Problem
One detail that’s drawn criticism is Metroid Prime 4’s use of amiibo functionality. The new $30 Samus on the Viola amiibo unlocks a feature that tracks how far you’ve traveled on the hoverbike and provides cosmetic skins based on milestones. The Sylux amiibo unlocks a special scene revealing his full backstory, though you can also unlock it by completing the game at 100%.
Locking story content behind either 100% completion or a $30 plastic figure has frustrated players who feel this important narrative information should be accessible through normal gameplay. It continues an unfortunate Nintendo trend of using Metroid specifically to push amiibo sales, with previous games in the series locking difficulty modes and other features behind the figures.
Critical and Fan Reception
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launched on December 4, 2025 to mixed reviews. GameSpot gave it a score that praised its atmosphere and standout boss encounters while criticizing pacing issues, repetitive enemy types, and the overbearing guidance from companion character Myles. The New York Times called it “An Ecological Tale” that overcomes a slow start through worldbuilding about the extinct Lamorn civilization.
On Reddit and gaming forums, fan reaction has been similarly divided. Some players appreciate Retro Studios’ commitment to traditional Metroid Prime design in an industry obsessed with open-world trends and live service monetization. Others feel the game shows its troubled development through uneven pacing, questionable design choices, and a villain whose motivation doesn’t justify 19 years of buildup.
The recurring sentiment is that Metroid Prime 4 is good but not great. It’s a competent addition to the series that plays it safe rather than taking risks. After eight years of development hell and a complete restart, that might be the best outcome Nintendo could realistically achieve.
FAQs
When does Metroid Prime 4 take place in the timeline?
According to the Famitsu interview, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond takes place between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion, specifically after Federation Force. This means it occurs late in the series chronology despite being part of the Prime subseries.
Why isn’t Metroid Prime 4 open-world?
Nintendo explained in the interview that open-world design contradicts Metroid’s core ability-based progression system. The game features larger interconnected areas than previous entries but maintains the traditional Metroidvania structure where new abilities unlock previously inaccessible zones.
What is Sylux’s backstory?
Sylux was a Galactic Federation field captain whose reckless attempt to claim a Space Pirate superweapon got his entire squad killed. He survived and blamed Samus and the Federation for the incident, vowing revenge. This backstory is revealed through psychic flashbacks in the game.
Did Retro Studios restart Metroid Prime 4 from scratch?
No. According to the interview, Retro Studios revived rather than rebooted the project. They inherited work from the cancelled version and had to make it functional rather than starting with a blank slate.
Why did Metroid Prime 4 take so long to develop?
The original version was cancelled in 2019 and development restarted at Retro Studios. The team faced pressure to make it open-world following Breath of the Wild’s success but ultimately stuck with traditional Metroid design. They also had to rebuild their team and work with inherited materials from the cancelled version.
Do you need amiibo to get the full Metroid Prime 4 story?
The Sylux backstory scene can be unlocked either by purchasing the Sylux amiibo or by completing the game at 100%. The amiibo provides a shortcut but isn’t strictly required, though many fans criticize locking story content behind either method.
Is Metroid Prime 4 worth playing?
Reviews are mixed. It has strong atmosphere, memorable boss fights, and solid exploration, but suffers from pacing issues, repetitive enemies, and an overbearing companion character. Fans of traditional Metroid Prime will likely enjoy it despite flaws.
Were there really metroids left after Super Metroid?
According to fan timeline theories, Sylux stole Metroid eggs from the Federation during Federation Force and spent years secretly cloning them. This explains how Metroids appear in Prime 4 despite Super Metroid seemingly eliminating them all.
The Bottom Line
The Famitsu interview paints Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as a game that survived development hell through compromise and determination rather than creative brilliance. Retro Studios inherited a troubled project, resisted industry pressure to make it something it shouldn’t be, and delivered a competent but not exceptional entry in a beloved franchise.
The decision not to chase open-world trends deserves respect. In an industry where every game tries to be the next Breath of the Wild, sticking to traditional Metroid design philosophy required courage. Whether that philosophy resulted in the best possible game is debatable, but it’s better than a half-baked open-world Metroid that betrays everything the series stands for.
Sylux’s backstory reveal after 19 years is simultaneously satisfying and underwhelming. Getting answers feels good, but the actual answer is a generic revenge story that doesn’t measure up to the series’ best villains. The fact that this major narrative reveal is locked behind either 100% completion or amiibo purchase adds insult to injury for players who just want the full story.
The timeline placement between Super Metroid and Fusion creates interesting possibilities for future games while also raising questions about continuity that Nintendo will need to address. If Sylux has been cloning Metroids in secret, what does that mean for the galaxy-wide extinction event that drives Fusion’s plot?
Ultimately, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is exactly what you’d expect from a game with its troubled development history. It has moments of brilliance buried under layers of compromise, good ideas hampered by execution issues, and a finished product that’s good enough without being great. After eight years and a complete development restart, that’s probably the best outcome Nintendo could hope for.
For fans who’ve been waiting since 2017, it’s a bittersweet conclusion to a saga that should have gone very differently. The game exists, it’s playable, and it’s not terrible. In 2025, when so many ambitious projects crash and burn or get cancelled entirely, maybe that’s enough. But for a franchise as beloved as Metroid and a developer as talented as Retro Studios, it’s hard not to wonder what could have been if circumstances had been different.