Nintendo has finally locked in a date for one of its most anticipated games of the decade. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will arrive on December 4, 2025, ending years of speculation, delays, and countless fan theories about when Samus Aran would return.

The announcement immediately set the community buzzing. For many long-time fans, it’s hard to believe this moment is actually here. The project was first revealed back in 2017, then restarted under Retro Studios in 2019, leading to a long silence that tested the patience of even the most loyal followers. Now, with a firm release date, the wait feels worthwhile.

What makes this launch especially significant is that it will hit both the current Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. This dual release ensures that existing players won’t be left behind, while also giving Nintendo’s new hardware a blockbuster showcase right out of the gate.

While full details of the story remain under wraps, the subtitle “Beyond” hints at a step forward in both scale and ambition. Early gameplay footage suggests a return to the atmospheric exploration and first-person combat that made the original Metroid Prime trilogy so beloved, but with modern refinements. Enhanced lighting, sharper environmental detail, and smoother transitions between scanning, shooting, and platforming hint at a more seamless adventure.

The timing is also no coincidence. By placing the launch just before the holiday season, Nintendo is positioning Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as one of the biggest releases of the year. With Switch 2 expected to draw heavy attention at retail, pairing it with the return of Samus gives the console a strong head start.

For now, fans can only speculate about how the story will expand the Metroid universe. Will it push Samus into uncharted regions of space? Will we see the return of classic foes, or entirely new threats? Nintendo isn’t saying, and perhaps that mystery is exactly what makes the reveal so exciting.

After nearly two decades since the last mainline Metroid Prime title, the wait is almost over. December 4 is circled on every fan’s calendar and for good reason.