Metroid Prime 4 Shows Just How Nintendo Is Different From Xbox & PlayStation

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The upcoming game “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” by Nintendo’s Retro Studios is expected to be launched this year. Though an exact release date hasn’t been shared yet, it’s anticipated as one of Nintendo’s major releases in late 2025. Fingers crossed that the final product lives up to expectations, but so far, things look quite promising. The fact that Nintendo is entrusting this project to Retro Studios highlights their confidence in them as developers. This decision sets Nintendo apart from competitors like Xbox and PlayStation in terms of how they handle their studios.

For over a decade, Retro Studios has experienced a significant dry spell in terms of game releases. Following the launch of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Wii U in 2014, there have been few, if any, new projects from the developer. It is rumored that the team spent several years working on an unannounced music-based RPG, but according to podcaster Reese “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly, this game turned out to be a major failure, leading Nintendo to ultimately cancel it. Similar challenges were encountered with Metroid Prime 4, initially in development at another studio, prompting Nintendo to restart the project from scratch in 2019, with Retro Studios once again taking charge.

Metroid Prime 4’s Long Development Time Exemplifies Nintendo’s Studio Approach

It’s challenging not to draw parallels between Nintendo’s management of Retro Studios and the recent developments at many studios owned by PlayStation and Xbox. In some respects, the scenario at Retro bears a striking resemblance to Microsoft’s handling of Rare. It appears that in 2014, Rare started working on a game called Everwild, which was officially announced in 2019. After an extended development period of over a decade, this project was ultimately cancelled by Xbox in 2025. This decision was made during a time when approximately 9,000 employees were let go across Xbox-owned studios, with an undisclosed number of layoffs occurring at Rare.

In contrast, the team at Retro was not subjected to mass layoffs. Instead, they were reassigned to a project that turned out to be more suitable for them. While both teams worked on projects for several years without success, the outcomes for each were different.

A significant factor contributing to Nintendo’s prosperity lies in its strategy of not aiming for large-scale studio acquisitions. Instead, Nintendo prefers working with smaller teams, a decision that has proven advantageous for both the company and the developers. This approach allows Nintendo to maintain closer ties with its studios and address potential issues early on. Retro Studios is one instance of this strategy, while Next Level Games is a more recent example – a studio acquired by Nintendo in 2021 following years of collaboration. Though not as well-known as Bethesda or Bungie, Next Level Games played a crucial role in the development of the wildly successful Luigi’s Mansion 3, which has moved over 14 million copies since 2019. By focusing on smaller teams rather than giant publishers, Nintendo finds it easier to handle acquisitions, identify problems promptly, and sidestep mass layoffs.

Gaming Industry Layoffs Haven’t Hit Nintendo — Why?

During a challenging period for Nintendo in 2013, their CEO, Satoru Iwata, addressed shareholders, expressing concerns about reducing employee numbers for immediate financial gains. He felt such cuts would negatively impact morale and doubted that workers facing potential layoffs could produce globally impressive software. Although Iwata passed away in 2015, this approach appears to persist at Nintendo. The company had the opportunity to downsize or even shut down Retro Studios after their music-based RPG didn’t materialize as planned. They could have also lost the development team behind “Metroid Prime 4,” a standout title from the Nintendo Switch 2 media event in April, which might have been closed as a consequence. Instead, they opted to continue supporting both the struggling project and the studio itself.

In the realm of video game industry, acquisitions and mergers have been commonplace, but the past five years have witnessed an intense acquisition competition between Xbox and PlayStation, with Xbox purchasing heavyweights like Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and Bungie, while PlayStation responded by acquiring Bungie. These purchases, though potentially beneficial in the long run, have brought about substantial implications. Following the purchase of Bungie, Xbox encountered issues with the underperforming game Redfall and shut down Arkane Austin a year later. Similarly, PlayStation’s investment in Bungie hasn’t reaped the expected rewards either. The acquisition was intended to bolster PlayStation’s live-service strategy, which has already led to cancellations of several games. Consequently, layoffs occurred at the studio last summer due to these setbacks.

How Nintendo Stands Out From Xbox & PlayStation In Today’s Industry

In a time when video game industry is unfortunately plagued with cancellations, studio shutdowns, and widespread layoffs, _Metroid Prime 4: Beyond_ serves as a powerful example of what can be accomplished through persistence and skilled leadership. If _Everwild_ indeed required cancellation, it seems that someone at Xbox should have spotted the issues earlier. The future of _Metroid Prime 4_ remains uncertain, and it will be interesting to see if its success justifies Nintendo’s investment over the past eleven years. Regardless, Nintendo can endure financial losses, especially when it means a more content workforce and high-quality experiences for consumers who invest in their platforms like Switch and potential future models such as Switch 2. The takeaway is clear: there’s much to learn about better management of talent within the gaming industry, and hopefully PlayStation and Xbox can adapt accordingly.

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2025-08-17 19:26