Last Nintendo Exclusive of 2025 Releases Next Week

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Next week will see the release of the final Nintendo exclusive and one of the biggest game launches of 2025. This year has already been fantastic for gaming, arguably one of the best in the last ten years. While a few delayed titles might have pushed it into all-time great status, there’s been so much to enjoy that picking a Game of the Year winner will be tough. Nintendo has had a particularly strong year, with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 and a potential Game of the Year candidate, Donkey Kong Bananza.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has enjoyed a successful first year, boosted by a brand new Mario Kart title – the first in over ten years – a fantastic Donkey Kong game, and a wide variety of excellent games from other developers. Throughout the year, though, fans have been eagerly anticipating one game in particular, a title they weren’t even sure would ever arrive after such a long wait.

Metroid Prime 4 Finally Releases on Nintendo Switch & Switch 2 Next Week

After years of anticipation, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is launching next week on December 4th. It’s hard to believe, as this game has been in development for much of my career! Nintendo first announced Metroid Prime 4 at E3 2017, shortly after the Switch’s release, and fans were thrilled – it had been ten years since Metroid Prime 3. But despite the initial excitement, the game seemed to get stuck in development and never quite materialized… until now.

The development of Metroid Prime 4 faced several problems, the full scope of which remains unclear. In 2019, the game was essentially restarted by Retro Studios, a surprising and difficult decision for Nintendo. This restart became necessary because Nintendo wasn’t happy with the game’s progress. Following this, Metroid Prime 4 disappeared from public view for years, leading many to believe it might be canceled.

As a huge Metroid fan, I was so excited when Nintendo finally showed us gameplay for Metroid Prime 4 in the summer of 2024! It had been years of silence, and we finally got a release window for 2025 and the official title. Everyone, myself included, really thought it would be a launch title for the new Switch 2 console. But when the Switch 2 came out in June 2025, Metroid Prime 4 wasn’t there. We had to wait a few more months – it wasn’t until September 2025 that Nintendo actually gave us a firm release date!

The new trailer showed off a lot of gameplay, including a motorcycle Samus can use to get around. After years of anticipation, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is almost here, launching on both Nintendo Switch and the new Switch 2. While it’s still unknown if the game will live up to the hype, it’s sure to be a major release. Sadly, because of its early December release date, it won’t be able to be considered for awards at this year’s The Game Awards. This is a common situation for Nintendo, as some of their big games have been ineligible for awards in the past due to similar timing.

While it’s possible Metroid Prime 4: Beyond could be nominated for an award next year if it’s a fantastic game, it faces tough competition. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is already nominated for Best Performance this year, even though it came out last December. Metroid Prime 4 will be up against some very popular and well-regarded titles, making its chances of a nomination a bit lower.

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2025-11-25 04:41