Fans eagerly anticipating Metroid Prime 4: Beyond were recently surprised by a misleading advertisement that claimed the game has already been released. Under development at Retro Studios, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was first revealed by Nintendo during a Nintendo Direct event in 2017, with a scheduled launch in 2025 for both the original Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. The year 2025 is expected to be crucial for Nintendo, marked not only by the introduction of the much-awaited Switch 2 console but also by the release of other major titles such as Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong: Bananza, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Among these, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has had a particularly eventful development history, having changed hands between developers.
Recently, fans have been buzzing with anticipation for fresh announcements from Nintendo, particularly in light of the erroneous ad that has surfaced. This new installment will bring Samus’ long-standing conflict with Sylux to a climax, though it’s expected that she will face other adversaries as well. The poster spotted at Oxford Circus station in London mistakenly advertised the game as “Out Now.” Shared by a Reddit user named orchestar, the ad has sparked discussions about how this mix-up occurred.
Some theorized that the “Out Now” text was meant to be later replaced with a “Coming Soon” sticker, while others suggested it was merely a result of a minor editing error. A comparison with the Mario Kart World poster indicated that the wording for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond looked conspicuously different, hinting it may have been an overlay on text that should have read “2025.” Despite the game not being available yet, this incident has led fans to speculate about its potential release date. With Donkey Kong: Bananza set for a July launch, it’s plausible that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond could arrive afterward.
If it launches in August, it would mark a significant milestone, as it would be the third consecutive month since the Switch 2’s debut in which a major first-party Nintendo title would be released. Currently, the Switch 2 is performing exceptionally well as the fastest-selling Nintendo console ever. While third-party titles have struggled, first-party releases like Mario Kart World continue to thrive, suggesting that future software sales for Switch 2 will heavily rely on the performance of titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, potentially driving sales further for Nintendo’s latest console offering.