The surprise announcement of Metroid Dread during Nintendo's E3 2021 showcase was met with excitement and fanfare from the Metroid community. Not only was the game announced, but Nintendo also addressed the elephant in the room regarding the mysterious development of Metroid Prime 4. While there wasn't a lot of information on the upcoming Metroid Prime game, fans were still able to rally around the excitement of the fifth mainline entry in the 2D Metroid series.
With Metroid Dread's announcement, the Metroid series as a whole seems to be set up for perhaps the best several consecutive years of the franchise's history. It seems like out of nowhere, there became a lot to look forward to in the coming years with the franchise, and Metroid Dread is just kicking things off.
RELATED: Metroid Dread May Spell Good News for Pikmin 4
The last ten years of Metroid games haven't been the most stellar of the series. Since 2011, there have only been two releases: Metroid Prime: Federation Force in 2016 and Metroid: Samus Returns in 2017. While Samus Returns was a great addition to the 3DS's library, it came at the tail end of the handheld's lifespan and didn't really add anything new to the Metroid canon as it was a remake of the original Metroid 2: Return of Samus. Federation Force is often forgotten about when discussing Metroid titles as it didn't have much of a connection to Samus' story and isn't remembered the most fondly as it wasn't a particularly solid Metroid game.
In 2010, there was the controversial Metroid: Other M which also didn't get the positive reception that the series usually received up to that point. The latest wholely original, well-received Metroid title was Metroid Prime 3: Corruption in 2007. Fans have been hoping for a return to the good days of the series for years now, and it seemed like that might be happening when Metroid Prime 4 was announced during E3 2017. Unfortunately, delays and other development issues have set the project back and while Nintendo assures fans that development is going well, there hasn't been anything that the company has to show for it. This longstanding drought in Metroid games seems to be ending with the release of Metroid Dread later this year, however.
Although it isn't out yet, based on its trailers and the gameplay footage shown off during Nintendo's Treehouse Live at E3 2021, Metroid Dread seems to be a solid entry in the series sparking hope that more good Metroid games are on the way. If the development of Metroid Prime 4 is going as well as Nintendo says, fans can probably expect it within the next year or so putting its release in either 2022 or 2023. Although this is purely speculation, it's certainly possible based on how long the game has been in development.
Despite some veteran Metroid devs saying that it would take a "herculean effort," there have been rumors that a remastered Metroid Prime Trilogy will be making its way to the Switch before the release of Metroid Prime 4. As the Prime series ran from 2002 to 2007, it would be a good idea to give older fans a taste of the series from the early to mid-2000s and bring in new fans of the series banking on the success of Metroid Dread.
If the remastered trilogy does exist as per certain unverifiable reports, then it would give Nintendo the chance to stretch out the popularity of the series. Metroid Dread would release in 2021, then, if it's truly finished, Metroid Prime Trilogy Remastered would release in 2022, and finally, Metroid Prime 4 would release in 2023. While this is all speculation, Metroid Dread might be kicking off the three best consecutive years for the Metroid franchise.
Metroid Dread launches October 8, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
MORE: Metroid Dread: What is the X Parasite?
