Metroid Dread will be here in just two months. The game is extremely exciting to many Nintendo fans and enthusiasts of Samus Aran. In the eyes of the public, the bounty hunter's next adventure did not exist just two months ago, but now the brand new 2D experience on the Nintendo Switch is right around the corner. Along with the game itself, some may be wondering if Metroid Dread will have added content post-launch in the form of downloadable content.
The excitement behind Nintendo's next Metroid game is tangible, which was evident when Metroid Dread became the best-selling game on Amazon immediately after E3. It has been years since a brand new Metroid game, seventeen years to be exact since a traditional 2D title. It would make sense for some fans to hope for more than just the game itself, but as far as DLC, the answer is muddled.
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At this point, it is unlikely that Metroid Dread will have post-launch DLC in the form of story-based content—but that does not mean that it is impossible. Metroid Dread has been in the works for 16 years off and on, so when it finally releases for the public one would think that the full breadth of content would be made available. It would be a bit interesting to see The Big N hold back on content by providing DLC months after the release.
An important thing to note is that Metroid Dread is supposed to end the current story arc for Samus. As far as all of the 2D Metroid games, starting with Metroid on the NES, Metroid Dread will be the final title. It is possible for DLC to tell a story of something that fits in between the games or some spin-off tale, but Nintendo is setting up the game to be the final chapter. Of course, Metroid Prime is a whole other storyline—and it is plausible for Nintendo to start another plot via a brand new set of games—but if that happened via DLC that would be surprising.
Another game that is headed to the Nintendo Switch in October is Mario Party Superstars. Some sleuths have noticed that the posting of the game on the Switch store itself says that the game supports in-game purchases. Some thought that Mario Party Superstars itself was DLC, which it is not, but the game looks to bring some element of in-game DLC to the table. This could be new boards, games, characters, etc. Even though Metroid Dread is coming sooner than Mario Party Superstars, fans have not yet noticed that same notation on the posting. That does not mean that DLC is not in the plans at some point, however.
There are rumors that the next Nintendo Direct could be Metroid Dread-focused. It is entirely possible that Nintendo lets fans know that DLC is on the way after launch. It could be that story-based content comes post-launch, or even smaller content such as unique costumes, new modes, and more. It has been a long time since Nintendo has launched a Metroid game, so it would make sense for Nintendo to take advantage of it.
Metroid Dread also sets the table for Metroid Prime 4 in some aspects. In some ways, the unofficial post-launch support for Dread is Metroid Prime 4. There are those who like the 2D sidescrolling games more than the first-person titles, and vice versa. An update about Prime 4 would be a dream come true for many. Metroid Dread has revived the series, and it could be that the game breaths life into the franchise, allowing Metroid Prime 4 more time to succeed whenever it launches.
Metroid Dread releases October 8, 2021 for the Nintendo Switch.
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