Nintendo acknowledged that preferences for open-world games shifted during the extended development period of Metroid Prime 4

Nintendo has acknowledged a shift in player expectations regarding open-world titles during Metroid Prime 4's extended production period.

As detailed by an unnamed developer speaking to Famitsu, translated by Nintendo Everything, initial plans for the game aimed to incorporate elements inspired by the highly acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

"We saw a lot of comments on the internet saying ‘we want to play an open-world Metroid'," quoted the developer.

Nonetheless, the central concept of Metroid involves unlocking new areas through gained abilities, which contrasts the complete freedom typical in open-world designs. The team opted for a structured area that allowed exploration and connected to other zones. They envisioned segments where players could navigate on a bike, offering breaks from exploration and enhancing the experience.

Metroid Prime 4 faced a protracted development timeline, initially announced at E3 2017. However, it was revamped in 2019 under Retro Studios’ guidance, which previously created the Prime series.

During this period, perceptions regarding open-world formats evolved significantly, and restarting development was no longer feasible. The developer noted the impracticality of another reset after already relaunching the project with Retro Studios.

"In conclusion, the game took longer than we expected, and player expectations toward open-world titles shifted," explained the developer.

"Adjusting to the latest trends in shooting and action titles would have challenged the adventure game’s pacing. Hence, we proceeded based on our initial plan, resulting in a game that stands apart from contemporary trends,” they added.

Metroid Prime 4 eventually debuted on December 4, 2025, and received mixed reviews.