Metroid Prime 4, Announced Back in 2017, Has Pre-Orders Cancelled by Amazon

Amazon is canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and contacting customers via email. Let's explore what this means for the game's release in 2025.

Amazon Cancels Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Pre-Orders

Full Refunds En Route

On January 11, 2025, online forums like Reddit and Resetera buzzed with reports of Amazon canceling Metroid Prime 4 pre-orders. Screenshots showed Amazon's cancellation notices, citing "lack of availability" as the reason. The good news? Amazon assures customers that pre-order reservation charges will be refunded within one to two business days.

While disappointing for some fans who pre-ordered since the game's 2017 announcement, the cancellation doesn't signal the game's demise. It simply means Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is temporarily unavailable for pre-order through Amazon. For more details on the game itself, check out our dedicated Metroid Prime 4 article!

A Look Back at Metroid Prime 4's Development

Initially announced at E3 2017, Metroid Prime 4's early development notably excluded Retro Studios, the developer behind previous Metroid titles. Nintendo remained tight-lipped about the development team at that time.

Two years later, in January 2019, Nintendo revealed a significant setback: development was restarted under Retro Studios. In a YouTube video, Shinya Takahashi explained that the progress didn't meet Nintendo's quality standards for a Metroid Prime sequel.

A major turning point arrived in June 2024 with a full gameplay trailer during a Nintendo Direct. The trailer confirmed the game's official title, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and unveiled its 2025 release window. Sylux, leading a group of Space Pirates, was revealed as the antagonist.

Nintendo reaffirmed the 2025 release date in a January 3, 2025 news post. While Amazon's pre-order cancellation may raise concerns, this statement suggests the game remains on track for release this year. The upcoming Switch 2 announcement adds another layer of intrigue, leaving the question of which console will ultimately host the game's launch unanswered for now.