"Metroid Prime 4 Pre-Orders Cancelled by Amazon"

Amazon has begun canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and is reaching out to customers via email to inform them of the changes. This development raises questions about the game's future and its planned 2025 release. Let's delve into the details and what this might mean for eager fans.

Amazon Cancelling Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s Pre-Orders

Reservation Charge will be Refunded

On January 11, 2025, reports surfaced across Reddit, Resetera, and other online forums that Amazon was canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4. Screenshots shared by users showed emails from Amazon stating that the pre-orders were canceled "due to a lack of availability." Despite the disappointment, Amazon promised to refund any reservation charges within 1-2 business days.

This news has understandably disappointed many Metroid fans, especially those who pre-ordered the game shortly after its announcement at E3 2017. However, the cancellation of pre-orders on Amazon does not signify that the game has been canceled. It simply means that the game is not currently available for pre-order through Amazon.

For more detailed insights into Metroid Prime 4, be sure to check out our comprehensive article on the game.

Metroid Prime 4’s Development History

Metroid Prime 4 was first announced at E3 2017, with Nintendo America's director of product marketing stating that the development would not involve Retro Studios, the team behind previous Metroid titles. At the time, Nintendo kept the identity of the new developer under wraps.

However, two years later, in January 2019, Nintendo announced a significant shift: the development was being restarted under Retro Studios. In a YouTube video, senior managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi explained that "the current development progress has not reached the standards we seek in a sequel to the Metroid Prime series."

Fast forward to June 2024, when Nintendo unveiled a full gameplay trailer for Metroid Prime 4 during a Nintendo Direct, confirming its release window for 2025 and revealing its full title, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The trailer introduced the game's antagonist, Sylux, leading a group of Space Pirates in an unnamed facility.

More recently, on January 3, 2025, Nintendo reaffirmed the 2025 release window for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in a news post. While Amazon's pre-order cancellation may cause concern among fans, Nintendo's statement suggests that the game is still on track for a 2025 release.

With the upcoming announcement of the Switch 2, there remains uncertainty about whether Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will launch on the original Nintendo Switch or its successor. Only time will tell, but fans remain hopeful for this highly anticipated title.