Metroid Prime 4 Delay Leaves Switch 2 Weak

Did anyone else get the Nintendo Switch 2 just so they could play Metroid Prime 4: Beyond? Well, you wouldn’t be alone in that, ’cause I sure as sugar wanted to—especially when it felt like Nintendo was positioning it to be a launch title for the Switch 2!

With all the trailers and the early gameplay footage showing how players could make use of the Switch 2’s mouse controls, it really felt like this was the plan. You could switch between using the Joy-Cons as originally intended, or switch to the mouse feature that’s exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.

Posters, Promises, and a Sudden Delay

What’s even worse is that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond posters were spotted throughout the London Underground—with “Now” printed on them! So these posters were printed, approved, and distributed before the delay was announced and made.

This might be proof that the return of Samus Aran was scheduled as a Switch 2 launch title, but something happened that caused Nintendo to push it back, completely subverting expectations.

Mario Kart World Carried the Launch

And because of that, Mario Kart World was the only game worth playing in the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch lineup. It was the only game in the lineup, actually, as many other titles were just remakes. Which isn’t a bad thing—it was a great experience for a lot of players. Some even said it was one of the best in the Mario Kart series, especially now that it expanded into its open-world concept with new mechanics.

But with only one launch title that cost $80 by itself, it doesn’t really make the $450 hit that a lot of people took to their wallet feel worth it!

The Launch Lineup Left Players Disappointed

Now, there were other games—mostly third-party ports like Cyberpunk 2077, Fantasy Life i, and plenty of others (pretty sure we have a list here at Total Apex Gaming). But aside from a few remastered titles—some of which are coming to other consoles anyway—there wasn’t much to offer.

The pickings were slim, and honestly, not good enough for what many were expecting.

A lot of players believe that Metroid Prime 4 could have changed the perception and made both hardcore fans and casual consumers understand exactly how the Nintendo Switch 2 stood out from the original.

Do you agree with that statement?