A potential release window for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may have surfaced following an update from South Korea’s GRAC (Game Rating and Administration Committee), which recently assigned an age rating to the title. This often precedes official launch announcements, as seen with other games like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, whose GRAC rating in February 2024 preceded its March release confirmation for June.

Industry analysts speculate announcements could emerge through Nintendo Direct, Gamescom, or Tokyo Game Show events, potentially indicating late 2025 availability. However, early 2026 remains plausible. This conflicts with recent claims by insider Reece ‘KiwiTalks’ Reilly, who suggested ongoing development delays. The GRAC rating implies significant progress, given regulatory reviews typically occur near project completion.

Rated for ages 12+, the board’s summary describes:
“A first-person adventure following Samus Aran on planet Buros after events at a Galactic Federation facility involving Silux. Contains mild combat against alien creatures with suit-mounted weaponry.”

Originally announced in 2017 for Switch, development hurdles forced Nintendo to reboot production. After Bandai Namco’s unsatisfactory early work, Retro Studios resumed leadership—a move that appears to have stabilized the project. During a recent Switch 2 preview event, journalist Nathan Birch praised the game’s polished mechanics, noting:
“Metroid Prime 4 delivers the series’ signature exploration with refined controls and technical upgrades. While familiar in structure, it showcases Retro Studios’ expertise, offering smooth 120fps performance on new hardware without sacrificing Switch compatibility.”

As confirmed, the title will remain cross-generational, launching on both Nintendo Switch and its successor.