Amazon has begun canceling pre-orders for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and notifying customers via email. Read on to learn what this means for the game's future and whether its planned 2025 release is affected.
Amazon Cancels Pre-Orders for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Pre-Order Charges to Be Refunded
On January 11, 2025, users on Reddit, Resetera, and other online communities reported that Amazon was canceling their Metroid Prime 4 pre-orders.
Screenshots shared by customers show Amazon contacted them to cancel the pre-order "due to a lack of availability." While disappointing, Amazon assured that any reservation charge would be refunded within 1-2 business days.
Some longtime Metroid fans are particularly disheartened, having placed their orders back when the game was first announced at E3 2017. It's important to note this cancellation does not mean the game is scrapped—it simply indicates the title is currently unavailable for pre-order on Amazon.
For more details on the game, be sure to check out our dedicated Metroid Prime 4 article!
The Development Journey of Metroid Prime 4
Metroid Prime 4 was first revealed during E3 2017. At the time, Nintendo of America's director of product marketing stated development would not be handled by Retro Studios, the team behind previous Metroid Prime titles, though no alternative developer was named.
Two years later, Nintendo announced it was restarting development entirely under Retro Studios. In a YouTube video on January 25, 2019, Senior Managing Executive Officer Shinya Takahashi explained the decision, noting that "the current development progress has not reached the standards we seek in a sequel to the Metroid Prime series."
In June 2024, Nintendo concluded its Direct presentation with a full gameplay trailer, confirming a 2025 release date and the official title: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The trailer also unveiled the antagonist Sylux leading a group of Space Pirates in an unidentified facility.
More recently, Nintendo reaffirmed the 2025 release window in a news post on January 3, 2025. While Amazon's pre-order cancellations may cause concern, this official communication confirms the game is still on track for a release this year.
With the official announcement of the Switch 2 seemingly imminent, it remains to be seen whether the game will launch on the original Switch, its successor, or potentially both platforms.
