Metroid Prime 4: Beyond story details leak after Nintendo finally confirms release date

The recent Nintendo Direct revealed a December 4th Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date. A trailer also showed Samus Aran riding around an open-world map on a futuristic bike. Still, gamers wonder how she arrived on the planet Viewros and other key plot points. Leaked photos of the Japanese promotional copy of the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 game may provide clues (spoilers to follow).

Translated by a Reddit poster, text on the back of the box roughly translates to "Having been transported across space and time to the unknown planet Viewros, Samus [Aran] must [carve a] path with her newfound powers in order to return to her original world." The packaging also suggests that the inhabitants of the planet give the hero psychic abilities in order to solve mysteries.

Time travel in some form has been repeatedly rumored for the Retro Studios project. During an E3 2015 Eurogamer interview, producer Kensuke Tanabe discussed game development concepts for a new game. He discussed a focus on one planet, but timeshifting would play a major role. The latest Nintendo Direct trailer and earlier videos didn't confirm the new gameplay mechanic for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Fans have speculated that the portals seen in Metroid Prime 4 would take Samus Aran to different time periods on Viewros. The bike spotted in the latest trailer may be a time-traveling vehicle or a way to explore environments in the same era.

Gamers have questioned the marketing strategy leading up to the game's release window. At events like Gamescom 2025, attendees played a demo of the Retro Studios title. Still, some players found the gameplay shallow compared to past titles. Much of the game may have intentionally been hidden from fans. A more comprehensive Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Nintendo Direct could solve unanswered questions.