Fans of the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4: Beyond have been left in a state of confusion after a new ad poster incorrectly stated that the game is already available. The title, which was first announced by Nintendo during a Nintendo Direct event in 2017, is still in development at Retro Studios and scheduled to be released in 2025 for both the Switch 2 and the original Switch.
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Nintendo, with the launch of the long-awaited Switch 2 console and the release of Mario Kart World. The gaming giant is also poised to follow up with more major first-party games, including Donkey Kong: Bananza, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Among these projects, the forthcoming Metroid title has had a particularly interesting development journey so far, which has seen the game change developers in the past.
Recently, a new ad poster for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was spotted in London, UK, incorrectly stating that the game is "Out Now." The ad, shared by Reddit user orchestar (via Wario64), is apparently located at the Oxford Circus station. The erroneous poster has not just caught the attention of Metroid fans but has also sparked discussions about the possible factors that led to this incident. While some Reddit users thought the "Out Now" text was supposed to be covered with a "Coming Soon" sticker and then a release date sticker until the game was out, others reasoned that it was likely an editing issue that crept into the final version of the ad. They gave weight to the latter theory by comparing the poster with the one for Mario Kart World and pointing out that the "Out Now" part looked visibly different. They said it was presumably placed over another text that simply read "2025"—Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's confirmed release window.
Although the new entry in the Metroid series is not out yet, the latest incident has got fans speculating about when exactly Nintendo may launch the game. With Donkey Kong: Bananza's release taking place in July, it seems reasonable to think the Japanese publisher could place Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's launch date at some point after that. In case the sci-fi title rolls out in August, it would mark the third consecutive month since Switch 2's arrival that a major first-party Nintendo game would have been released.
The Switch 2 is currently enjoying a very strong run as the fastest-selling Nintendo console in history. While third-party game sales on the new platform have reportedly struggled, first-party releases, such as Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 editions of previously released Nintendo titles, have been dominating. Based on this, Switch 2 software sales in the near future appear to be majorly dependent on the performance of titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which could help the company sell more units of its latest console offering as well.
