Amazon Cancels Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Pre-Orders – What Does This Mean for the 2025 Release?
Reports surfaced online on January 11, 2025, indicating Amazon is canceling pre-orders for the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and issuing refunds to affected customers. Emails sent by Amazon cite "lack of availability" as the reason for the cancellations. While disappointing for those who pre-ordered, the refunds are reportedly being processed within 1-2 business days.
The cancellation doesn't signal game cancellation; instead, it points to a temporary pre-order unavailability on Amazon. This is particularly noteworthy for long-time fans who pre-ordered years ago, following the game's initial announcement at E3 2017.
For more details on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, check out our dedicated article.
A Look Back at Metroid Prime 4's Development
Initially announced at E3 2017, the project initially excluded Retro Studios, the developer behind previous Metroid Prime titles. Two years later, Nintendo revealed a development restart under Retro Studios, citing that the initial progress didn't meet their standards.
A full gameplay trailer showcased at a June 2024 Nintendo Direct confirmed the title as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, revealed antagonist Sylux, and set a 2025 release window. Nintendo reaffirmed this release window as recently as January 3, 2025.
The Amazon pre-order cancellation, while concerning, doesn't contradict Nintendo's commitment to a 2025 release. The upcoming Switch 2 announcement adds another layer of intrigue, leaving the platform for the game's launch still uncertain.