Metroid Prime 4 is set to finally debut in 2025, approximately eight years after its original announcement back in 2017. While this highly anticipated sequel is closer to release than it has ever been, it seems Amazon is taking this opportunity to cancel many old pre-orders.
According to discussions across Reddit, Twitter, and various social media platforms like ResetEra, Amazon has started to cancel Metroid Prime 4 pre-orders significantly. Some of these orders date back to the game’s initial announcement in 2017, and the cancellation notifications simply indicate that the game is “out of stock.”
Unquestionably, there has been plenty of speculation regarding the reasons for these cancellations. The most plausible explanation is that, given Amazon’s erratic supply of first-party Switch games in recent years, they might now be unable to assure their inventory for Metroid Prime 4.
Many of these pre-orders trace back to when Amazon was still offering discount prices prior to the official reveal, and they certainly were made well before Nintendo initiated its $70 pricing with Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Even if Amazon does plan to stock Metroid Prime 4 at launch, they might not be inclined to honor those $48 pre-orders for a game priced at $70.
Surely, some individuals are taking the most outlandish approach possible: suggesting that this signals Metroid Prime 4 is canceled on Switch and will only release on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s reasonable to assume that Nintendo could release the title on both current and next-gen platforms—after all, a similar scenario occurred with Breath of the Wild during the transition from Wii U to Switch—but come on, folks. Nintendo likely wouldn’t have re-listed Prime 4 as a Switch title just six months ago if the company was planning to exclusively release a next-gen version.
However, let’s be real, Nintendo’s unpredictability has stumped more knowledgeable industry analysts than myself. For now, just consider this a reminder to check your inbox if you’re still awaiting an Amazon delivery for your copy of Metroid Prime 4.
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