Over the long weekend we learnt some interesting news surrounding the forthcoming Metroid Prime 4, which up until now was being handled by a select team from Namco Bandai. Though not anymore, as according to Nintendo that team's effort "has not reached the standards we seek".

The silver lining? Development of the project has been handed back to Retro Studios, the original developer of the series with producer Kensuke Tanabe staying on to work "in trust and collaboration" with Retro. The kicker? Development is starting over again from scratch which means we might not even see it in the Switch's lifetime.

Now while having Retro behind the reins will likely have many breathing a sigh of relief (ourselves included), it should be noted that one of the key drivers behind the original Prime games, Mark Pacini, is no longer with the studio having set up Armature Studio which worked on the Prime-like ReCore for Xbox One, in collaboration with ex-Capcom legend, Keiji Inafune and his own studio, Level 5 Comcept.

Still, the Prime DNA is a part of Retro Studios' history and the idea the series could return to its US-created first-person action-platformer roots is tantalising. Hopefully we don't have to wait too long. Watch Nintendo's transparent announcement at all of the above, embedded below.

(Source)