Nintendo announced Metroid Ravenous during a Nintendo Direct on September 9, 2026, marking the first 2D side-scrolling adventure for Samus Aran since Metroid Dread. Developed for the Nintendo Switch 2, the game launches on January 28, 2027, featuring dark mechanics where Samus absorbs enemy energy to survive.
While the title had already surfaced unexpectedly in July due to a data leak at South American classification authorities and a registration listing in Brazil, Nintendo officially lifted the curtain on the project to confirm its platform and exact release schedule.
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Release Date and Editions
The newly unveiled side-scrolling adventure arrives on January 28, 2027, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. Nintendo structured the release to include physical and collectible options for players right out of the gate, with a Metroid Ravenous amiibo lineup and a Metroid Ravenous: Special Edition available on the same day as the game.
- A standard edition of the game launching on January 28, 2027.
- A Metroid Ravenous: Special Edition available on the same day as the game.
- A Metroid Ravenous amiibo lineup available on the same day as the game.
Dark Narrative and New Gameplay Mechanics
Serving as a direct continuation of the events established in Metroid Dread and the verheerenden Nachwirkungen der Ereignisse auf dem Planeten ZDR, the new adventure strands Samus Aran on a bedrohlichen Planeten or an unfamiliar alien moon following a crash landing where she is severely injured by unknown attackers. The narrative tone shifts toward a much grimmer reality for the bounty hunter, characterized by the rule that Samus must conquer an environment where the law of eating and being eaten reigns.
“I was attacked by unknown assailants and sustained grave injuries, I don’t know where I am. Getting back to the surface won’t be easy. My chances of getting off this moon are slim at best. Still – I will survive. And I will make it home. Even if I have to feed on my enemies to do so. It’s eat or be eaten.”
Samus Aran
To navigate the labyrinthine underground world and claw her way back to the surface, Samus must utilize a brand-new suite of abilities, including newly acquired Metroid powers that let her devour defeated enemies and organic matter. Gameplay footage reveals the return of the parry mechanic from Metroid Dread, alongside rapid mobility options like a dash that warps Samus through walls and water-running capabilities. Most notably, Samus can now intercept enemy attacks to temporarily incapacitate foes and siphon their life force directly.
Technical Target and Hardware Performance
Capitalizing on the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, official product listings on the game’s website confirm that Samus’s new adventure will support different graphics modes and a 120 Hz image output on compatible televisions. While a fixed 120 FPS framerate has not been formally confirmed, Nintendo has not yet named concrete framerates or resolution details. The listing also notes HDR and surround sound support, while past Nintendo Switch 2 releases like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond established architectural precedents with a quality mode featuring 4K/60fps (1080p handheld) and a performance mode featuring 1080p/120fps (720p handheld).
Developer Speculation and MercurySteam’s Return
Although Nintendo traditionally refrains from naming development studios early in a game’s promotional cycle—often requiring players to wait until a game releases or reviews drop to discover the developer, as seen with Monolith Soft potentially handling the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake—Metroid Dread developer MercurySteam has seemingly confirmed that it is the studio behind Metroid Ravenous. The project’s style mirrors MercurySteam’s work on Metroid Dread, which launched for the Nintendo Switch in October 2021 and instantly became one of the most beloved games in the franchise.
