A listing for a Metroid Prime 4 demo has appeared on the official website of Germany’s video game rating authority, the USK. The entry, which was filed earlier this year in March 2025, suggests that a playable version of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond may exist, though it remains unclear whether the demo is intended for public release via the Nintendo Eshop or tied to the builds showcased at gaming conventions and industry events.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the next major installment in Nintendo’s acclaimed sci-fi action-adventure series. Developed by Retro Studios, the team behind the original Metroid Prime trilogy, the upcoming title once again follows bounty hunter Samus Aran as she ventures across the mysterious planet Viewros. The game is said to feature both familiar and innovative mechanics, including psychic abilities and a high-speed motorcycle called Vi-0-La, which players can use for traversal across its expansive environments.
The listing on USK’s database does not include additional details beyond its classification as a demo, leaving fans to speculate about its purpose. Given that the entry was submitted months prior, it could correspond to internal or event-based builds used for media previews and public showings rather than an imminent Eshop release. However, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond approaching its confirmed December 4, 2025 launch date, the timing of this discovery could indicate Nintendo’s preparations for a pre-release promotional rollout.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond marks the first new mainline entry in the series in nearly two decades, following the release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption in 2007. Its development has been notably long and complex, including a full production restart under Retro Studios after initial progress was deemed unsatisfactory. The upcoming game is confirmed to be a cross-generation title, arriving on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with enhanced visuals and performance on the newer hardware.
