Metroid Prime 4 Beyond recorded physical launch sales in the United Kingdom that were 15 percent lower than those of Metroid Dread, according to Christopher Dring, editor in chief of The Game Business. While the comparison shows a decline, Dring noted that the gap is relatively small, amounting to only a few thousand units. His comments help frame the early market response for the newest entry in the long-running franchise, which arrived during a transitional hardware period for Nintendo.
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond launched on December 4, 2025, as a cross-generation title for both the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. Developed by Retro Studios, the game continues the Prime series in a first-person format, following Samus Aran as she explores the expanded open world hub on the planet Viewros. The title introduces a motorcycle-style vehicle along with new abilities, but it maintains the exploration-driven structure, puzzle-solving systems, and large-scale combat that define the series. For players on the Switch 2, the release includes higher performance options such as 4K resolution and 60 FPS output.
Although the franchise has long performed best in Western markets, early indications suggest that Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is positioned to set new global sales benchmarks for the series. Analysts expect stronger results on Switch 2 due to the platform’s broader appeal and expanded user base. At the same time, the series is traditionally more limited in Japan, and expectations remain consistent with that trend. Dring’s figures refer to the United Kingdom physical sales, meaning the comparison with Metroid Dread does not capture digital performance or international demand, which are likely to contribute substantially over time.
Metroid Dread, the previous major release in the franchise, arrived on October 8, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch. Developed by MercurySteam, it is a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure title that concluded the narrative arc originating from the earliest Metroid games. Its gameplay emphasizes stealth, exploration, and the threat posed by the EMMI robots on the planet ZDR, and it returned the series to its classic design format. The difference in style between the two titles does not appear to diminish interest in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, but Drings data provides a grounded look at how the latest entry’s launch compares with its predecessor within one segment of the market.
The Metroid franchise continues to hold a distinct position within Nintendo’s catalog thanks to its focus on atmospheric exploration and non-linear progression. With Metroid Prime 4 Beyond now available and performing steadily in its early days, attention will likely turn toward long-term sales indicators across both hardware platforms, especially as Switch 2 adoption continues to grow.
