A new entry in the Metroid franchise may be coming out this year, according to a new leak.
A new listing on Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security revealed the existence of a game called Metroid Ravenous, but it has since been taken down and removed from the website, according to Brazilian journalist Necrolipe.
The listing details showed that the project’s “year of production” is 2026, meaning it could potentially be aiming to release this year. Following last year’s FPS Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, this title would likely be a sequel or continuation of the 2D entries in the franchise.
Necrolipe expanded on the news, saying that Nintendo provided the Brazilian ratings board with 41 minutes of footage to help determine a rating for the game, which includes themes like weapons and death.
Brazil’s ratings board is notorious for leaking unannounced titles, so this wouldn’t be too big of a surprise. Given that it’s also been five years since Metroid Dread, now seems like the right time for Samus to return in her 2D form.
The last 2D Metroid was Metroid Dread in 2021 for the Nintendo Switch, and is easily one of my favorite games for that console. I’m of the opinion that Metroid feels best in its original 2D form, and Dread is right up there for me alongside Metroid Fusion for the Gameboy Advance when it comes to top titles in the series.
If Metroid Ravenous is indeed coming this year, it will also most likely be a Nintendo Switch 2 title (the listing didn’t specify), but it may not be from Metroid Dread maker Mercury Steam. That studio faced layoffs back in May just two days before its latest game launched, but it’s possible that another team within the studio had been working on the new game alongside its most recent one. Necrolipe says he believes Mercury Steam is Ravenous’s developer, though.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the upcoming Metroid missed 2026 to instead aim for some time next year or beyond. I do find it a bit hard to believe that Nintendo would have the game coming out before the end of the year and not focus on it at all during last month’s Nintendo Direct and Summer Game Fest-type presentations, but I suppose anything is possible—including a reveal in a potential September Direct.
For the rest of 2026, Switch 2 exclusives include Splatoon Raiders next month, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave in September, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.
Update on July 1 at 3:20pm CT: VGC’s Andy Robinson teases that he’s heard “more than one of these are coming,” hinting at a potential Super Metroid remake…or even that Ravenous IS the remake. Samus fans, lock in.
