Samus Aran’s newest adventure has arrived, as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition lands on Nintendo’s new hardware today, alongside its standard Switch version. The long-awaited sequel takes the series in a bold new direction, introducing psychic abilities, a new planet to explore, and a vehicle that expands traversal in ways the series hasn’t seen before.

A New Planet… and an Old Threat

The game opens with a confrontation between Samus and Sylux—an enigmatic rival bounty hunter who has lingered on the edges of the Prime series for years. Their clash ends in an unexpected accident, sending Samus to the mysterious planet Viewros. What follows is classic Metroid Prime: hostile environments, dangerous wildlife, intricate pathways, and gradually unfolding secrets.

But Viewros also offers something new. Early on, Samus encounters the Lamorn, an extinct alien civilisation that bestows her with a suite of psychic abilities. These powers let her manipulate mechanisms, influence the path of charged shots, and access new routes, adding a fresh layer to the traditional scan-and-explore formula.

Enhanced for Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond comes with significant visual and performance improvements. Players can choose:

• Quality Mode with support for up to 4K resolution in TV mode
• Performance Mode targeting up to 120fps for smoother combat and traversal
• Joy-Con 2 mouse-style controls
• Full HDR support for more vibrant colour and lighting

The game is also available on the original Nintendo Switch, though with scaled-back performance compared to its next-gen counterpart.

New amiibo

Alongside the launch, Nintendo has released three new amiibo figures:

• Samus (Metroid Prime 4: Beyond)
• Samus & Vi-O-La
• Sylux

These figures unlock in-game bonuses and cosmetic extras.

New Tools, New Movement

One of the biggest additions is Vi-O-La, a sleek all-terrain vehicle equipped with its own arsenal. Samus can use it to traverse larger open spaces, engage in high-speed combat, and open up new types of environmental puzzles.

Samus won’t be entirely alone on Viewros, either—several Galactic Federation Troopers have also found themselves stranded and will assist her throughout the story.