Many fans are eager to dive back into the Metroid Prime trilogy before the highly anticipated release of Metroid Prime 4. However, Nintendo isn’t making it easy to play these classic titles right now. Interestingly, Kensuke Tanabe, the series producer, seems to agree with this sentiment and even hints at a solution.
In the upcoming book, Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective, set to release on October 28, 2025, the renowned Japanese developer Kensuke Tanabe himself raised the idea of a Metroid Prime 2: Echoes remake. He specifically reminisced about the multiplayer mode introduced in Echoes, stating: “Retro completed the multiplayer mode without compromising on quality… Being of its time, it was designed for local play, so the number of players who actually experienced it might not have been very large. If it is remade, I would be delighted for more people to have the chance to experience it.”
The new book, Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective. Image Credit: Nintendo.
The critically acclaimed 2023 remake of Metroid Prime for Nintendo Switch, which received a perfect 10/10 score from us, felt like a clear signal that more remakes were on the horizon, with Metroid Prime 2: Echoes being the next logical step. Given the impending December 4 release of Metroid Prime 4, a rollout of remakes would have made perfect sense. However, creating remakes demands significant time and resources. This made it seem even more probable that Metroid Prime 2: Echoes would join the recently added GameCube titles on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Yet, to our surprise, it didn’t happen!
Currently, the only way to experience Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is by playing it on an original GameCube or Wii console using a physical disc. In fact, finding any Prime game to play, apart from Metroid Prime Remastered, is quite a challenge. The Metroid Prime Trilogy for the Nintendo Wii was the last digital release of Echoes or Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and that disc has since become a valuable collector’s item. As for Metroid Prime Hunters on DS or Metroid Prime Pinball, those remain locked to their original DS cartridges. And let’s not even talk about Metroid Prime Federation Force for the Nintendo 3DS – it’s best left forgotten.
While Tanabe’s hopeful comments don’t guarantee a Metroid Prime 2: Echoes remake anytime soon, the excitement for Metroid Prime 4 continues to build as its release draws closer. We can only speculate: perhaps classic GameCube titles will eventually arrive on Nintendo Switch Online. Or, even better, maybe we’ll see a re-release of the Wii’s Metroid Prime Trilogy, complete with its improved controls and widescreen visuals—much like the recent Super Mario collections. The ultimate dream, of course, would be full remasters for Metroid Prime 2 and 3. But perhaps we’re getting ahead of ourselves; Metroid Prime 4 is just weeks away, and in the meantime, fans can delve into this fantastic art book, which offers invaluable insights from the Retro and Nintendo teams behind these Metroid masterpieces.
Samuel Claiborn is IGN’s managing editor, who spends his free time restoring old arcade and pinball machines. You can follow his adventures on a popular social media platform.