The long-awaited trailer at the March 27 Nintendo Direct, and even though a release date remains elusive, we've been given a glimpse of Samus Aran's new suit and a fresh suite of special abilities. Metroid Prime 4 was announced all the way back in 2017, but remained dormant until its first trailer in June 2024. This new trailer is the first batch of information on the game since.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's new trailer premiered during the Direct, but can now be viewed via Nintendo of America's YouTube channel, and while its release window remains broad in 2025, the trailer provides a glimpse at Samus' new suit variant and the "psychic abilities" she'll come into control of during the game. Matching the game's logo, these abilities have a distinct purple hue, and are used to "operate mechanisms" and even "control the trajectory of her beams with the power of her mind." Samus' new suit features the same bright purple, but is primarily black and glossy red.

Samus' New Powers Are Used In Puzzles & Combat

The New Suit Remains Mysterious

Metroid Prime 4 is taking Samus on a mission to Planet Viewros, a brand-new locale for the series, where she will presumably come in with whatever gives her these psychic abilities. The trailer describes them as "mysterious and ancient powers," then shows clips of her moving glowing orbs from one socket to another to open a door, and solving other puzzles by similarly moving objects telekinetically. They also allow the player to enter a bullet-time state and direct her arm cannon beam, which is shown in the trailer to hit three enemies before dispersing.

From what's shown in the trailer, these powers appear to be separate from her new suit, as she seems to gain her new psychic abilities while still wearing Metroid Prime 4's version of the Varia Suit. The new suit is only shown at the very end of the trailer, after the game's title card and logo flash on-screen. It would also appear that the new arm cannon beam is separate from the new suit. The new beam fires three purple projectiles, one of which disappears as each subsequent enemy is hit with the bullet-time mechanic.

Our Take: Metroid Prime 4 Looks Great, But The Lack Of Release Date Is Odd

Will It Release Cross-Generationally On Switch 2?

Metroid Prime 4 was a highlight of the Direct, and it's shaping up to be quite exciting, especially with Samus' new psychic powers having an untold number of applications. Still, it's odd that the game is now receiving more regular updates without a set release date, nor anything more specific than this year. I suspect this may be a symptom of this Direct's timing. Another showcase is scheduled for April 2, and will finally give us more information on Nintendo's next console, the Switch 2. Metroid Prime 4 seems like a perfect candidate to launch alongside new hardware, so Nintendo may be keeping the release window broad to not spoil the console's release date.

This is purely speculation, though, and the long wait for Metroid Prime 4 could conceivably continue into the latter half of the year. The gameplay shown in its two trailers appears to be rather complete, but it's truly impossible to say for sure whether we're on the cusp of it finally releasing. Nevertheless, this new trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is more than welcome, and these early looks at Samus' new suit and abilities are very enticing.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube