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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond surpasses 1 million copies sold

With something like 170 million combined consoles out there not exactly impressive, but then again Metroid has never been a huge seller. Kudos to Nintendo for keeping at it when the same resources could have gone to any random Mario games that would have easily sold 5 times as much.
 
One has to wonder what the budget for this game was considering the protracted development cycle. Or cycles, I guess, since they started over. I'd assume it's a decent away from profitability if it's just breaking 1m at this point, but who knows? From an opportunity cost standpoint, it's obviously not good.
 
Horrible, even by Metroid standards, especially coming off the Dread success. Years of hype, one of their flagship franchises, can't break a million across two platforms and the holiday release window.
 
Makes sense, I was thinking it'd have to be somewhere between 1-2M when you combine the Switch (1) and Switch 2 version.

I guess that's a decent result for a Metroid title this early on. The best selling game in the entire franchise (Dread) tops out at 3M units. And the best selling Metroid Prime game (1) tops out at 2.8M units.

But given the ~8-9 year development hell this game has been through I can't imagine they'll make the money back anytime soon. If ever.
 
Not good, but after all of the delays and the mediocre reviews I'm sure many of the target audience decided to pass on this game. I bought it, but my expectations are low.
 
Considering the long dev time, multiple reboots and the install base of two respected platforms, this is a wet fart. Not a colossal failure, but clearly a huge waste of everyone's time and money.

No wonder Nintendo buried that number in random interview and not mentioned it during financial results or IR call.
 
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Great game. It has its flaws for sure, but it didn't deserve all the negativity. It's technically ambitious, looks and plays great, and feels like a natural evolution of Corruption. With the bad sales and lackluster reception, I fear the Prime-franchise is done 😔
 
I should've been the target, but when I saw collecting crystals in 2025's version of the Mako, I checked out. Sorry, Metroid fans, but I can't support this in the hopes it will earn goodwill to get a proper game ten years from now. Metroid be dead.
 
ShaiKhulud1989 said:
No wonder Nintendo buried that number in random interview and not mentioned it during financial results or IR call.
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It would've been mentioned regardless if it had cracked 1M on any individual platform during the quarter. They report all million sellers.

I assume we'll see it in the Q4 report.
 
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TexMex said:
Horrible, even by Metroid standards, especially coming off the Dread success. Years of hype, one of their flagship franchises, can't break a million across two platforms and the holiday release window.
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It's ok for Metroid standards, the most successful Prime game (the first one) sold 3m.
 
That doesn't seem all that great especially considering how it's on both Switch 1 and 2, the insane development time, and the fact that Dread seems to have sold better and that was an even more niche genre (Metroidvania) on one platform vs a First Person Shooter lol.
 
Nintendo took Zelda from 8m to 30m franchise by expending it, layering it, evolving it.

With MP4 Nintendo devolved the franchise, removed all the layers, and made it stupid.

These sales are prob from people waiting 8 years for it.
 
The Prime series has been completely dormant since the wii, so not surprising.

Compared to other adult Nintendo games like FE or Bayonetta, the sales are in line with them.
 
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I wouldn't be surprised if all the things people complained about (linearity, empty open world, simple map design, loquacious companions) were mandated out of fear of underperforming.

I still think the game is decent, but it absolutely reeks of focus tested corporate cowardice.
 
TexMex said:
3 million on a system with 20 million users. This is 170 million potential customers. That's abysmal.
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Sales obviously don't magically appear because you have a large user pool. Metroid Dread also did 3M with ~110M users by the time it launched, and now 155M.

Metroid on the DS with 154M users are all below 3M as well.

Same with the 3DS entries at 76M users. Or Wii.

Etc.
 
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It took a generational fumble to get me to skip a Metroid game, bravo Nintendo.

You Are Dumb Mario Lopez GIF
 
TexMex said:
The typical Nintendo fanboy response of trying to convince us this is actually great has already arrived.
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Excuse Me What GIF by Bounce


The entire point is that Metroid sells like ass regardless of user base number and always has. It's not a well performing franchise and never has been.
 
That's tough. Doesn't bode well for Prime 5's existence, unless they've been working on it this whole time. Wasn't that the rumour?
 
Robb said:
Excuse Me What GIF by Bounce


The entire point is that Metroid sells like ass regardless of user base number and always has. It's not a well performing franchise and never has been.
Click to expand...

Metroid has a baseline. Even if it is a low one. This is horrible, by the (low) standards of this franchise.
 
TexMex said:
Metroid has a baseline. Even if it is a low one. This is horrible, by the (low) standards of this franchise.
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What exactly would that baseline be?

Metroid Prime did 2.8M LTD
Metroid Prime 2 did 1.1M LTD
Metroid Prime Hunters did 1.1M LTD
Metroid Prime 3 did 1.4M LTD
Metroid Prime Remastered has done 1.3M LTD
Metroid Prime 4 has done >1M LTD

Seems pretty much exactly in line to me.
 
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If I buy another Metroid game it will have to be a 2D one. Prime series is done. After whatever 4 is supposed to be I'll stand with the devs OG statement that the Prime series ended with 3.

They really messed up.

Sales-wise this is par for the course. Metroid will always be in Zelda's shadow.
 
Robb said:
What exactly would that baseline be?

Metroid Prime did 2.8M LTD
Metroid Prime 2 did 1.1M LTD
Metroid Prime Hunters did 1.1M LTD
Metroid Prime 3 did 1.4M LTD
Metroid Prime Remastered has done 1.3M LTD
Metroid Prime 4 has done >1M LTD

Seems pretty much exactly in line to me.
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What did Dread sell?

I think the next one should be 2D. Prime just doesn't fit the mold. Returnal has more of a Metroid in 3D feel, in terms of movement and combat, than Prime ever did.
 
Dr Bass said:
What did Dread sell?

I think the next one should be 2D. Prime just doesn't fit the mold. Returnal has more of a Metroid in 3D feel, in terms of movement and combat, than Prime ever did.
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Dread did 3M units. It's the best selling entry so far. I definitely expect them to be working on a sequel/Metroid 6.
 
Retro should drop the Prime series and start fresh with a 1st/3rd Person take on Metriod- Ala Resident Evil Requim style. Metriod needs a fresh take after being handed a half done game with a half ass open world. They were told to make it work. In my opinion. Wish Metriod was a darker horror action game in space/alien planet.
 
Thank GOD.
if it keeps selling just being the best looking game graphically on the NSW, i can see it sell more in LTD.
 
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Some perspective:

metroid-sales.png


The bar chart shows all 17 Metroid games ranked by release date from 1986-2025, with Metroid Dread (2021) being the best-selling at 3.07 million units sold worldwide. The original Metroid Prime (2002) at 2.84 million and the NES original (1986) at 2.73 million round out the top three. Sales data was compiled from Nintendo financial reports, VGChartz, the Video Game Sales Wiki, and CESA databases. Keep in mind the growth of video game players en masse throughout the time span presented, as that correlates.
 
I'm enjoying it so far, and it's been what, 2 months? I think it'll settle around the same numbers if not surpass Prime Remastered when all is said and done. Not bad considering the gap between Prime 3 and 4.
 
LavitzSlambert said:
I'm enjoying it so far, and it's been what, 2 months? I think it'll settle around the same numbers if not surpass Prime Remastered when all is said and done. Not bad considering the gap between Prime 3 and 4.
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My impression is that these sales relate to Nintendo's Q3 FY reporting period which ends 31 December. If that's the case it'd be ~1M within the first 27 days, split between Switch/Switch 2.
 
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MagiusNecros said:
If I buy another Metroid game it will have to be a 2D one. Prime series is done. After whatever 4 is supposed to be I'll stand with the devs OG statement that the Prime series ended with 3.

They really messed up.

Sales-wise this is par for the course. Metroid will always be in Zelda's shadow.
Click to expand...

If it's another MercuryStream game, no thanks to that as well.
 
Over 1 million in 27 days is a good start. Most people are buying the Switch 2 version, it has potential for growth on top of that. Nintendo has almost nothing lined up for the core gamer audience anytime soon.
 
cinnamonandgravy said:
just beat it today
game sucked

but still would be interested in a switch2-only prime5 is theyre interested in making an actual game this time
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A game which returns to and builds upon the core basics of Metroid Prime 1 & 2, without anything catering to modern audiences, but utilizing all of the bells and whistles of the Switch 2 would be amazing. Hopefully this game tanks so that they learn their lessons to their next game.
 
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