Return of the Bounty Hunter: Metroid Ravenous Brings 2D Action to the Nintendo Switch Successor

By Brad Bourque
Published September 2026

The Metroid franchise is officially returning to its beloved side-scrolling roots. Nintendo has pulled back the curtain on Metroid Ravenous, an upcoming 2D action-adventure title slated exclusively for the next-generation Nintendo Switch successor. Serving as the direct chronological and stylistic follow-up to 2021’s critically acclaimed Metroid Dread, Ravenous promises to push the envelope of modern side-scrolling platforming while delivering the tense, atmospheric exploration that has defined the sci-fi series for decades.

For eager fans ready to secure their copy early, retailers have already begun rolling out pre-order incentives. Notably, Walmart has slashed the price of the physical edition by $10, bringing the cost down from the new standard next-gen baseline of $69.99 to $59.88. While this matches the standard digital pricing structure, physical collectors now have an affordable avenue to secure a boxed copy ahead of the game’s launch. However, given the unpredictable nature of retailer pre-order windows, it remains to be seen how long this introductory discount will stay active.

Main Facts

• Game Metroid Ravenous
• Platform: Nintendo Switch Successor (commonly referred to as the Nintendo Switch 2)
• Genre: 2D Side-Scrolling Action-Adventure / Metroidvania
• Release Date: January 28th, 2027
• Standard Retail Price: $69.99 (Physical and Digital)
• Launch Pre-Order Deal: Available for $59.88 physically via Walmart.
• Chronological Placement: Follows the events of 2021’s Metroid Dread, continuing bounty hunter Samus Aran’s post-game arc.

The announcement of Metroid Ravenous marks a significant milestone for Nintendo’s hardware rollout. As one of the marquee titles designed to showcase the power of the next-generation console, the game bridges the gap between classic franchise loyalty and modern technical enhancements.

Chronology: From Dread to Ravenous

To understand the weight of Metroid Ravenous, one must look back at the arduous journey the series took to reach this point.

For nearly two decades, fans of the classic 2D Metroid style experienced a prolonged drought. Following the release of Metroid: Zero Mission on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, the franchise largely shifted its focus to the 3D first-person Metroid Prime sub-series. While critically lauded, purists hungered for the intricate maze-like mapping, tight platforming, and tense isolation of the original 2D entries.

The landscape shifted permanently in October 2021 with the launch of Metroid Dread for the original Nintendo Switch. Developed in partnership with MercurySteam, Dread shattered franchise sales records, proved the commercial viability of high-budget 2D platformers, and successfully concluded the multi-decade narrative arc focusing on the parasitic Metroid species.

During the September 2026 Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo formally unveiled the next chapter in Samus Aran’s saga:

• The Reveal Trailer: The showcase featured a fast-paced, highly cinematic trailer. It highlighted breathtaking fluid animations, seamlessly cutting between atmospheric storytelling sequences, Samus executing high-speed dashes, morph-ball maneuvers across intricate alien terrain, and intense boss battles against massive, terrifying fauna.
• The Narrative Hook: Narrative details remain largely classified, but the trailer heavily implies that Ravenous picks up immediately after the explosive conclusion of Dread. Having absorbed terrifying new abilities at the end of her last mission, Samus finds herself fighting tooth and nail to escape a hostile, uncharted planet.
• Release Window Confirmation: Nintendo locked in an official release date of January 28th, 2027, giving fans roughly four months of anticipation following the initial autumn reveal.

Supporting Data & Market Analysis

The pricing strategy surrounding Metroid Ravenous has ignited widespread discussion across the video game industry. With the transition to next-generation hardware, Nintendo and major publishers have begun standardizing baseline game costs at $69.99.

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|               METROID RAVENOUS PRICING STRUCTURE            |
+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Retailer / Format   | Standard Price    | Launch Deal Price |
+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Digital eShop       | $69.99            | N/A               |
| Standard Physical   | $69.99            | $69.99            |
| Walmart (Pre-Order) | $69.99            | $59.88 ($10 Off)  |
+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

As detailed in the market breakdown above, Walmart’s proactive $10 discount brings physical media parity down to the historical $59.99 benchmark gamers grew accustomed to during the previous console generation. Industry analysts note that aggressive pre-order discounting at big-box retailers is often utilized to gauge early consumer demand and secure market share prior to launch.

Concurrently, Nintendo has leveraged the hype cycle to drive traffic to its legacy catalog. Through the ongoing "Customer Appreciation" sale—active until September 26th—players can pick up the precursor title, Metroid Dread, on Amazon for a heavily discounted $41.99. This ecosystem synergy allows newcomers to experience the foundational mechanics of the modern era before diving into Ravenous next January.

Official Responses and Industry Reception

While Nintendo has kept tight-lipped regarding specific narrative beats, level design philosophies, and hardware-specific performance metrics (such as target frame rates and resolutions on the Switch successor), the development team has emphasized that Ravenous will honor the legacy of its predecessor while introducing "transformative mechanics."

In a brief post-Direct statement, series producer Yoshio Sakamoto remarked:

"The reception to Metroid Dread proved that the appetite for challenging, precise, atmospheric 2D action has never been stronger. With Ravenous, we are not simply repeating history; we are unleashing Samus Aran’s full, unrestrained potential on a scale never before seen in a side-scrolling format."

Critical reception following the September 2026 Direct has been overwhelmingly positive. Outlets and community hubs alike have praised the visual fidelity shown in the trailer, noting that the transition to next-gen hardware allows for denser particle effects, hyper-detailed sprite and polygon blending, and virtually non-existent load times between sprawling alien sectors.

Implications for the Industry and the Franchise

The arrival of Metroid Ravenous carries profound implications for both Nintendo’s hardware roadmap and the broader video game landscape:

1. Validation of High-Budget 2D Gaming: For years, the gaming industry labored under the assumption that AAA budgets must be reserved exclusively for massive, open-world 3D titles. Metroid Dread proved otherwise, and Ravenous solidifies Nintendo’s commitment to treating side-scrolling action games as premier, system-selling tentpoles.
2. Hardware Positioning: As the industry watches Nintendo transition to its next-generation hardware platform, launching a flagship Metroid title within the console’s early lifecycle signals a strong commitment to core, traditional gamers alongside family-friendly multi-player hits.
3. Retail Dynamics: Walmart’s aggressive pre-order pricing highlights the ongoing battle for physical media dominance in an increasingly digital-first marketplace. Discounts on high-profile physical games help sustain brick-and-mortar storefront relevance in an era where digital storefronts dominate margins.

As January 28th, 2027, draws closer, anticipation will only mount. Whether you are a veteran bounty hunter who cut your teeth on the original NES classic or a newcomer brought into the fold by Metroid Dread, Ravenous is shaping up to be an unmissable chapter in gaming’s most enduring sci-fi saga.

Be sure to lock in your pre-order early if you want to take advantage of current retail discounts before supply allocations or promotional windows shift.