Metroid Prime 4 Gameplay Reveals Samus’ New Psychic Abilities on the Planet Viewros

During today’s Nintendo Switch Direct, we got another look at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, including a fresh look at new, psychic-infused gameplay and a red-and-purple suit for Samus.

The new footage focused on a selection of psychic abilities that Samus will be able to use to explore when launch arrives later this year. It’s all very BioShock-y as everyone’s favorite space bounty hunter scans stone figures and blasts new enemies on the planet Viewros using purple energy that she controls with her free hand. Little is known about this strange jungle world she’s been “unexpectedly transported to,” but it’s clear intelligent life has surrounded the massive tree in its center for quite some time.

Nintendo may be keeping tight-lipped about when Metroid Prime 4 will launch outside of the promise of its 2025 release window, but today’s gameplay did reveal how some of these new abilities will work. These powers can be used to operate mysterious mechanisms, for example, but players can also expect to use her powers to guide energy shots through the planet’s wildlife.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has had a roller coaster of an announcement and development cycle, having first been revealed with just a title logo at E3 2017, before vanishing for several years, changing developers, and eventually reemerging last year with our first look at actual gameplay. With today’s Direct focused entirely on the current Nintendo Switch, there remain numerous questions about whether Metroid Prime 4 will receive any kind of enhanced treatment on Nintendo Switch 2. We do know, at least, that it will be playable across both platforms.

You can catch up on everything announced at today’s Nintendo Switch Direct right here.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).