Nintendo fans are patiently waiting for the next Metroid Prime 4 update, as it has been nearly two years since anything official from Nintendo (when it was announced that Retro Studios was taking over development for Metroid Prime 4). In the meantime, Nintendo fans have received unofficial updates whenever Retro Studios posts job openings, and this has happened yet again.
Retro Studios is looking for a boss/AI designer to join the team and work on Metroid Prime 4. This is far from the first time Nintendo's Texas-based developer has looked for more talent. Many job openings have been posted while this title in development, which leads fans to wonder if the game is coming along nicely, or if more openings mean that the game has a long way to go.
In many ways, Metroid Prime 4 is becoming its own worst enemy. The game was first announced with only a logo back in June of 2017, three and a half years ago. But with the turmoil of development, which led to Nintendo handing the game to Retro Studios, the Samus starring first-person shooter is taking much longer than many would have hoped. Each new job posting is a reminder that the game is still on the way, but also the question as to just how soon, or not so soon, it will arrive.
The talent that is joining Retro Studios should not be scoffed at. A one-time GTA Producer is now working on Metroid Prime 4, for example, as is a God of War designer and a Halo artist. Retro Studios is very much building a strong team, and there is a good chance that whoever is hired to be the boss and AI designer will be more than qualified for the position.
Retro Studios has a strong legacy of developers and games, including the lead engineer of the original Metroid Prime and its sequel, Andy O'Neil, who recently passed away. Retro Studios has built strong teams and remarkably received games, with its most recent title Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze being a beloved platformer. But that game came out way back in 2014, meaning Retro Studios hasn't released a game in six years, other than re-releasing the game on the Switch.
It's been a long time since Retro Studios has released a game. It has been even longer since Metroid Prime has seen a mainline entry into the series. The hope is that the wait for both of those things will not be too much longer.
Metroid Prime 4 is currently in development.