Since Nintendo announced Metroid Prime 4's development would be officially restarted at the beginning of last year, Retro Studios has been recruiting new talent for this ambitious project like there's no tomorrow.
With this in mind, the Texas-based studio has now hired former Rockstar veteran, Marisa Palumbo, as lead producer.
This role only opened two months ago, according to VGC (via Júlio Rodrigo). Palumbo was previously part of Blizzard's Overwatch team for six years, and before this, spent close to a decade at Rockstar - working in production and as a producer on titles like Grand Theft Auto IV and V, Max Payne 3 and Red Dead Redemption.
Retro still needs to fill lead animator and boss/AI designer positions along with a number of other roles, and just last month it recruited former Call of Duty and God of War talent.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 72
So they still haven't started yet. Kind of makes sense considering they were practically bankrupt before they were given the project.
Don't think people appreciate what starting development from scratch actually entails. It hasn't even been 2 years yet, and 2020 being a complete write off it's probably barely been a year.
Most of the work has probably been focused on getting the basic structure programming down. Realistically this shouldn't be ready for another few years if that.
It’s a strange situation, will Metroid Prime 4 end up delayed enough to be a last Switch game and a launch title for a “Switch 2?”
Do people want a good game or not?
@Bearzilla823 Did you even watch the video? They said the game was fully restarting from scratch, and games take longer than one year to make.
This is killing me. Can’t wait to see something. A screenshot, a clip, artwork...ANYTHING.
Le sigh...
If this keeps up none of the other companies will have any people to hire.
All this hiring seems sketchy. Man I really hope the game lives up to the hype. Samus deserves it!
@graysoncharles She can fight her in Smash, possibly until the Smash franchise last
@Bearzilla823 Dude the game restarted development one year ago. It is DEFINITELY far from the final stages. If BotW is anything to go by, don't expect to see this game for like another year at least.
Gosh dang it people. I'm sure Nintendo realizes what kind of mess they brew when they show us a title screen to sate our gaming appetite, buuut then low and behold the project gets scrapped to be restarted again. Things happen, but the most important thing is health and quality. Health of the team and the ability for them to be in a space where they can deliver a quality game. Two years down the line, five years down the line. Yeah, sure now we know about it, can't wait to get our hands on it, but at this point it's probably best to just pretend we don't. It's pretty much the same concept of any game we wouldn't know anything about until closer to release especially since in this case, development had restarted.
@Bearzilla823 its normal for devs to hire more help while game is in development.
@Desa blame namco for screwing it up the first time.
@Bearzilla823 Jeez you are impatient.
Save some for the whales, Retro!
@XenoShaun Exactly. People are mistaking the scrapping announcement with the benchmark of a typical announcement.
Needless to say, Nintendo's E3 doesn't consist of Doug Bowser going "hey guys we just started Luigi's Mansion 4 last week, still in the basic gameplay discussions but here's a trailer idea I sketched on a napkin."
Yes I know we haven't seen any footage of the game yet, but I have a strong feeling could be a game of the year contender when it finally releases
Calling it now- this is gonna be the next Duke Nukem Forever...
At this rate Nintendo and Ubisoft should pair up to do a Metroid Prime / Beyond Good and Evil crossover game
I'm not surprised they're still hiring, most studios plan games while they're finishing up the last one. Starting from scratch could mean a year or two of new plans and designs
Hopefully we'll see it in some form in 2 or 3 years, and they don't have as many issues!
Still hiring....
Someday, I'd love to see a Noclip documentary on this game's development. Obviously, there's been a lot of change going on behind the scenes, and I'd be curious to learn about what happened to cause a total reboot. Then, after the reboot, how they chose a firm direction to go with.
People love overreacting to these things. What I find interesting is if Metroid Prime 4 wasn't announced at E3, we would have never gotten the update video and would instead be theorizing what game Retro was making instead with all of these new hires. Would that be better? Is knowing that they're a year into development of a game we learned about 3 years ago better than not knowing what game they're working on at all? I think so if only because I can't stand rumor articles. I'll accept official news on Metroid Prime 4 if and when Retro and Nintendo are ready to officially reveal it. When will that be? 1 year from now? 5? Doesnt matter, I've waited longer not believing they'd even make another one, so I can wait a little longer peacefully.
@Bermanator It's been a little over a year since they announced they restarted development. Give the steak time to cook, pull it out too early and there'll still a cold, raw center.
@Bermanator If that's what you're waiting for you'll never get it until they officially reveal the game. Nintendo has never one day tweeted "Hey guys, preproduction on game x is done!". Relax, they're working on it and it'll be ready when its ready.
@NGNYS It isn't 1990's anymore.
It takes 3-5 years to make AAA games nowadays.
@Bermanator Sadly a developer would have signed an NDA, so nothing official would be stated by them about the game and Retro Studios is owned wholly by Nintendo, so I imagine any official statement by the company would have to go through Nintendo anyway. I agree that I would love to know more about the game, but that's just not going to happen for the foreseeable future.
A new F-Zero would be awesome.
@AnnoyingFrenzy Correction, they announced the restart at the beginning of 2019. Its just shy of being two years since they announced the restart.
I think they should release a couple of HD remasters and a fusion successor in the vein of samus returns. Save prime 4 for the next console.
@Chowdaire Alright, a little under two years instead of a little over one I gotcha.
So in other words, MP4 will show 2021 a teaser, 2022 a gameplay trailer and on 2023 if we are alive due to viruses, wars, etc maybe it will be finally released.
Give us the Trilogy, etc.
Next week my aunt will go to their offices to work as a cleaning lady. Can you make an article for her too.
At this point Metroid Prime 4 will be a long way coming, at this point Retro Studio will never have a chance to make an original game of their own but continuing to work on Nintendo games instead.
@RiasGremory no blame Nintendo for giving it to Pac-Man
They really should just cut their losses and scrap this game. Metroid is a dead series, as much as people love it. It really does seem like they are reaching after potential sales rather than working creatively for new ideas. They know that Metroid has a big fanbase and they want to deliver on the promise of Metroid Prime 4, but the Metroid format is too limited to innovate on without feeling "not Metroid". The best they can do is put out the same game with better graphics and slap a new title on it, like all the other first person shooters out there. The problem is that's not Nintendo's way of doing things. Hence the development restart. All I can say is good luck to the team behind this, and that I am also available for hire
Why on earth they are putting all this money into a franchise that has had mediocre sales at best, is beyond me, this is coming from a huge Metroid Prime series fan, but still I feel this studio can't be returning anywhere near Nintendo's investment into it, of course they could be counting on the fact the Switch console has a high software sales ratio, but the franchise will need a huge jump compared to previous games in the series.
Metroid Prime 2.8 Million
Metroid Prime 2 Echoes 1 Million
Metroid Prim 3 Corruption 1.4 Million
The most concerning sales in all this is the Wii game, 1.4 Million sales from a user base of 100 Million, just can't see Nintendo's love affair with all this to be honest, then again you could say the same about Pikmin.
I really dont care how long it takes, i just want it to be the greatest game ever. OR Just push it back further for a switch pro.
@The-Chosen-one,
To be honest I don't see whats taking all this time, the studio has been working on nothing since Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, seems like Nintendo have bought a one trick pony studio here.
If this game turns out to be an epic failure! Then all this, is for nothing. Better worth the stress and effort. Can't wait to see what they've to show.
Retro studios is hiring some high level people, which is exciting.
@graysoncharles it’s not even out yet...
@johnvboy came to see crying, wasn’t disappointed...
Well, they surely do have quite the talented bunch at their disposal. I know that doesn't always equate to a great product, though.
I think with Nintendo breathing down their necks, though, it'll end up fine.
And, Metroid fans should just relax. At least you're getting a new game! cries for F-Zero
@Donnerkebab I wish that Nintendo Life would use the case of MP4 to educate their readership about AAA development. Easier said than done, I realize.
Again, these large scale games take several years to develop and considering all of these hirings, Nintendo is putting a lot behind Prime 4.
People keep bringing up "expectations", yeah well, anyone that unrealistically over hypes this game is on them.
@WiltonRoots,
God help us if the game turns out to be awful after all this, then again I am sure the fans will be civil about it.
I love how all the internet game development studio experts come out along with an announcement like this. Realistically no one has a clue where the development is at. Just because certain hires haven't been made yet it doesn't mean development hasn't started yet. You don't need every employee/contractor right from the start of development, business doesn't work that way.
We also don't know if all of these hires are actually for Metroid, they could have another project in the pipeline too. Lets just see what happens eh?
@avocadopear If you want to get hired, you'll need a much better sales pitch than that.. lol. I am more hopeful than you. If there is any company that can innovate in terms of gameplay it is Nintendo. I am a tad worried about Retro, since they've put nothing out since DKTF. Next Level, which I think is a bit smaller, has put out two games and may put out a 3rd by the time we see Metroid Prime 4.
@johnvboy all it will take is the slightest tweak of Samus's armour, or a slight change of hairstyle, and this place will be carnage. We're talking about Metroid fans here. Pretty much neck and neck with Pokemon fans when it comes to meltdowns.
@WiltonRoots,
I don't know, those Pokemon fans are a tough crowd to please.
@roboshort Oh boy, could you help me work on my cover letter?
@Bearzilla823 they are working on this project for less than 2 years, this is a huge project with high expectations and they know they must deliver, why would it be in final form by now?
" Prime 4 Avengers Assemble "
Ever since I was made aware Retro Studios is no longer the same that made Metroid Prime 1-3 (most staff left and was renewed), I've been afraid Metroid Prime 4 will not meet fans' expectations, will underperform in sales, Nintendo will tell us no one is interested in Metroid anymore and will shelve the franchise for another 5-8 years
Well once they post a custodial position on their page I'm sending my resume so I can join the team and have my own article about my recruitment on Nintendo Life
I don’t know much about game development, but in my job, people sometimes quit because they are moving, got a job with better pay, are starting on their own etc. When that happens, we hire new people to taker their role. We don’t start over from scratch, though.
@Bermanator One interesting tidbit-they're hiring product testers at this moment. That must mean they have a product to test, even if its just physics and placeholder art.
What if part of the slow down is because they're upscaling the previous three to HD? I atleast hope so.
It’s like the Wii U Zelda game all over again... announced game with launch of system and then nothing until the end of it’s lifespan. Eventually we’ll see this game but it sounds like it may be awhile yet. I wouldn’t mind a port of the trilogy in the meantime though.
@K1N6AC3 Some sources claim that the Metroid Prime Trilogy for Switch was already completed and Nintendo is just holding the game back probably for an anniversary like release or something. Next year will be the 35th anniversary of the Metroid franchise so I believe that's when they may announce the trilogy, sadly it may probably end up being another limited release.
OMG WHY ARE People so toxic about it I know it sucks to have to wait forever for a game to come out I get it but come on I have waited for other game for years It like you people want them to make your botw 2 withen two years IT JUST NOT FING possible to make a good game without puting time into it You just cant do that now if you want your game withen a year or two and it comes out half baked I hope your happy cus you just got your wish, AND GIVE ME MY MINCRAFT MOVIE!
If Nintendo's next console is more VR ready with a little thing you snap onto the system like Labo VR and maybe 90fps and better resolution and maybe a 3d display, I could see them releasing Metroid Prime 4 for that. It just seems like a good fit for the series and if that's what Nintendo's next console is, they'll want good software for it that shows off the tech.
Given work started at Retro around Early 2019, I wouldn’t expect a release before about Q3 2022.
@Bobb Half of the Metroid Prime 3 team are still at Retro. I think that’s an adequate reference point.
As long as Metroid Prime 4 doesn't go Cybercrunch, I'm fine with waiting.
@NGNYS What you're basically saying is that you want it to be like battlefield, cod, fifa, assassins creed ect and I buy same game every year? No thanks.
I'm glad to wait 4 years from doom 2016 to eternal and more then happy to wait for quality products not rushed ones
As long as there's a stunning open overworld (rainy surface of Zebes for instance) with entrances to the planets obligatory network of caves I will buy this game day one.
As good as I thought the bottle ship was, I prefer alien planets.
and as good as the caves were designed, I always loved the sections on the surface.
I think the mix of an open world planet surface and mysterious tunnel systems would be a perfect balance. I just want the overworld to be more like one place and not like rooms connected together.
@johnvboy nah. No one trick pony for Ninty! Lol
Everyone reading this keep in mind Retro is still no AAA dev. The only reason they are so big in popularity as is, is because of this game exactly. Without their affiliation with the Metroid series and the success it did have, they'd be no more or less than Silicon Knights. (Not a diss lol) There's a LOT that goes on when it comes the payroll side of things. These new hires can in no way definitively be indicative of anything to do with the time spent on development or lack thereof. For all we know the game has been full steam in constant development since RS took over. We just don't know. And the new hires may be a result of a variety of things:
Maternity leaves
Covid cases (unfortunately)
Additional hands to "speed up" the process
Resignations or even terminations resulting in the need to fill spots
Non work related issues like hiking injuries resulting in reduced manpower creating a need to fill spots
List goes on.
There are so many reasons for new hires that all we're gonna end of doing is wracking our brains over it. Not everything going on inside the company will be nor can be made public knowledge. Some of those things are personal. Some even more personal. My advice to everyone is don't beat yourselves up over speculation and conjecture.
@Rpg-lover not necessarily for nothing. Ppl still have bills to pay! Lol so them getting hired regardless of the game's fate is still a positive. And it surely doesn't spell the end for the devs. There will always be opportunity to work on other games so long as they still have a job
@Jojarett87,
They are hardly a great buy if you look at return on Nintendo's investment either, hey I like the studio and the prime games, but we need to see more from them imho, and lets not bring covid into all this, their droughts came way before all this.
@johnvboy not that you're wrong, but their droughts didn't end before this either! Lol They can still have to replace people as time progress.
However, Nintendo's ROI is one more example of what I mean. We don't know those numbers. But given they fact that they are a small studio it couldn't have cost Ninty a heck of a whole lot anyway.
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