Metroid Dread was developed jointly by Nintendo’s own Metroid team and the Spanish studio MercurySteam Entertainment. Nintendo published it for the Nintendo Switch on October 8, 2021.
A collaboration, not a single-studio game
Nintendo’s development report, “Metroid Dread Report Vol. 1: A closer look at the reveal trailer” (June 15, 2021), names both parties. The development team wrote that, “With the collaboration of the Metroid team at Nintendo and MercurySteam Entertainment—who worked on the Metroid II: Return of Samus™ remake for the Nintendo 3DS system called Metroid: Samus Returns—we have refined Samus’ basic actions even further.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
![Metroid Dread - Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51P6S+gwsJS._SL160_.jpg)
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Metroid Dread - Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Metroid Prime Remastered - Nintendo Switch | $38.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The report presents this as a message from the development team and does not attribute it to a named person. Calling MercurySteam the sole developer, or Nintendo merely the publisher, goes beyond what Nintendo’s own wording supports.
Who the two developers are
- Nintendo’s Metroid team: Nintendo’s in-house group responsible for the series.
- MercurySteam Entertainment: an external studio that Nintendo identifies as having worked on Metroid: Samus Returns, the Nintendo 3DS remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus.
Key facts about the game
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | June 15, 2021 |
| Released | October 8, 2021, for Nintendo Switch |
| Story position | Direct sequel to Metroid Fusion; Nintendo describes it as concluding the five-part saga focused on Samus and the Metroids |
| Editions | Nintendo’s game page lists physical and digital versions, plus a Samus and E.M.M.I. amiibo two-pack as a related item |
Retail availability changes, so check current listings before buying a specific edition or the amiibo. Nintendo’s official sources reviewed here give no named sales figure or development budget.
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Quick Recap
Rank #2
- Become intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran and explore an alien planet in this critically-acclaimed first-person adventure
- Use and upgrade abilities like the Morph Ball, Missiles, and an array of beams to survive the harsh environments and lethal creatures of the planet Tallon IV
- Gain abilities and revisit areas to uncover the different routes and secrets hiding in a beautiful-yet-threatening interconnected world
- Scan your surroundings to gather information about the planet’s history and the creatures that call it home or to reveal enemies’ weak points
- Choose from multiple control options and experience revamped graphics, sound, and unlockable art in this remastered classic
#1 Best Overall
- Join Samus Aran in the first new 2D Metroid story in 19 years
- Explore planet ZDR’s many environments as you investigate a mysterious transmission
- Deadly E.M.M.I. robots, research machines, pose a threat more intense than ever
- Feel Samus’ power grow as you gain maneuvers and abilities like the new Spider Magnet
- Power up and return to previous areas to find new paths and secrets
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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