Metroid 'Ravenous' Leak Sparks Hopes for a 2D Game as Super Metroid Remake Rumors Continue

If you thought Nintendo was about to slow down with Metroid after the launch of Metroid Prime 4, recent rumors suggest the series could just be getting started. An apparent ratings leak for a new game called Metroid Ravenous, along with continued claims from multiple industry insiders, has fueled speculation that you could see not one, but two new 2D Metroid releases over the next couple of years.

The biggest piece of evidence comes from an apparent listing that Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security briefly posted before removing it. According to reports, the classification referenced a Nintendo Switch 2 title called Metroid Ravenous. The listing reportedly identified 2026 as the production year and described material submitted by Nintendo of America for classification. 

Around 41 minutes of footage was reviewed, earning a 12+ recommendation due to violence, weapons, blood, and death, all of which are fairly standard for the series.

A ratings submission doesn't automatically mean the game is launching immediately, but it does suggest development is far enough along for Nintendo to begin preparing it for release. That has led to speculation that the game could be revealed during a future Nintendo Direct, possibly as early as September, before targeting a launch sometime in the first half of 2027.

While nothing has been officially confirmed, the timing lines up with a growing belief that Nintendo has another brand-new 2D Metroid in development. If that's the case, Metroid Ravenous could end up being the long-rumored follow-up to Metroid Dread.

The rumors don't stop there. 

Following reports about Metroid Ravenous, we have also heard that "more than one" Metroid project is on the way. Although no additional details have been found, comments online have been viewed as supporting earlier reports that Nintendo also has a Super Metroid remake in development.

Rumors surrounding that remake have circulated for quite some time. Spanish insider Nash Weedle has repeatedly claimed a remake exists, though, like many leakers, his track record has been mixed. While not every report has proven accurate, he has correctly revealed or hinted at projects before they were officially announced.

Recent discussion surrounding those rumors points toward a more modest remake rather than a complete overhaul. Instead of rebuilding Super Metroid with visuals similar to Metroid Dread, the project is rumored to retain a pixel-art style while modernizing the experience.

If accurate, it could serve as a smaller release that fills the gap before Nintendo delivers its next major 2D installment.

Also, Metroid Dread developer MercurySteam has been working on another Metroid project since shortly after Dread's release. According to those claims, Nintendo wanted another 2D entry ready early in the Switch 2 generation, following the success of Metroid Dread, which remains the franchise's best-selling game.

Apparently, development encountered delays before Nintendo pushed for a 2026 deadline, potentially explaining why rumors now point toward a remake arriving first while the larger project receives additional development time.

If those reports are accurate, Nintendo's strategy becomes much easier to understand. With Metroid Prime 4 continuing the first-person branch of the franchise, releasing new 2D games between future Prime entries would keep the series' momentum going, rather than leaving fans waiting several years between releases.

Of course, all of this remains speculative outside of the reported ratings listing for Metroid Ravenous. The remake has yet to receive similar evidence, and Nintendo has made no official announcements.

The title Metroid Ravenous itself has also sparked plenty of discussion. 

Unlike Metroid Prime, which identifies the first-person subseries, simply using the name Metroid strongly suggests this would be another side-scrolling entry. Assuming that's the case, it would effectively become Metroid 6 and continue the story left behind by Metroid Dread.

The subtitle has led fans to wonder where the story could go next. At the end of Metroid Dread, Samus fully embraces her Metroid DNA, gaining incredible new abilities before eventually regaining control. I think "Ravenous" is a nod to the evolving powers and trying to keep them in check. It’s a good way to build on the gameplay and let players directly experience powers that were only briefly teased in Dread.

The title might also have multiple meanings. 

It might describe Samus herself, another dangerous enemy, surviving X parasites, or even larger political forces within the Galactic Federation. The Metroid series has often woven deeper storytelling into its action, particularly in the mainline 2D entries, making those possibilities seem plausible if a sequel is indeed on the way.

A Switch 2-exclusive release would also give MercurySteam room to push the franchise further from a technical standpoint. The new hardware can help the next 2D Metroid distinguish itself from its predecessor with faster gameplay, more detailed environments, better visual effects, and new mechanics.

Another interesting angle to consider, as well. Longtime producer and writer Yoshio Sakamoto has guided the mainline Metroid series for decades, and some fans have begun wondering whether the next installment could mark one of his final projects before handing the franchise to a new generation of developers. While there's no confirmation of that happening, succession planning has become an increasingly common topic across several of Nintendo's long-running franchises.

Beyond games, rumors have continued to circulate about a possible Metroid movie, adding even more speculation that Nintendo plans to invest more heavily in the franchise after years of relatively infrequent releases.

For now, the only concrete piece of information is the reported Metroid Ravenous ratings leak. 

Everything else, including the Super Metroid remake and release windows, remains unconfirmed. Even so, the combination of the ratings listing and multiple insider reports has many fans feeling optimistic that Nintendo may have several 2D Metroid projects lined up over the next few years. If those rumors prove true, Metroid fans could have plenty to look forward to.