A massive advertisement for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond displayed at London’s Oxford Circus tube station claims the title is currently available, leaving Nintendo enthusiasts puzzled during their daily commute.
If you’ve encountered this billboard firsthand, your senses haven’t been warped by the recent heatwave in London. Multiple fans have confirmed that the signage genuinely states the game is “out now.”
To date, Nintendo has only hinted at a vague release window for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond within 2025. However, its presence on such a high-visibility billboard has ignited speculation among fans that an imminent launch may be just around the corner.
"Any idea why the MP4 Beyond ad in the London Underground says 'out now'?" Reddit user orchestar commented. "I’m genuinely confused. Do they mean the Switch 2 is out? I wish the game was truly out though haha."Community members have theorized that the billboard might be outdated, perhaps reflecting an earlier launch plan for Metroid Prime 4 that wasn’t updated in time. Alternatively, it could be a preview of promotional material scheduled to appear closer to the official release date.
For fans who have waited years to play the title, the ad has fueled hopes of a surprise drop. Nevertheless, this seems improbable given that Donkey Kong Bananza is currently slated as Nintendo’s flagship Switch 2 launch title.
IGN reached out to Nintendo for clarification on the matter.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is advertised as “out now” at Oxford Circus. Image credit: OrchestarNow a cross-generational release for both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is expected to launch sometime in 2025 following an extensive development cycle.
First revealed in 2017 as the sequel to Retro Studios’ acclaimed GameCube and Wii trilogy, the project was rebooted in 2019 after a previous iteration developed by Bandai Namco failed to meet Nintendo’s expectations. Development resumed at Retro Studios, culminating in a full showcase in June 2024 alongside news of the Switch 2 console.
On the upcoming hardware, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will support up to 120 frames per second and feature optional controls utilizing the Joy-Con mouse functionality. The title is widely anticipated to release between Donkey Kong Bananza’s July debut and Pokémon Legends: Z-A in October.
