
Topics: Nintendo, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation, PlayStation 5
PlayStation's announcement of plans to kill off physical games has been whimsically upstaged by Nintendo accidentally leaking a new game. Another classic Nintendo.
To everyone’s dismay, July 1 brought confirmation that the next-generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles will be all-digital. PlayStation plans to cease all disc production in 2028, which seemingly confirms that’s when the PlayStation 6 will launch.
Xbox is expected to follow suit as it’s apparently workshopping a way to turn your physical discs into digital licenses.
In a move that’s quintessentially Nintendo, though, the company has ignored the drama and accidentally leaked plans for a sequel to 2021’s Metroid Dread.
According to necrolipe on X, but shared by Stealth, Nintendo America sent “41 minutes” of gameplay footage to Brazil for a new game called Metroid Ravenous. Footage was sent so the game could be age-rated.
Nintendo of America provided Brazil an internet link containing 41 minutes of Metroid Ravenous content to rate the game.
— Stealth (@Stealth40k) July 1, 2026
If Nintendo has their usual Direct in September, this would be a good prediction.
Source: @necrolipe pic.twitter.com/NznuvqK0tX
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Like usual, it didn’t take long for this information to make its way online, and now fans are speculating that another Nintendo Direct could be due later this year to announce this new Metroid game, and other first-party titles launching in 2027.
It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the name Metroid Ravenous suggests this will be some sort of sequel to Metroid Dread. The game’s ending saw Samus acquire a new suit weaponising metroid DNA, so the sequel might explore her new abilities further as she transforms into some sort of human/metroid hybrid.
Honestly, this is some of the best news we’ve heard all week, but in all fairness, recent events have set the bar incredibly low…
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While Metroid Dread was a well-received title, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond wasn’t. It was incredibly disappointing, especially after so many years in the pipeline, and it was feared that its mediocre reception and poor sales could force the franchise into stasis.
Metroid Prime’s future is definitely in a state of limbo right now, but at least the news of Metroid Ravenous suggests the entire IP isn’t dead in the water.
It’s also hilarious that information would come to light now, as both PlayStation and Xbox tick off their respective audiences with news of a digital-only future and layoffs en masse.
Nintendo has yet to comment on the topic of physical games, but not too long ago, the company introduced varied pricing between its physical and digital games. If you buy a game physically, you’ll pay more to reflect manufacturing costs.
Nintendo still deals in cartridges rather than discs, though some of these cartridges don’t actually contain the game itself. They sometimes contain a ‘game-key’ used to acquire a digital copy via the eShop.
For the foreseeable future, though, it seems unlikely that Nintendo would shelve physical games altogether, especially after seeing the backlash PlayStation is getting for the decision.
Just like Luigi in the OG Mario Party games, Nintendo is winning by doing absolutely nothing, and we’re excited to see the official reveal for Metroid Ravenous later this year.