The Metroid rumor mill is back in overdrive: after recent speculation about a new Star Fox, a remake of Ocarina of Time, and a Mario 3D game reportedly delayed to 2027, Metroid is now center stage. Could 2026 have signaled the franchise’s grandest return yet, with rumors of two new projects in development?
Two Possible Metroid Games: Remake and Sequel?
According to a leaker known as malo932 on YouTube, Spanish studio MercurySteam has reportedly been working on two Metroid projects: a Super Metroid remake featuring pixel art, and a brand-new sixth entry in the 2D series. If true, fans may have been treated—or could soon be—to a double dose of Samus Aran.
The Super Metroid remake was rumored for a 2026 release and to use pixel art, while the new Metroid game would pick up after Metroid Dread, continuing the 2D saga’s story. These details first surfaced in YouTube comments from malo932 on a Nintendo Forecast video.
Rumor Momentum Grows with Multiple Sources
The buzz intensified when prominent Nintendo insider NateTheHate echoed similar points just a day after malo932’s comments. While neither Nintendo nor MercurySteam has confirmed or hinted at these projects, the alignment between the two sources has made the rumors more compelling for fans—though at this stage, they remain unverified and should be treated as speculation.
MercurySteam’s Key Role in Modern Metroid
MercurySteam’s relationship with Metroid began with the co-development of Metroid: Samus Returns for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. This partnership continued with Metroid Dread for Nintendo Switch in 2021, where Nintendo credited MercurySteam for refining Samus’s core abilities. The Spanish studio is now central to the current era of 2D Metroid games.
The Enduring Legacy of Super Metroid
Super Metroid originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in March 1994 in Japan and July 1994 in Europe. It quickly earned acclaim for its non-linear exploration, atmospheric world, and progression system based on unlocking new skills. Currently, Super Metroid is available through the Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics library on Nintendo Switch Online. A full remake in modern pixel art could introduce Samus’s iconic journey to a new generation, while offering longtime fans a reason to revisit planet Zebes.
