Metroid Ravenous, a sequel to Metroid Dread, was revealed at the September 2026 Nintendo Direct. Read on to learn more about the announcement and other details.
Metroid Ravenous Revealed as the Sequel to Dread
Will Be Available in January 2027
Metroid Ravenous is a new 2D side-scrolling entry in the Metroidvania series and a direct follow-up to 2021's Metroid Dread. The upcoming game was revealed in the September 2026 Nintendo Direct and will launch exclusively on Switch 2 on January 28, 2027. Alongside this, Amiibo figures of Samus and Chozo will launch as part of the Metroid Ravenous amiibo collection.
Following the broadcast, pre-orders are opening for both the standard physical release and a premium Special Edition package. The Special Edition bundles the game with a steelbook display case alongside the Samus Metroid Suit amiibo figure. MercurySteam returns as co-developer for the project alongside Nintendo EPD, marking their third consecutive Metroid title following 2017's Samus Returns and 2021's Dread.
The reveal trailer additionally teases a potential new survival mechanic for Samus, suggesting she'll need to feed on enemies in some capacity to stay alive, hinting at a possible evolution of mechanics based on Metroid Dread. Other existing mechanics such as parrying and analog aiming were visible in the teaser, noting that features from the previous title have carried over.
Fans Already Aware of Its Existence
Nintendo hadn't officially confirmed the title until today, though a leaked rating in Brazil had already surfaced back in early July, effectively revealing its existence ahead of schedule. The game’s title was first taken with a grain of salt, floating as a rumor within the community.
Now, with a proper announcement, fans of the series are rejoicing and welcoming the next installment of Metroid with open arms. The previous title, Metroid Dread, had roughly fifteen years of development, while Metroid Ravenous has a considerably shorter gap of five years in between.
The shorter development period reflects Nintendo’s shift in managing the series’ timeline. While Dread experienced a limbo of on-and-off development due to hardware limitations, Ravenous came at a time when systems were being updated to match today’s standards.
