As the studio behind Metroid: Samus Returns and Metroid Dread, Spanish developer MercurySteam has proven itself capable of meeting the high expectations that go hand-in-hand with a new mainline 2D Metroid game. With both games – Dread in particular – also having both critically and commercially successful, it’s no surprise that there’s already been plenty of speculation regarding whether the studio will be working with Nintendo on another 2D Metroid game in the future.
MercurySteam itself is, as you might imagine, unwilling to say much on the topic. Speaking recently with Gamereactor, when asked if the studio had a follow-up to Metrid Dread in the works, MercurySteam CEO Enric Álvarez was reluctant to say much one way or another.
“Well, about the projects we are doing today, there is nothing I can say,” he said. “So a simple ‘no comment’ will suffice.”
He did, however, note that José Luis, who directed both of MercurySteam’s Metroid games, is still part of the team at the studio.
“The only thing I can say is that José Luis is still in the studio. Period,” Álvarez said.
Metroid Dread has sold over 2.9 million units, and received near-universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike upon its launch in 2021. Interestingly, Metroid series producer Yoshio Sakamoto has also said on multiple occasions that though Dread was the conclusion to the series’ original 2D era arc, it is not the last 2D Metroid instalment.
In our review of Metroid Dread, we awarded it a score of 10/10, saying, “Metroid Dread is a superlative return to one of the medium’s stalwart franchises, and an incredible triumph of design.” Read the full review through here.
MercurySteam is currently also working on dark fantasy third person action RPG, which will be co-published by 505 Games.