As recently revealed by the NPD Group, Metroid Dread was the third best-selling game in the US in October, managing the best ever launch for a Metroid game in the region to date. In doing so, it ended up nearly doubling the launch sales of 2002’s Metroid Prime, the game that has held that honour until now.
Speaking recently with The Washington Post, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser provided more details on exactly how the new installment’s launch went. According to Bowser, Metroid Dread sold nearly a million copies in the US throughout the month of October- 854,000 units, to be precise, which is an impressive figure no matter how you cut it, but especially for a Metroid game, given the series’ lackluster commercial track record over the years.
The Switch exclusive title has been enjoying solid sales in other regions of the world as well. In Japan, it immediately became the fourth best-selling Metroid game in the region upon release, while in the UK, it became the fastest-selling Metroid game ever.
Now that Metroid has finally seen its long overdue breakout hit, hopefully things will turn around for the franchise. As for what the future holds for it, Metroid Prime 4 is currently in development at Retro Studios, while recent rumours have strongly suggested that an ambitious remaster of the original Metroid Prime is also in the works. Read more on that through here. Meanwhile, Metroid series producer Yoshio Sakamoto has also said that Nintendo will continue to make more 2D Metroid games in the future.