MercurySteam, the studio responsible for the critically lauded Metroid Dread, has strongly indicated its involvement in the development of the newly announced Metroid Ravenous. The confirmation came not through official channels, but via indirect acknowledgments on social media platforms.
The developer shared the announcement trailer for Metroid Ravenous on LinkedIn, accompanied by a smiling emoji, a move that has been widely interpreted as an all but explicit confirmation. Further fueling speculation, MercurySteam also posted on its official X account, a repost of the trailer featuring a ninja and a heart emoji, adding another layer of cryptic signaling.
Metroid Ravenous was officially revealed during a recent Nintendo Direct presentation. Its existence had been previously hinted at approximately a month prior due to an accidental early leak from Brazil's game rating board. The trailer depicts the iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran once again stranded on a dangerous alien world. However, this installment appears to invert the typical dynamic, with Samus now hunting monsters. The trailer showcases Samus utilizing her energy-absorbing abilities to consume her prey, a mechanic reflected in the game's evocative title. This contrasts with Metroid Dread, which focused on Samus being pursued by seemingly unkillable foes, suggesting Metroid Ravenous will emphasize a more offensive role for the protagonist.
Metroid Ravenous is slated for release on January 28, 2027, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
MercurySteam, based in Madrid, has a history dating back to 2002. Prior to their work on Metroid Dread, the studio developed Metroid: Samus Returns, a reimagining of the series' second entry. They are also known for their contributions to the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series. The studio's most recent project before these Metroid titles was Blades of Fire, an action-adventure game that garnered mixed reviews and underperformed commercially.
Following the release of Metroid Dread, MercurySteam faced scrutiny regarding its development practices. Reports emerged that a significant number of developers were omitted from the game's credits. More recently, in September 2025, the Spanish labor union CSVI-CGT leveled accusations of abusive work conditions against the company. These allegations included mandatory overtime, limitations on internal communication, the elimination of remote work options, and restrictions on vacation time. Interviews with former employees, published by 3DJuegos, described a challenging work environment during the development of Blades of Fire, citing instances of management intimidation and punitive actions against employees who took sick or parental leave.