A new accidental leak has given fans their first look at what’s next in the Metroid series, and it points to a follow-up to the franchise’s biggest-selling game. In the midst of classifying a new Nintendo game, a Brazilian Government agency exposed a new Switch 2 title.
Leak Details from Brazilian Government
In a now deleted listing, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security - which handles age ratings for content in Brazil - revealed plenty of info about a new Metroid game. It shows that Nintendo of America submitted the request for classification for an unannounced project called Metroid Ravenous.
While the listing was swiftly scrubbed from the government website, eagle-eyed industry insiders managed to secure screenshots of the classification. Brazilian journalist ‘Necro’ Felipe Lima, the editor-in-chief of Universo Nintendo, explained the leak on X, formerly Twitter, confirming the new Switch 2 game.
Production Year and Age Rating
The listing confirms a 2026 production year for the project, suggesting that full development on the title is actively underway behind closed doors. Lima claims that reviewers examined roughly 41 minutes of material, awarding the title a 12+ age rating for violence.
Speculation on Sequel and Developer
While Nintendo has confirmed absolutely nothing about the game, the specific naming convention of Metroid Ravenous has led to plenty of speculation. Given its subtitle, there is a good chance that it is a direct sequel to 2021's critically acclaimed masterpiece, Metroid Dread.
Lima also believes that Metroid Ravenous is being developed by MercurySteam - the same studio behind Metroid Dread. And following the massive launch of Retro Studios' first-person adventure Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the Switch and Switch 2, Metroid Ravenous is heavily expected to return to the franchise's traditional 2.5D side-scrolling roots.
Potential 2026 Release
While it seems hugely ambitious to have anything at all scheduled for release between now and the end of the year to compete with Grand Theft Auto 6, the official documents do have Metroid Ravenous down for a 2026 'year of production'. On the face of it, that would just mean that it's being worked on by Nintendo this year. But due to the way that industry classification works, titles are only submitted for a rating by governments when they are nearing completion.
The fact that Nintendo had 41 minutes worth of Metroid Ravenous ready for classification seems to indicate that a surprise blockbuster launch could arrive this year. It could well be a special Christmas for Nintendo if Metroid Ravenous releases alongside the planned Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which will also come out this year.
