Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has received yet another age rating, this time in the United States. Although the classification still isn’t listed in the ESRB database, this information comes straight from Nintendo, suggesting Metroid Prime 4 is one step closer to release.
The fourth numbered installment in the Metroid Prime franchise has been in the works since at least 2017, when it was originally announced. The project is then believed to have returned to the drawing board circa 2019. In mid-2024, Nintendo committed to a 2025 launch window, but has yet to follow up on that announcement with more concrete availability details.
Metroid Prime 4 Receives ESRB Rating
In the meantime, the game has reportedly received an ESRB rating in late August 2025, clearing an important pre-release milestone. As spotted by Reddit user ShoulderAdvanced6854, the Metroid Prime 4 eShop page now lists it with a “Teen” rating, citing “animated blood, violence,” and “in-game purchases” next to the label. This classification is consistent with prior entries in the franchise, all of which received the same rating from ESRB. The game itself still cannot be found listed in the ESRB database, with the rating only being mentioned on its eShop page.
Is Metroid Prime 4 ESRB Rating Alluding to DLC?
Regarding the rating’s mention of in-game purchases, Nintendo has already confirmed that Metroid Prime 4 will offer a premium Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade, allowing owners of the company’s latest console to pay extra in exchange for some technical improvements. While it’s possible that the game is planned to receive DLC content further down the line, its Switch 2 upgrade is most likely what the ESRB rating is referring to.
The newly emerged rating, by itself, does not necessarily imply that Metroid Prime 4 is close to launch, primarily because classifications of this sort are mainly obtained by submitting game descriptions rather than playable builds to regulators. Nevertheless, with Nintendo reiterating that Metroid Prime 4‘s release date isn’t slipping into 2026 as recently as early August, signs continue to point toward a near-future launch.
The ESRB classification was spotted less than a month after Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was already rated by South Korea’s GRAC. The Far Eastern regulator classified it as suitable for ages 12 and up. With the game currently lacking a release date but still targeting a 2025 launch, a holiday season debut seems like the most plausible timeframe for its arrival. In that case, its release date may finally be announced during the rumored September 2025 Nintendo Direct.
