Whereas this week’s Nintendo Direct was stuffed with surprises, maybe the largest was that we lastly bought a launch date for Metroid Prime 4 and, extra importantly, our first correct have a look at gameplay seven years after it was initially introduced. It was sufficient to ship some followers into meltdown and it’s with equal components aid and pleasure to know the long-awaited sequel is lastly coming in 2025.

However as soon as the mud settled, some components of the web began asking the query: Was Metroid Prime 4 operating on Swap 2? The discharge date actually ties in with all the pieces we all know concerning the Swap successor, plus there are moments within the trailer when it appears to be like like a step up from what we’ve seen on the unique Swap {hardware}. In fact, Nintendo would by no means come out and say what the demo was operating on so IGN sought the recommendation of the subsequent neatest thing – the tech specialists at Digital Foundry.

For years, Digital Foundry has been analysing online game efficiency to an unparalleled degree and lately did a deep dive into what we are able to count on from Nintendo’s next-generation of {hardware}, so it’s higher positioned than anybody to offer reliable perception into Metroid Prime 4’s gameplay reveal.

So, was Metroid Prime 4 operating on Swap 2?

Digital Foundry’s expertise editor Richard Leadbetter gave us the definitive reply: “It is wanting nice and there are a few good results in there we took a better have a look at, however finally, all of the proof factors to this recreation operating on the unique Swap. The inner rendering decision counts out at 900p, which is similar as Metroid Prime Remastered. And pretty much as good as it’s, there are some aliasing points and even some very minor frame-rate drops. Every thing concerning the visible make-up is according to a extremely well-made Swap recreation, the place Retro has a wonderful monitor file. I can think about the event studio is admittedly comfortable that individuals are making a reference to Swap 2, thoughts you.”

So though many had been satisfied we’d had our first have a look at a Swap 2 recreation in Metroid Prime 4: Past, the reality is it’s seemingly operating on present {hardware}. Whereas that’s disappointing for some, it’s additionally hardly shocking; I count on Nintendo to tug out all of the stops when the Swap successor is lastly revealed reasonably than stealth-drop our first have a look at the top of an (admittedly shocking) Nintendo Direct.

That mentioned, developer Retro Studios ought to be congratulated as a result of making a recreation look this good on expertise that’s over seven years previous is not any imply feat, and Leadbetter explains how Retro may need managed to realize it: “There’s a number of issues at play right here however finally it is the talent of the developer engaged on a hard and fast platform they’ve had time to get to know over an important time frame. That singular focus makes nice issues doable. One other good instance can be Halo 4 on Xbox 360 – on the finish of a console’s lifecycle you get to see the {hardware} pushed in methods you’ll have by no means envisaged earlier on.”

Another excuse the gameplay demo might look pretty much as good because it does is as a result of it could be consultant of what the ultimate recreation will appear like reasonably than precisely the way it’ll prove. It’s actually not unusual for this to be the case with early appears to be like at video games and it’s additionally not the primary time Nintendo has carried out one thing related, as Leadbetter reveals: “Nintendo has launched some trailer belongings that seemed higher than the ultimate launch video games. There’s the now legendary ‘Too Massive For Swap‘ trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and a trailer for Bayonetta 3 that ran constantly at 60fps the place the ultimate recreation actually doesn’t. Nonetheless, on this case, with this developer and a recreation in gestation for this lengthy, the intuition is to say that that is Swap 1 and consultant of the particular console expertise. If it had been on Swap 2, we would count on anti-aliasing by way of DLSS – there’s none in any respect on this trailer – and a better output decision, for starters.”

Whereas all proof factors to Metroid Prime 4’s gameplay reveal being on authentic Swap {hardware} then, there’s little doubt given its 2025 launch that it’s going to ultimately make it onto the Swap 2. Certainly, cross-gen video games have lengthy been a part of each new console cycle for years and it will make sense that Retro is creating an upgraded model of Metroid Prime 4 for when Swap 2 lastly comes out. Which begs the query – what enhancements can we count on to see over Metroid Prime 4 operating on the unique Swap? We are able to solely theorise proper now, however Leadbetter has his ideas: “It’s a tough one as a result of it is as a lot about Nintendo’s cross-gen technique as it’s concerning the capabilities of the {hardware}. One factor that at all times stands out from operating Swap video games on PC emulators is how scalable the paintings is. The standard of the artwork itself advantages immensely from greater resolutions, whereas gameplay advantages from greater frame-rates. On the very least, I would count on any remaining kinks in efficiency to be ironed out, whereas operating at a better decision, doubtlessly augmented by DLSS. If there are noticeable loading instances, you’d count on these to be diminished as Swap 2 has quicker storage plus a {hardware} decompression block to ease the load on the CPU.”

In fact, quicker loading instances and improved visuals are commonplace for cross-gen video games operating on extra highly effective {hardware}, however personally it’s one thing I’m nonetheless excited for – not only for Metroid Prime 4 but additionally Nintendo’s different again catalogue. I might purchase a Swap 2 in a heartbeat if it introduced out improved variations of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom and I’m positive I’m not alone.

However we don’t know what Nintendo’s strategy can be with Swap 2 proper now. Many are hoping for backwards-compatibility, myself included, however what about cross-gen video games operating on Swap 2? “The query is whether or not Nintendo goes for ‘straightforward wins’ like greater resolutions, greater precision results and so forth, as we have seen on Sony and Microsoft consoles earlier than”, says Leadbetter. “Or will it dip into the Swap 2’s function set extra extensively and push for extra game-changing results. It does help ray tracing, in any case.”

If Nintendo’s previous has taught us something, it’s that it doesn’t wish to comply with within the footsteps of others so I’m hoping Nintendo goes all out with Swap 2.

Alex Simmons is IGN’s Options Director.