Metroid Ravenous Revealed?
New Metroid Ravenous Title Leaked in Brazil, Suggesting 2D Return and 2026 Release
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was released in 2025 for both Switch and Switch 2, marking an end to its lengthy development cycle and setting the stage for new entries like Ravenous.
2
MercurySteam, the studio behind Metroid Dread, reportedly underwent layoffs earlier this year, fueling uncertainty about Ravenous' development team and whether it remains with MercurySteam or has shifted to another team.
3
The Brazil Ministry of Justice listing for Metroid Ravenous was pulled from the site, underscoring the fragility of government leaks and the potential unreliability of such listings as proof of a game's existence.
4
Some outlets claim Ravenous could be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive and anticipate an unveiling at a late-summer Nintendo Direct, aligning with a broader cadence of major reveals in that window.
A new Metroid game called *Metroid Ravenous* appears to have leaked through an unlikely source: Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security. IGN reported that the official age-rating portal listed the title with a 12+ rating, a "Violence" content descriptor, and a 2026 production year before the listing was pulled from the site. Nintendo has not commented.
The leak was first spotted on July 1, 2026, by 'Necro' Felipe Lima, editor of Universo Nintendo, who screenshotted the entry before it disappeared, according to Gematsu. The filing was processed under case number 08017.001246/2026-7 and listed Nintendo of America as the producer and distributor.
What the Brazilian Filing Actually Revealed
The ClassInd portal — Brazil's official content-rating system — requires all games to be submitted before local distribution. The *Metroid Ravenous* entry listed approximately 41 minutes of submitted material described as "trailers, teasers, or spots," according to TwistedVoxel. That means Nintendo submitted promotional footage, not a full game build, for review.
The production year of 2026 suggests the game is either already finished or deep in development. IGN noted the 12+ rating aligns closely with *Metroid Dread*, which received a similar rating. The listing was scrubbed shortly after Felipe Lima published his screenshots, a pattern seen with past Brazil leaks.
MercurySteam Layoffs Cast Doubt on Developer
The Spanish studio MercurySteam, which made *Metroid Dread* in 2021, announced layoffs in May 2026. The studio cited "completion of recent project cycles," according to Shinesparkers. That phrasing has fueled two competing theories: either the team finished *Ravenous* and entered a quiet period, or Nintendo moved development to a different studio.
*Metroid Dread* sold over 3 million copies and became the best-selling game in the franchise's history. Despite that success, ComicBook.com noted the layoffs have created genuine uncertainty about who is actually building *Ravenous*. Nintendo has not confirmed the developer.
More Than One Metroid Game May Be in the Pipeline
VGC writer Andy Robinson posted on X that "more than one" Metroid project is currently in development at Nintendo, according to Nintendo Everything. Robinson is a well-sourced industry insider. His hint has led fans to speculate that *Ravenous* could be one of two major 2D projects, with a separate *Super Metroid* remake also in the works.
The subtitle "Ravenous" has also sparked fan theories linking it to Raven Beak, the main villain of *Metroid Dread*. If accurate, IGN noted, the game would serve as a direct sequel exploring Samus's Metroid DNA — a story thread left open at the end of *Dread*. These remain fan theories, not confirmed details.
Nintendo Watchers Expect a Summer Direct Reveal
Industry observers widely expect a Nintendo Direct in the late summer of 2026 to officially unveil *Ravenous*. A holiday 2026 launch would place it in the Switch 2's second-year software window. DualShockers reported this timing would give Nintendo a strong "core gamer" title to anchor the console's fall lineup.
Still, caution is warranted. Brazil's rating board has occasionally listed placeholder entries for games that were later cancelled or delayed. TwistedVoxel noted that "production years" in government filings do not always match actual release dates. Until Nintendo speaks, *Metroid Ravenous* remains an unconfirmed but hard-to-ignore leak.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
10
Articles
7
Reach
17
A
AnonymousAuthor
