In a recent interview, Enric Álvarez, the CEO of MercurySteam – the team behind the successful Metroid Dread – revealed a significant milestone that Metroid Dread has sold over three million copies worldwide. Referred to by the man at the helm as “one of the best games in the franchise,” this achievement marks Metroid Dread as the best-selling game in the Metroid series.
The Metroid franchise, with a legacy spanning over 35 years, has historically grappled with sales figures compared to other Nintendo first-party franchises. But Metroid Dread, backed by a robust marketing campaign, including prominent TV ads, broke the pattern, emerging as a victory for MercurySteam and Nintendo alike.
This triumph comes in light of allegations of a chaotic development process by some industry insiders. They pointed to the mishandling of resources and a lack of trust from project leads, but the final product and its ensuing success speak volumes of the team’s efficiency. Responding to these claims, Álvarez stated, “I don’t think the development was chaotic. Chaotic development doesn’t end with one of the best games in the franchise. It doesn’t end with a game that has sold over three million copies. It doesn’t end with a game that has won TGA awards. That’s all I have to say about it.”
In fact, the game didn’t merely endure – it excelled. Metroid Dread earned overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and players alike, receiving nominations for Game of the Year, and rapidly became the fastest-selling game in the Metroid series in the US, UK, and Japan. Moreover, the action-adventure game revived the Metroid series for a new generation of players, introducing them to the action series via the Nintendo Switch.
As now the best-selling game in the Metroid series, Metroid Dread has officially reignited interest in the franchise and gave Nintendo another reason to revisit Samus Aran’s galactic adventures outside of the clamors of a passionately loud fanbase.
Álvarez also touched upon MercurySteam’s relationship with Nintendo, acknowledging their deep-seated collaboration. He describes it as a “game-changing experience,” he added, “We have an excellent understanding of each other. I think that it’s fair to say that over time we became friends. And they are super talented people, super hard-working people. They have a work ethic that is unbeatable. And they are open to accept new ideas and try them.”
This synergy was instrumental in leaving MercurySteam’s distinctive mark on the franchise, resulting in many of their ideas becoming integral components of the final product.
But the success of Metroid Dread doesn’t solely reside in its sales figures or critical acclaim – it also sparked interest in related titles. Metroid Prime Remastered, launched earlier this year, had already gathered over a million copies sold globally as of March 31, a testament to the ripple effect of Metroid Dread’s accomplishment.
It shouldn’t come off a surprise then that MercurySteam was name-dropped as one of the first studios to receive a copy of the in-development Switch successor. After a previous leak claimed that Nintendo will release its next console early next year, the latest info suggests that Nintendo is looking at a holiday 2024 window.
While speculations swirl about future Metroid titles from MercurySteam, Álvarez refrained from spilling any beans about upcoming projects. But he did confirm that José Luis Márquez, the creative force behind the recent 2D Metroid games, is still working with MercurySteam, leaving fans teeming with anticipation.
As Metroid Dread continues to chart new heights, the series’ future appears bright, and fans await the release of the long-anticipated Metroid Prime 4. Until then, MercurySteam’s triumph with Metroid Dread stands as a beacon of hope for the franchise’s future.
