A new Metroid Prime game has been in development for at least the past ten years. While we still haven't gotten word of how the game has progressed since work restarted under Retro Studios and Kensuke Tanabe, it appears that Nintendo might be cooking something up to keep Metroid fans busy in the meantime.

According to Jeff Grubb, a Metroid Prime remaster is coming to the Nintendo Switch later this year with the two sequels getting the same treatment.

Here is what Grubb had to say on Giant Bomb's Game Mess Mornings podcast:

In the past, [the Metroid Prime remastered] is something I've heard was in the works, they have things happening with that game, now I've been told that their plans are to release that game this holiday, I think almost certainly to line up with the 20th anniversary in November."

Grubb adds that the remasters are Retro Studios' way of setting expectations for Metroid Prime 4.

The first Metroid Prime game came out on November 18, 2002, and was a huge hit. We had the game in the fourth place in our all-time Metroid games ranking with the sequels falling short of expectations. Nevertheless, the "spin-off" series remained popular enough to get a fourth game. Since it's the first game's 20th anniversary later this year, it's only natural for a company like Nintendo to want to do something to commemorate the occasion. This would not be too different from what Square Enix just did with Final Fantasy VII after confirming a remaster of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for later this year, among other things.

Unfortunately, we probably won't be hearing about a Metroid Prime remaster until at least July, which is when Grubb speculates that a first-party-focused Direct showcase will happen.

In the meantime, Switch owners can watch the next Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase tomorrow, June 28.