A new 2D Metroid game could be coming to Switch 2 as soon as this year, according to leak

Rumors are swirling that a brand‑new Metroid title could arrive later this year, ignited by a recent leak that has captured the community’s imagination.

A newly discovered entry on Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security website listed a game titled Metroid Ravenous, but the listing was subsequently removed, according to Brazilian journalist Necrolipe.

The now‑deleted record indicated a 2026 production year, suggesting the project is targeting a release this year. This detail positions the game as a potential successor to the franchise’s beloved 2D classics.

Following the release of the FPS Metroid Prime 4: Beyond last year, fans anticipate this new title to revive the series’ cherished 2D roots, possibly serving as a direct sequel or a continuation of earlier side‑scrollers.

The most recent 2D entry, Metroid Dread, debuted in 2021 on the Nintendo Switch and remains a fan favorite, standing alongside Metroid Fusion for the Game Boy Advance as one of the franchise’s crowning achievements.

Brazil’s video‑game ratings agency, long known for spilling unannounced releases, has once again stirred the community. The leak comes just five years after the last major Metroid entry, making it an opportune moment for the iconic Samus Aran to return in her classic 2‑D form.

Should the rumored Metroid Ravenous arrive later this year, it will almost certainly be tailored for the forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2, even though the official listing omitted a platform. Moreover, the title may not be crafted by Mercury Steam, the studio behind Metroid Dread, which suffered layoffs in May just days before its latest launch. It’s plausible that a different internal team has been quietly developing the new entry alongside the recent project.

There is a realistic chance that the game will miss a 2026 release window and instead aim for next year or beyond. It seems unlikely that Nintendo would schedule a launch before year‑end without spotlighting it in recent Directs or Summer Game Fest showcases, yet the industry is full of surprises.

🚨 Important: Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security has confirmed the existence of Metroid Ravenous for the Nintendo Switch 2 via its rating system. The now‑deleted listing indicated a 2026 production year—thanks to user @crbzxd for the alert. pic.twitter.com/Q8mVc7uvbk

Nintendo’s Switch 2 lineup for the remainder of 2026 is set to deliver a trio of marquee titles: Splatoon 3’s successor, Splatoon Raiders, will launch next month; Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is scheduled for September; and the long‑anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake will finally arrive on the console.