Hold on to your helmets, Metroid fans! Is Nintendo quietly letting players experience the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the sly? According to reports, playable demos have started appearing at Switch 2 kiosks inside select US retail stores! That's right, you might just be able to suit up as Samus Aran and dive into the action before the official release.
Liam Doolan at Nintendo Life reported that these demos are popping up in unexpected places – specifically, inside kiosks meant to showcase the upcoming Switch 2. We initially saw demos for games like 'Donkey Kong Bananza' appearing on these units, but this Metroid news is a whole other level of exciting.
So, what's the buzz? Apparently, these Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition demos have been spotted at Walmart and other major retailers. Players who've managed to get their hands on the demo (thanks to eagle-eyed Redditors, like 'SBelmont' from r/NintendoSwitch) say there's a 20-minute time limit. But here's where it gets controversial... Some players are reportedly finishing the demo content in as little as 13 minutes!
'SBelmont' described the demo as a "small portion of the prologue," set within a Federation base under attack by those pesky Space Pirates. This all happens before Samus jets off to the mysterious new planet central to the game's plot. Apparently, this is the same demo shown behind closed doors at Gamescom.
And this is the part most people miss: Nintendo hasn't announced any plans for an eShop demo. So, for now, a trip to your local retailer with a Switch 2 kiosk is your only chance to experience Metroid Prime 4: Beyond before its official launch.
Mark your calendars! Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is slated to arrive on both the Switch 2 and the original Nintendo Switch on December 4th, 2025. That's right, both platforms! This is a great opportunity to experience the game on the new rumored hardware, if you can find a demo near you. But here's a thought: could the appearance of these demos only on Switch 2 kiosks be a sign that the game is primarily designed for the new console, with the original Switch version as a secondary consideration?
Have you tracked down a demo kiosk and played Metroid Prime 4: Beyond yet? What were your impressions? Did the gameplay and graphics live up to the hype? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we're eager to hear what you think!
