Tag: Retro Studios
News Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Samus returns in 2025
It's been an incredibly exciting week for Nintendo, with this week's Direct broadcast giving Metroid fans a first look at the fourth entry in the Metroid Prime series. It's also a bit of a relief to finally see this game in action after an incredibly lengthy development cycle, including a restart. To mark this special...
Random It's Now Been Seven Years Since Metroid Prime 4 Was Announced
Nintendo's Switch "successor" announcement nears
One game we've now been waiting an entire generation for is Metroid Prime 4. Nintendo originally confirmed the title was coming in 2017 when E3 was still up and running, and this week technically marks the seventh anniversary of this announcement. Since then, it's also been five years since Metroid...
Random Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze Could Have Been About Alien Invaders
Donkey Kong Country: Independence Day?
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is all about snow; that much should be obvious from the game's title, even for those who have yet to play Retro Studios' excellent platformer. According to a recent interview from KiwiTalkz in which he chats with former Retro artists Eric Kozlowsky and Ted Anderson,...
Random 8 Cancelled Retro Studios Games Detailed, Including 'Portal With Combat'
And an NFL game?!
Retro Studios is best known for its work on the Metroid and Donkey Kong franchises. Still, the developer has dabbled in a number of intriguing projects that have unfortunately wound up on the cutting room floor. DidYouKnowGaming is back with another deep dive video looking into the studio's history, specifically detailing 8...
News Retro Studios Wasn't The Only Dev Working On Metroid Prime Remastered
Iron Galaxy and many other teams helped out
If you were wondering how Nintendo was able to release a remaster of Metroid Prime while the fourth major entry is still in development, it turns out it was a team effort. The credits of Metroid Prime Remastered reveal Retro Studios was assisted by Iron Galaxy - the same developer behind a number of other...
News Former Retro Studios Dev Reveals "Rejected" Wii Pitch Metroid Tactics
"It's basically XCOM"
It seems the Metroid Prime series wasn't the only Metroid series being worked on at Retro Studios. Did You Know Gaming has been able to uncover one of the developer's other projects that never saw the light of day. Metroid Tactics was a concept pitched internally by Paul Tozer - a member of the Metroid Prime team. This...
News More Details On Rejected Zelda Game 'Heroes Of Hyrule' Revealed
If only things were different
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios had pitched an idea for a new Legend of Zelda title called Heroes of Hyrule that would play a lot like Final Fantasy Tactics
News Retro's Mysterious Zelda Spin-Off 'Project X' Apparently Had A Playable Prototype
Described as a "simplified" version of Whack-A-Mole
New details have emerged online today about Retro Studios' mysterious Legend of Zelda title 'Project X'. Although this spin-off never saw the light of day, it seems there was actually a working prototype. In the same 'DidYouKnowGaming?' YouTube video, the gameplay within this title was discussed...
News Metroid Prime Dev Retro Studios Pitched A Zelda Game Called 'Heroes Of Hyrule'
Another "spin-off" like Project X
Retro Studios is currently developing the next Metroid Prime game, but there was a time in its history when it was apparently working on a Legend of Zelda pitch, codenamed Project X. We've covered it extensively here on Nintendo Life in the past, and during a search for more information about it YouTube channel...
Random Retro Studios Clashed With Metroid Producer On Halo Influences
"He did not care about Halo"
In the latest Metroid Prime interview from KIWI TALKZ, ex-Retro Studios developer Paul Tozour talks about his experience working with Nintendo and specifically Metroid Prime's producer, Kensuke Tanabe. When the subject about how the Metroid Prime games blend western and eastern design philosophies together, Tozour shares...
News Former Metroid Prime Dev Calls Cancelled 'Project X' A "Frustrating Experience"
"It doesn't make sense and it's not even fun"
In the latest video published by YouTube creator KIWI TALKZ, ex-Retro Studios dev Paul Tozour gave an extensive interview around his time with the studio, including cultivating a positive working culture, how Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was influenced by Halo, and the studio's relationship with Metroid...
News Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Artist Talks About "Frustrating" Zelda Rumours
Not-so Funky mode
Back when Retro Studios was riding high on the success of the Metroid Prime trilogy, not many expected them to jump off of the space bounty hunter's ship and into the jungle in Donkey Kong Country Returns. This fantastic platformer rebooted the Donkey Kong Country series from the SNES with beautiful visuals, tight platforming, and...
Random Many At Retro Studios Weren't 'Excited' To Work On Mario Kart 7
Studio was brought in to assist development
It's widely known at this point that Retro Studios - famed for the Metroid Prime series and for reviving Donkey Kong Country - was recruited by Nintendo to help out on development for the 3DS release of Mario Kart 7. The developer had just wrapped work on Donkey Kong Country Returns and according to...
News Metroid Prime 4 Dev Retro Studios Is Advertising Job Openings On ArtStation
"Your next mission awaits"
Earlier this week, it was discovered Retro Studios had a new Twitter banner, and now there's been another minor development. A Nintendo advertisement over on ArtStation has been spotted promoting the team behind Metroid Prime 4 - informing users of the website that their "next mission awaits" and that "Retro is hiring"...
News Metroid Prime 4 Dev Retro Studios Updates Its Twitter Profile With A New Banner
It's happening!
Try not to get too excited now, but the Metroid Prime 4 developer Retro Studios has just updated its banner on Twitter. Yes, it's perhaps the most significant update we've got in some time from the Nintendo studio working on what's arguably one of the most important upcoming first-party releases. Until now, we've not really heard...
News Retro Studios Scrapped An "Open-World" Idea For Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
It was too ambitious
It's been revealed Retro Studios had rather ambitious plans to make the third entry in the popular Metroid Prime series an open-world game. During an interview with the Kiwi Talkz, Deck Nine Games producer Byran Walker - who was the senior producer on Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, revealed how Metroid...
News Nintendo Changed The Culture At Retro Studios Following Metroid Prime Crunch
Mike Wikan reckons Prime 4 "will be great"
Thanks to a recent interview on Reece Reilly's Kiwi Talkz podcast, today has brought some rather interesting details around Retro Studios and Nintendo. We've had the humorous tale of how the blowing mechanic was added to Donkey Kong Country Returns, and some
Random Donkey Kong Blows? Of Course, And It's All Down To Shigeru Miyamoto
"We were like "What did we do wrong? What is he finding?'"
In a recent episode of Reece Reilly's Kiwi Talkz podcast, former Retro Studios developer and senior designer on Metroid Prime Mike Wikan revealed some interesting tidbits about his time working on Nintendo properties at the Austin-based studio. This included a fun anecdote involving Nintendo...
Random Reggie (Kind Of) Reveals The Secret Character In His Signed Retro Studios Artwork
This might be the most insight we get...
Around the same time Reggie Fils-Aimé stepped down from his role as Nintendo of America, he showed off some gifts he had received from co-workers as well as the company's studios. One gift that generated a lot of speculation online (at the time) was a signed and framed piece of artwork from Retro Studios...
News Retro's Cancelled Zelda Game Starring Sheik Resurfaces In Nintendo Gigaleak
A link to the past...
Back in 2020, we shared a story about an axed Legend of Zelda project by the Metroid Prime team, Retro Studios. It was supposedly an action/JRPG game that was going to star Sheik and would have been a story set within the "bad ending" of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - exploring the journey of the last Sheikah while...
News Metroid Prime 4 Developer Hires DreamWorks Talent As A Lighting Artist
Has also worked with Disney and Sony's God of War studio
Over the past year, Retro Studios has been on a mass hiring spree for its highly anticipated release Metroid Prime 4. While this important process seems to have slowed down in recent months, apparently the studio isn't done just yet. Metroid fan site Shinesparkers reports a "Lighting and...
News Retro Studios Still Needs A Boss / AI Designer, Just To Let You Know
Ever wanted to work on Metroid Prime 4?
It's been almost two years now since Nintendo announced the development of Metroid Prime 4 would be scrapped and restarted, so what's been going on since then? If you've been keeping up, you'll know Retro Studios has been on a massive hiring spree. In recent times, it recruited a veteran GTA producer, a God...
News Retro Studios Is Remodelling Its HQ In 2021 To Aid Development Of Metroid Prime 4
At a cost of $530,000
The Nintendo-owned Retro Studios is remodelling its HQ next year, VGC reports. Famous for its work on the Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country franchises, Retro is currently involved in the production of Metroid Prime 4, a game it inherited when Nintendo decided to
News Retro's Hiring Spree Continues As It Recruits Veteran GTA Producer
More talent signs on
Since Nintendo announced Metroid Prime 4's development would be officially restarted at the beginning of last year, Retro Studios has been recruiting new talent for this ambitious project like there's no tomorrow. With this in mind, the Texas-based studio has now hired former Rockstar veteran, Marisa Palumbo, as lead producer...
News Retro Studios Seeking Three Product Testers And A Storyboard Artist
The hiring spree continues
Since the development of Metroid Prime 4 was officially restarted last year, Retro Studios has been on a non-stop hiring spree. It's now been discovered by Shinesparkers.net the studio wants to fill three product tester contract positions and a storyboard artist vacancy. The testing jobs were posted on 30th September and...
News Retro Studios Reminds Us It's In Need Of A Lead Producer For Metroid Prime 4
"join us on our journey"
Since Nintendo announced it would restart development of Metroid Prime 4, Retro Studios has been recruiting talent non-stop. In saying this, there are still currently ten positions advertised on the Nintendo careers page for the company. One of these is for a lead producer to oversee the entire project and make sure...
The team grows again
Retro Studios, the Nintendo subsidiary currently working on the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4, has reportedly boosted its ranks with yet another industry veteran. As spotted by VGC, the studio has hired Bharathwaj ‘Bat’ Nandakumar as lead engineer. Previously, Nandakumar held specialist engineer and senior software...
News Metroid Prime 4 Dev Retro Studios Hires Battlefield, Tomb Raider And Borderlands Artists
Joining recent Halo and Crysis developers
It would appear that Retro Studios, a subsidiary of Nintendo which is currently working on the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4, has once again been hiring a number of talented industry folk to bolster its ranks. As spotted by VGC, the Texas-based developer has brought on a number of new VFX artists - the...
News Concept Artist Doesn't Think Nintendo Saw Much Of Retro's Axed Zelda And Mario Projects
"I doubt many at Nintendo proper saw much of any of this stuff"
Earlier this week, our friends over at Shinesparkers discovered concept art of two reportedly cancelled Retro Studios projects. One was an axed Legend of Zelda game starring Sheik, and the other was a Super Mario title about the mischievous ghost, Boo. The artwork itself was done by...
Rumour Concept Art Of Axed Sheik And Boo Projects By Retro Studios Surfaces
Little is known about either game
Retro Studios has been hard at work on Metroid Prime 4 ever since development was scrapped and restarted last year, but there was a time long ago when the talented team was apparently working on a Legend of Zelda game starring Sheik, and a Super Mario game about the mischievous ghost, Boo. According to our friends...
News Metroid Prime 4 Dev Retro Studios Hires Super Lucky's Tale And Crysis 3 Designers
The team is growing and growing
Retro Studios has hired another pair of talented designers as it continues to work on Nintendo's Metroid Prime 4, according to a new report. VGC says that Mark Capers, previously of New Super Lucky's Tale developer
News EA Art Director From DICE Signs On With Retro Studios
To help out with Metroid Prime 4, right?
It's been just over a year since Nintendo announced it had restarted the development of Metroid Prime 4. Since then, Retro Studios has been recruiting like no tomorrow. Now, according to VGC, the Texas-based studio has hired DICE's art director Jhony Ljungstedt. He's helped with the art direction for...
News Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze's Lead Designer Has Reportedly Returned To Retro Studios
Another talent for Metroid Prime 4?
Stephen Dupree, who was credited as the lead designer on the wonderful Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, has reportedly returned to Retro Studios after two years away. The news comes from VGC, who say that the ex-Retro employee will now return to work at the studio as a principal game designer. At present,...
Rumour Metroid Prime 4's Environment Work Might Be Outsourced
Making up for lost time
At the start of 2019, Nintendo fans got quite a shock when Nintendo restarted the development of Metroid Prime 4. It has potentially set its eventual release back multiple years. If a finding by the YouTuber Doctre81 is anything to go by though, the game could be arriving sooner than expected. He's been digging around online...
News Around Half Of The Metroid Prime 3 Development Team Is Still At Retro Studios
Well, that's reassuring
Nintendo dropped a bombshell at the start of this year when it revealed the development of Metroid Prime 4 had been entirely restarted. At the time, the company's senior managing executive officer, Shinya Takahashi, explained how development had not reached a required standard for a
News Retro Studios Is Seeking An Art Director For Metroid Prime 4
A long road ahead
Texas-based developer Retro Studios has tweeted a job listing for Metroid Prime 4. This minor update on the project follows on from April when the company posted multiple job listings on its official Nintendo careers webpage. Months later, the developer appears to still
News Retro Studios Posts Multiple Job Listings, Talks About Joining "The Nintendo Legacy"
Oh Metroid Prime 4, how we desire you so
Retro Studios - the developer behind titles like Metroid Prime, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Mario Kart 7 - has posted a number of new job listings today. The company is searching for talented individuals who are passionate about "the Nintendo legacy". You can check out the jobs here if you're...
Rumour Did Reggie Just Give Us Our First Glimpse At A New Retro Studios Project?
VR? Robots? What?
Hold on to your Diddy Kong Nintendo hats, folks. It's Retro Studios speculation time! Early this morning, we shared with you a tweet from ex-Nintendo of America President, Reggie Fils-Aimé. The tweet gave us a look at some of his retirement gifts, which included a Virtual Boy, a lovely notebook, and a giant plastic bottom (yeah,...
Anniversary Retro Studios Celebrates 20 Years In Gaming
Now let's have some Switch games, please
We imagine Retro Studios is one company that needs absolutely no introduction on these pages, but we're about to provide one anyway as the developer is today celebrating 20 years in the world of gaming. Yes, back in 1998, Retro Studios was born as a game development studio with Nintendo acting as a parent...
Video Can This Star Fox: Grand Prix Rumour Become a Reality?
Captain Falco
Rumours come, and rumours go, but some are just a little bit meatier than your average lump of hearsay and warrant a little more attention and analysis. The idea that Nintendo would produce another Star Fox game so soon after the lukewarm reaction to Star Fox Zero does seem a little odd, but there's more to this idea that initially...
Rumour Retro Studios Has Another Project In Development Alongside Star Fox
Though it may be in danger of cancellation
One of the hottest pre-E3 rumours on the internet over these past few days has been the discussion over Retro Studios working on a Star Fox title that aims to play closer to a hybrid of F-Zero and Diddy Kong Racing. Indeed, this alleged Star Fox: Grand Prix sounds like a bit of an outlandish possibility,...
News Retro Studios Handled The Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Port On Nintendo Switch
They kept that quiet
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze coming to Switch has given one of the Wii U's most enjoyable platformers the chance to find a new audience - which it most certainly has - but it also raised the question of who was actually handling the porting duties. In the past, other studios have been brought in to handle ports for...
News Retro Studios Writer And Cinematic Designer Parts Company With The Firm
But what's he been working on?
Jon Verrall - writer and cinematic designer at Retro Studios - has revealed on Twitter that he's leaving the company after almost two years. Verrall - who refers to himself as an "award-winning writer, cinematics director, voice director, choreographer, and performer for video games and Internet television" on this...
News Highly Regarded Game Composer, and Metroid Fan, is Working at Retro Studios
Dare to dream
What is Retro Studios up to? That's a key question for Nintendo fans. Aside from assisting in a small number of projects the Texas-based studio has been quiet since the enjoyable Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Wii U. After a trilogy of Metroid Prime games on GameCube and Wii and then two Donkey Kong Country titles, the book is...
News Retro Studios is Hiring and Tweeting, Which is Nice
We all want to know what the dev is making, of course...
Retro Studios is among the most admired of Nintendo's associated studios, having made its name with the Metroid Prime Trilogy and then by reinvigorating 2D DK gaming, most recently with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Wii U. The studio has contributed to other games - including Mario...
Rumour Retro Studios is Working on a New IP, Releases 2017
And, of course, it's on the NX
Retro Studios is sort of like the 'Rare' of modern Nintendo, a sort-of first party studio that consistently churns out amazing titles for the company. After successfully bringing Samus to the 3D plane with the Metroid Prime trilogy, they then went on to make two excellent new entries in the Donkey Kong Country series...
Oh, and David Wise is doing the soundtrack. Excited yet?
Rhys Lewis might have "indie game developer" on his business card these days, but his career has been anything but small-scale. Lewis has held roles at Rare, Confounding Factor, 3D Realms and Retro Studios, and can list titles like Banjo-Kazooie, Duke Nukem Forever, Metroid Prime 3, Donkey...
News Retro Studios Finally Modernises and Relaunches Its Website
Hopefully a sign of activity...
Retro Studios is among the most revered of Nintendo's studios, with the Texas-based developer having a track record that includes Metroid Prime Trilogy and two excellent Donkey Kong Country games, in addition to contributions to the likes of Mario Kart 7. Since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze arrived in early...
Feature Five Alternative Nintendo Reveals and Releases We're Interested in for 2016
Not just the obvious 'NX please" entries
One of our earliest articles of 2016 was focused on five key reveals and releases that will define Nintendo's 2016. That was focused very much on the tentpole announcements and releases that are confirmed or suspected, such as NX, My Nintendo accounts, major Anniversary franchise celebrations and more...
Rumour Retro Is Working On A Game It Pitched To Nintendo, And It's Not Metroid Prime 4
"The time is now for Retro to do an original property"
Just what is Retro Studios up to right now? That's the question that many a Nintendo fan has asked over the past year or so, and when E3 2015 came and went without any news from the Metroid Prime creator, brows became even more furrowed. However, Nintendo Life contributor and Unseen64 archivist...
