Metroid Prime 4 is the last Nintendo game from producer Kensuke Tanabe, game imagined as first part of Sylux saga

According to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond producer Kensuke Tanabe, this will be the final game he’ll make for Nintendo.

In an interview with Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Tanabe indicated that he’s on the verge of retirement. With Metroid Prime 4, he knew it would be his last chance to make a Metroid Prime title and one featuring Sylux.

In that same interview, Tanabe mentioned that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was imagined as first part of Sylux saga. The series could continue on without him and “the final battle between Sylux and Samus is not yet over.”

Here’s a rough translation of Tanabe’s comments in the discussion:

“When we were developing Metroid Prime Hunters, the game designers at NST, the development company at the time, created complete backstories for all the hunters who appeared in the game. This included the setting that Sylux ‘harbors resentment towards Samus and the Galactic Federation.’ At that time, I wanted to further expand the Metroid Prime universe and create various spin-off works in the future. So, although I thought he might already have his own set of background details, I asked him ‘not to finalize the details yet’  While I was laying the groundwork in Metroid Prime 3 and the 100% ending of Metroid Prime: Federation Force, I kept thinking, ‘Someday I want to make a game about the story surrounding Samus and Sylux.’ After that, a long time passed before I actually had the opportunity to make this game.

Considering my age, I felt that this might be my last chance to work on a Metroid Prime series title. Therefore, I planned this game as ‘the first installment of the Sylux saga.’ I designed Sylux as a dark, deeply resentful, and despicable villain; and from this game onwards, Samus would realize that a direct confrontation with him is inevitable and that she must defeat him completely. Because of this, the final battle between Sylux and Samus is not yet over. However, the time it took to complete this game was longer than expected. Furthermore, I have confirmed that I will no longer be able to participate in the production of the series in the future. Whether a sequel will be made is still uncertain, but I sincerely hope that someday, Ms. Tabata and Retro Studios will be able to complete this story and bring it to a conclusion.”

The Metroid Prime 4 team previously commented on why the Galactic Federation troopers were such a big focus of the game. You can read about that here.