Metroid fever.
After a long agonising wait, last month, we finally got a name and a first look at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Said to release on the Nintendo Switch in 2025, aside from a large screenshot gallery, a trailer and a brief game description, very little was said about the latest title in the Metroid Prime series, but some interesting tidbits have started to come to light.
Working for Retro Studios, Jon Wofford is the Lead UI Artist working on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and through X and ArtStation, he has shared a few tidbits regarding the game’s new HUD, whilst crediting a few of his co-workers. A few of his tweets can be found below, followed by his ArtStation comments:
“Jordan Johnson, whose UI tech enables it all, and to Nina Morris, for her great work on scans,” plus his “amazing art director, Jhony Ljungstedt, for his clear vision and leadership.”
Jon Wofford: Metroid Prime 4 has been a dream project, and my favorite part has been designing, crafting, and animating Samus’s HUD. I learned a lot during MPR, and I hope it shows. Check out my artstation for a deeper dive!
Jon Wofford: I designed the visuals and animations (minus the cool scan holograms, made by fellow UI artist Nina Morris). I also have to share the props with our UI engineer Jordan Johnson, and the many other team members who have contributed to gameplay design and functionality.
Jon Wofford: I think the trailer also does a good job showing that the HUD shouldn’t bother trying to compete with the incredible environments, characters, lighting, animation, VFX… I am constantly humbled by the talent on this team.
A nice look at the HUD in combat. The goal was to create a modern update to the visor that honors the Metroid Prime legacy.
A better look at the HUD in a slightly darker area. But I won’t blame you if you instead focus on all of the amazing VFX, environment art, character art, and lighting on display.
A closer look at some of the visor’s FUI details that subtlely animate during the scanning sequence.
The completed scan sequence.
A shot of the Morph Ball HUD.
I also helped develop the look for the UI on the computer screens in this area.
There’s a closer look at one of those displays in the bottom left.
Lastly, when asked on X how he feels about finally being able to talk about the game, Jon Wofford responding by saying it “ feels great,” and that he’s “not going to lie,,” he watches every Metroid Prime 4 analysis/theory video he “comes across” and as a Metroid fan, he’s “happy for all of the new content.”
About Metroid Prime 4: Beyond:
The galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter Samus Aran will embark on a new mission in Metroid Prime™ 4: Beyond, coming to Nintendo Switch in 2025.
Source: @grumblechunk & ArtStation
