He leaves Metroid behind, but not without mystery. Iconic producer Kensuke Tanabe, a shadowy figure behind dozens of Nintendo classics, is leaving the company after 40 years of service. His final work, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, has just been released on Switch and Switch 2. However, the story he had imagined around Sylux, the new great antagonist of the series, remains unfinished.
This is in an interview given to the magazine Nintendo Dream as Tanabe revealed that Metroid Prime 4 would be his very last project. If Nintendo has not yet officially commented on this announcement, this statement casts a shadow over the future of the saga, even though fans have been waiting for more than a decade for a new chapter worthy of the name.
Kensuke Tanabe, 40 years of history at Nintendo
Joining Nintendo in the late 1980s, Tanabe had a hand in some of the company’s biggest games, from Super Mario Bros. 2 to The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. But above all it’s the series Metroid Primedeveloped in partnership with Retro Studios, which has sealed its reputation with players.
In this same interview, Tanabe went behind the scenes of the development of Metroid Prime 4whose production was marked by multiple delays. He said: “It was a long time before I finally had the opportunity to create this game.”
“Given my age, I felt that directing this Metroid Prime episode might be my last chance. That’s why I conceived and planned this project as the first installment in the Sylux saga.”
An unfinished story for Sylux, the new enemy
Sylux, presented as the central enemy of this new cycle, appears in Metroid Prime: Hunters before making cameos in Metroid Prime 3 And Federation Force. Tanabe wanted to make it the catalyst for a new trilogy. He had even imagined a progressive narrative arc in which Samus would eventually understand that only direct confrontation could stop him.
In his own words, he conceived Sylux as “an antagonist with a dark personality, consumed by resentment and despicable methods”. However, despite this ambitious launch, the sequel remains unresolved.
“In addition, I have confirmed that I will no longer be able to participate in the production of the series,” he declared. “The possibility of a sequel remains uncertain, but I sincerely hope that one day, [la productrice adjointe Risa] Tabata and Retro Studios will be able to tell this story in its entirety and give it a true conclusion.”
A discreet departure, despite the immense impact
Tanabe did not try to make an event out of his departure. “It’s been 40 years since I joined Nintendo,” he recalled. “Metroid Prime 4 will be the last game I work on for Nintendo. However, we haven’t done anything deliberately ‘special’. Rather, as with all previous Nintendo titles, we collaborated with Retro Studios to create it, hoping to deliver a fun and unique experience for players of all ages and backgrounds.”
The game, released on December 4, 2025, received mixed critical reception, in part due to the colossal anticipation surrounding it. Nintendo has not yet published sales figures, but according to an internal source, performance during the holidays was hampered by the difficult economic context.
Legacy of the Metroid universe
Whatever happens next, Tanabe leaves behind an enriched world. “If this game has a lasting impact on players, I will be very happy. And for those who haven’t played it yet, I hope you will discover the unknown planet Viewros through the eyes of Samus.”
As fans digest the open ending of Metroid Prime 4one thing is certain: the fight between Samus and Sylux has only just begun… somewhere, behind the scenes of Retro Studios.