Nintendo and Retro Studios’ upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has a surprisingly large file size revealed ahead of launch. Fans who found Japanese download cards for the Nintendo Switch 2 shared images of the packaging, and the box lists a 29 GB file size for the Switch 2 version. The packaging even carries a tagline: Return from an unknown planet.
That 29 GB figure jumps out because Metroid Prime Remastered on Switch is just 6.8 GB. Yes, over four times larger. It’s not exactly shocking — Beyond was built for the newer Switch hardware from the ground up, with more graphical detail and, presumably, more assets to store. Still, seeing the numbers side by side makes you pause.
Numbers vary a bit depending on the source. Deku Deals reports the Nintendo Switch download at 28.939 GB and the Switch 2 download at 31.623 GB. So, depending on where you look, the size might be closer to 29 or a touch over 31 GB. Which one will players actually download? That remains to be seen.
What’s in the game
Beyond is the tenth main Metroid entry. You play as Samus Aran on the planet Viewros, facing foes like the rival bounty hunter Sylux. The game keeps classic Prime features — scanning creatures and objects — while adding new toys: psychic powers that manipulate devices and tweak attack trajectories, plus a motorcycle called the Vi-0-La. The Galactic Federation helps in fights, and on Switch 2 the Joy-Con 2 can be used like a mouse for finer control.
Release date is December 4, 2025. Will the larger file size translate to a noticeably richer experience? Maybe. It probably will, but we’ll judge for ourselves soon enough.
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