Metroid project "Dread" was a Space Pirate project involving Metroids. It is mentioned in a scan in the Metroid Processing room on the Space Pirate Homeworld in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. The scan states that this project aimed to convert Metroids into power sources for weapons, presumably using energy they absorbed from other organisms. The adjacent scan terminal, however, states that the project had failed.
Scans[]
- Right panel
- "Experiment status report update. Metroid project "Dread" is nearing the final stages of completion.".
- Left panel
- "Experiment results unsuccessful. All attempts at using Metroids as a weapon power source have failed."
Real world[]
The project's name seemingly refers to Metroid Dread, a game that was thought to be lost at the time of Corruption's release. Many fans believed that the scans hinted that Dread was in development but eventually cancelled. Retro Studios stated that there was no connection with the rumored game, and Nintendo said that they were "not making the 2-D title at this point in time." Mike Wikan, a senior designer for Corruption, later admitted that the Dread reference was a joke. In the Japanese version of the game, the scan referring to Metroid project "Dread" has been removed, and it now mentions a Dread-Class Turret.[1]
Metroid Dread was eventually developed and officially announced on June 15, 2021, fifteen years after development first started. It was released on October 8, 2021. It had been in development and cancelled twice, starting in 2006, and revived after MercurySteam developed Metroid: Samus Returns to the satisfaction of Nintendo.
Bryan Walker later insisted that the reference to Dread was a coincidence and not indicative of the game's development status, which Retro Studios was not privy to. He further said that he knew who added it to the Metroid Processing room.[2] Jack Mathews believes the reference was included by someone who had read online rumors about Metroid Dread, and was overlooked by Nintendo since they did not closely scrutinize the scan data in Corruption.[3]
References[]
- ^ Monnens, Devin "CapCom" (2012, June 21). "Where is Metroid Dread?" [Msg 12] Message posted to http://www.metroiddatabase.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=169869&sid=06c720bd8f48f75e0cc6156a55f0bef7#p169869 (dead link)
- ^ DidYouKnowGaming?. "The Untold History of Metroid Dread: Rumors, Missteps & Rebirth" (4:37). YouTube. January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ (2022, January 26). Episode 21 – Jack Mathews (Ex Retro Studios) [Podcast]. Shinesparkers. Shinesparkers. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. (starts at 17:17)