Original Metroid Prime devs unhappy with remaster's 'shameful' credits

Former Retro Studios employees note that the Switch re-release omits key names.

The re-release of Metroid Prime is garnering criticism from former Retro Studios employees – seemingly because it doesn’t credit everyone responsible for the original game.

Last week, Nintendo suddenly released Metroid Prime Remastered – a new version that completely overhauls the game’s graphics and modernizes controls, audio, and more (Thanks, Kotaku). The credits are also different, according to Zoid Kirsch, a senior engineer on the original Metroid Prime, who claims some crucial names are missing.

“While many studios did amazing work on the remaster, I’m let down Metroid Prime‘s Remaster does not include the full original game credits,” Kirsch said on Twitter. “I worked with so many amazing people on the game and everyone’s name should be included in the remaster, not just a single card like this.”

While many studios did amazing work on the remaster, I'm let down Metroid Prime's Remaster does not include the full original game credits. I worked with so many amazing people on the game and everyone's name should be included in the remaster, not just a single card like this. pic.twitter.com/Yvojf9f9Mq

— Zoid Kirsch (@ZoidCTF) February 11, 2023

Jack Mathews, a former lead engineer on the original Metroid Prime, echoed a similar sentiment.

“This is a travesty,” Mathews said on Twitter. “Not just for my credit (even though most of my code was probably replaced), but for people whose code and work are largely unchanged, like Mark HH, Steve McCrea, all of the uprezzed art and concepts, the game design. Shameful.”

Nintendo has yet to acknowledge these claims publically by the time of publication.

Alongside Metroid Prime Remastered, Nintendo made several big announcements during the February 2023 Nintendo Direct – including the addition of Game Boy Advance games to Switch Online.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.