New Ratings Suggest Metroid Ravenous May Be a Sequel to Dread for Switch 2

Metroid fans have been anxious about the future of the beloved sci-fi series after last year’s Metroid Prime 4 seemed to underperform. However, a recent leak from a Brazilian ratings board might have just hinted at a new sequel. A game titled “Metroid Ravenous” has surfaced in a posting by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Could this be one of the unexpected releases for the Switch 2 this fall?

The rating was shared earlier today by a journalist and on a gaming forum. It indicates that production is set for 2026, with the United States listed as the origin for the ratings submission. The game has reportedly received a 12+ rating based on a review of approximately 41 minutes of content, citing “violence (weapons, blood, death) and light sexual content.” That’s about all the information available on this new title for now.

The analysis of Metroid Ravenous was conducted in Brazil based on a link provided by Nintendo of America. It consisted of one chapter and around 41 minutes of material. The 12+ rating was given due to the presence of violence (weapons, blood, etc.).

What lends credibility to this leak as a potential 2D sequel is that the title certainly fits the mold of a follow-up to Metroid Dread, the last side-scrolling entry in the series. That 2021 Switch game was developed by MercurySteam in collaboration with Nintendo and went on to sell over 3 million copies, a solid performance for a 2D spin-off in one of Nintendo’s less prominent franchises.

Another factor that makes this leak plausible, even for a potential holiday 2026 launch, is the lack of concrete information about Nintendo’s lineup for the latter half of the year, aside from the Ocarina of Time remake. The company has acknowledged challenges in keeping development times short for new releases but has hinted at some surprises for 2026 that have yet to be unveiled.

“We are working on a variety of new titles for Nintendo Switch 2, and not just so-called major titles,” said Nintendo’s president. “For the lineup for the second half of this year, we are preparing new titles in addition to those we have already announced and will communicate the details at the appropriate time.”