Retro Studios

{{Infobox company

| name = Retro Studios, Inc.

| logo = RetroStudiosLogo.png

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Video games

| founded = {{Start date and age|1998|09|21}}

| founder = Jeff Spangenberg

| hq_location_city = Austin, Texas

| hq_location_country = U.S.

| key_people = Michael Kelbaugh (president and CEO)

| products = {{Unbulleted list|Metroid Prime series|Donkey Kong series}}

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| parent = Nintendo (2002–present)

| website = {{URL|https://www.retrostudios.com/|retrostudios.com}}

}}

Retro Studios, Inc. is an American video game developer and subsidiary of Nintendo based in Austin, Texas. The studio is best known for its work on the Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong series and has contributed to several other Nintendo-developed projects, such as Mario Kart 7.

Retro was founded on September 21, 1998, as an alliance between Nintendo and Iguana Entertainment founder Jeff Spangenberg, hoping to create games for the upcoming GameCube aiming at an older demographic. The company began work on four games, all of which were canceled once Retro focused their resources on Metroid Prime, the first Metroid game developed outside Japan. The success of Metroid Prime led Retro to work on three sequels and later to become involved with reviving the Donkey Kong series with Donkey Kong Country Returns.

History

=1998–2002: Founding and ''Metroid Prime''=

Retro Studios was founded on September 21, 1998, as an alliance between Nintendo and industry veteran Jeff Spangenberg.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/09/anniversary_retro_studios_celebrates_20_years_in_gaming |title=Anniversary: Retro Studios Celebrates 20 Years In Gaming |first=Ryan |last=Craddock |date=September 21, 2018 |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209123828/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/09/anniversary_retro_studios_celebrates_20_years_in_gaming |archive-date=December 9, 2018 |url-status=live }} Spangenberg subsequently launched the company from his home on October 1, using funds he generated with his previous ventures, including Iguana Entertainment.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/29/17386066/the-rocky-story-of-retro-studios-before-metroid-prime |title=The rocky story of Retro Studios before Metroid Prime |first=Blake |last=Hester |date=May 29, 2018 |website=Polygon |access-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209123534/https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/29/17386066/the-rocky-story-of-retro-studios-before-metroid-prime |archive-date=December 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/18/a-retrospective-the-story-of-retro-studios |title=A Retrospective: The Story of Retro Studios |first=Kenneth Kyle |last=Wade |date=December 17, 2004 |website=IGN |access-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108105347/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/18/a-retrospective-the-story-of-retro-studios |archive-date=November 8, 2018 |url-status=live }} Nintendo saw an opportunity for the new studio to create games for the upcoming GameCube targeting an older demographic, in the same vein as Iguana Entertainment's successful Turok series for the Nintendo 64. Retro began with 4 key people in late 1998 and opened an office in Austin, Texas in early 1999 with a staff of 25 people, including several former Iguana employees. Despite not having access to GameCube development kits,{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/news/107340/MIGS_2007_Retro_Studios_On_The_Journey_Of_Metroid_Prime.php |title=MIGS 2007: Retro Studios On The Journey Of Metroid Prime |first1=Mathew |last1=Kumar |first2=Leigh |last2=Alexander |date=November 27, 2007 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=December 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616163819/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16389 |archive-date=June 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }} the studio immediately began work on four projects for the GameCube: an action adventure game named MetaForce, a vehicular combat game with the working title Car Combat (also known as Thunder Rally), an American football simulator named NFL Retro Football, and role-playing game Raven Blade. By the time development began, the studio had already grown in size to 120 employees. The company continued to grow during production, eventually peaking at over 200 employees.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/29/a-space-bounty-hunter-in-texas |title=A Space Bounty Hunter in Texas |first=Matt |last=Casamassina |author-link=Matt Casamassina |date=August 28, 2009 |website=IGN |access-date=April 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928091257/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/29/a-space-bounty-hunter-in-texas |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |url-status=live }}

The working environment was chaotic, with development getting behind schedule, and Nintendo executives complaining on how the games turned out.{{cite web |url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/issues/issue_39/235-Metroid-Primed |title=Metroid Primed |date=April 6, 2006 |first=Allen |last=Varney |access-date=September 16, 2007 |website=The Escapist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402173840/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_39/235-Metroid-Primed |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=live }} In 2000, producer Shigeru Miyamoto visited the studio. He was disappointed by the games except for their demonstration of the MetaForce game engine, which led Miyamoto to suggest that Retro could use the engine to develop a new game in the Metroid series. Shortly before the 2000 Nintendo Space World conference, Nintendo granted Retro the license to create Metroid Prime, and Retro shifted all development resources from MetaForce to the new game.

Retro eventually canceled development of their other projects to focus solely on Metroid Prime. In February 2001, the company ended development of both NFL Retro Football and Thunder Rally, laying off about 20 employees.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/16/retro-regroups |title=Retro Regroups |author=IGN Staff |date=February 15, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=December 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807074827/http://cube.ign.com/articles/091/091547p1.html |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |url-status=live }} Although Retro demonstrated Raven Blade at E3 in 2001, the development team was plagued by technical setbacks. In July 2001, Retro canceled the project, retaining only nine team members to work on Metroid Prime.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/19/raven-blade-killed-retro-lays-off-26 |title=Raven Blade Killed, Retro Lays off 26 |author=IGN Staff |date=July 19, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=December 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807075300/http://cube.ign.com/articles/096/096761p1.html |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |url-status=live }} Notably, artist Android Jones served as lead concept artist on the development of Metroid Prime.{{cite web |author1=Murphy, L.D. |title=The Story Of Retro Studios' Secret Weapon In The Development Of Metroid Prime |url=https://www.timeextension.com/features/the-story-of-retro-studios-secret-weapon-in-the-development-of-metroid-prime?mc_cid=af6d7caca4&mc_eid=5e8f8e3549 |website=www.timeextension.com |access-date=1 December 2022 |date=18 November 2022 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201044731/https://www.timeextension.com/features/the-story-of-retro-studios-secret-weapon-in-the-development-of-metroid-prime?mc_cid=af6d7caca4&mc_eid=5e8f8e3549 |url-status=live }}

On May 2, 2002, Nintendo secured $1 million worth of Retro Studios stock from Spangenberg, and reclassified the company as a first party developer and division of Nintendo.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2863826.html |title=Nintendo makes Retro Studios a full subsidiary |first=Shane |last=Satterfield |date=May 2, 2002 |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125205602/http://www.gamespot.com/news/2863826.html |archive-date=January 25, 2012 |url-status=live }} Steve Barcia, the founder of Simtex, replaced Spangenberg as president of the company.

During the final nine months of Metroid Prime's development, Retro's staff worked 80- to 100-hour weeks to reach their final milestone. Despite its troubled production cycle and initial skepticism from fans,{{cite web |url=http://www.n-sider.com/gameview.php?gameid=153&view=dev |title=Metroid Prime – Development Summary |website=N-Sider |access-date=February 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228173858/http://www.n-sider.com/gameview.php?gameid=153&view=dev |archive-date=February 28, 2008 |url-status=dead }} the game was released on November 17, 2002, in North America to universal critical acclaim and commercial success,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/447244-metroid-prime/index.html |title=Metroid Prime for GameCube |website=GameRankings |access-date=February 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014005944/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/447244-metroid-prime/ |archive-date=October 14, 2012 |url-status=live }} selling over two million units worldwide.

=2003–2009: The ''Metroid Prime'' trilogy=

{{Further-text|Development of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and Metroid Prime: Trilogy.}}

After the critical and commercial success of Metroid Prime, Nintendo asked Retro Studios to produce a sequel. The developers decided against recycling the features of the first game while creating Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and instead used new sound models, weapon effects, and art designs.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/13/metroid-prime-2-echoes-interview |title=Metroid Prime 2 Echoes Interview |author=IGN Staff |date=October 12, 2004 |website=IGN |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519080430/http://cube.ign.com/articles/556/556375p1.html |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |url-status=live }} A multiplayer component was also added to the game.{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=112761 |title=Post game report: Retro Studios talk Metroid Prime 2 Echoes |author=NOM Staff |date=December 3, 2004 |website=Computer and Video Games |access-date=November 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122114008/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=112761 |archive-date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead }} In April 2003, Steve Barcia left the company. Michael Kelbaugh, who had worked with Nintendo for over 15 years, was appointed president, a job he retains to this date.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-appoints-new-president-at-retro/1100-6025021/ |title=Nintendo appoints new president at Retro |first=Giancarlo |last=Varanini |date=November 4, 2003 |website=GameSpot |access-date=December 15, 2010 |archive-date=May 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520034105/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-appoints-new-president-at-retro/1100-6025021/ |url-status=live }} Retro tried to include some extras, such as a hidden version of Super Metroid, but were halted by the short development time. Producer Kensuke Tanabe later revealed in an interview that the game was just about thirty percent complete three months before the strict deadline Nintendo had set for a release in the 2004 holiday season.{{cite web |url=http://wii.com/jp/articles/metroid-prime3/crv/vol/page2.html |title=The President Asks About "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption": Virtues of the West and Virtues of the East |website=Wii |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029215715/http://wii.com/jp/articles/metroid-prime3/crv/vol/page2.html |archive-date=October 29, 2010 |url-status=dead }} The critical reception for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was very positive,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/589573-metroid-prime-2-echoes/index.html |title=Metroid Prime 2: Echoes for GameCube |website=GameRankings |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213095740/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/589573-metroid-prime-2-echoes/index.html |archive-date=December 13, 2012 |url-status=live }} but earned some criticism on the game's high difficulty.{{cite news |title=Computer Games |first=Rebecca |last=Armstrong |date=December 18, 2004 |newspaper=The Independent |page=98}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/25/technology/circuits/a-big-sequel-thats-worthy-of-its-lineage.html |title=Game Theory; A Big Sequel That's Worthy Of Its Lineage |first=Charles |last=Herold |date=November 25, 2004 |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020103350/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/25/technology/circuits/a-big-sequel-thats-worthy-of-its-lineage.html |archive-date=October 20, 2016 |url-status=live }} Sales for Echoes were lower than the first Prime, with a total of 800,000 units.

Retro Studios was then put to produce the next game in the Metroid Prime series, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Retro intended to give Metroid Prime 3: Corruption larger environments than Echoes. The developers were also interested in using the WiiConnect24 feature to provide additional content for the game that would be accessible from the Internet.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/16/interview-metroid-prime-3-corruption |title=Interview: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption |first=Matt |last=Casamassina |author-link=Matt Casamassina |date=May 16, 2006 |website=IGN |access-date=June 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625172202/http://wii.ign.com/articles/708/708948p1.html |archive-date=June 25, 2007 |url-status=live }} Retro announced that Corruption would be the final chapter of the Prime series and would have a plot "about closure, told against the backdrop of an epic struggle".{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/devs-talk-metroid-prime-3/1100-6130348/ |title=Devs talk Metroid Prime 3 |first=Tim |last=Surette |date=August 5, 2005 |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 10, 2008 |archive-date=April 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411140707/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/devs-talk-metroid-prime-3/1100-6130348/ |url-status=live }} After the Wii Remote was revealed, Nintendo demonstrated how Metroid Prime 3 would take advantage of the controller's special abilities with a version of Echoes modified for the Wii and shown at the Tokyo Game Show in 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3143782 |title=Revolution Controller Revealed |first=Mark |last=MacDonald |date=September 15, 2005 |website=1Up.com |access-date=April 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106014509/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3143782 |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |url-status=dead }} Originally envisioned as a launch game for the Wii in November 2006, Corruption suffered many delays, but eventually being released in August 2007 with generally positive reviews, and over 1.60 million copies sold worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2008/080425e.pdf#page=6 |title=Nintendo Co., Ltd. Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2008 |date=April 25, 2008 |website=Nintendo |page=6 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910032513/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2008/080425e.pdf#page=6 |archive-date=September 10, 2008 |url-status=live }}

While Retro was busy with the Prime sequels, they had to pass on the Nintendo DS game Metroid Prime Hunters. The eventual developer, Nintendo Software Technology (NST), worked closely with Retro to design the game's art and characters to make sure that they fit into the overall Metroid series.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/interview/11162/nst-discusses-metroid-prime-hunters |title=NST Discusses Metroid Prime: Hunters |first=Daniel |last=Bloodworth |date=March 2, 2006 |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=December 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609112838/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/interview/11162 |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/19/e3-2005-metroid-prime-hunters-creator-interview |title=E3 2005: Metroid Prime Hunters Creator Interview |first=Craig |last=Harris |date=May 18, 2005 |website=IGN |access-date=January 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205185913/http://ds.ign.com/articles/616/616902p1.html |archive-date=December 5, 2008 |url-status=live }}

=2010–present: ''Donkey Kong Country'' series, ''Metroid Prime 4: Beyond'', and other projects=

{{Further-text|Development of Donkey Kong Country Returns, Mario Kart 7, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.}}

In April 2008, Retro saw the departure of three key developers, designer Mark Pacini, art director Todd Keller, and principal technology engineer Jack Mathews,{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/52373/key-metroid-prime-staff-leave |title=Key Metroid Prime Staff Leave Retro Studios |first=Chris |last=Faylor |date=April 23, 2008 |website=Shacknews |access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921000316/http://www.shacknews.com/article/52373/key-metroid-prime-staff-leave |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=live }} who went on to form their own company, Armature Studio.{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/ex-metroid-prime-devs-form-armature |title=Ex-Metroid Prime Devs Form Armature Studio |first=Dustin |last=Quillen |date=September 15, 2008 |website=1Up.com |access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730212013/http://www.1up.com/news/ex-metroid-prime-devs-form-armature |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/metroid-prime-vets-form-armature/1100-6197858/ |title=Metroid Prime vets form Armature |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=September 17, 2008 |website=GameSpot |access-date=October 27, 2019 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030143619/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/metroid-prime-vets-form-armature/1100-6197858/ |url-status=live }} Around the same time, Shigeru Miyamoto asked fellow producer Kensuke Tanabe to recommend a studio that could develop a new Donkey Kong game, and Tanabe recommended Retro. Kelbaugh had worked on the Donkey Kong Country series during his years at Nintendo of America, and had interest in continuing with the franchise. Retro accepted the task, and thus started development of Donkey Kong Country Returns.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/06/17/e3-2010-kensuke-tanabe-and-the-metroid-palm-tree |title=E3 2010: Kensuke Tanabe and the Metroid Palm Tree |first=Craig |last=Harris |date=June 17, 2010 |website=IGN |access-date=June 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521085336/http://wii.ign.com/articles/109/1099190p1.html |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://e3.nintendo.com/iwata-asks/#/?v=iwataasks_tanabe |title=Iwata Asks: DKCR |date=June 16, 2010 |website=Nintendo |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307081952/http://e3.nintendo.com/iwata-asks/#/?v=iwataasks_tanabe |archive-date=March 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Similar to New Super Mario Bros., the game was developed with the intention to invoke nostalgic feelings in the player with its art style and sound, while trying to provide them with new gameplay experiences. Returns employs fully polygonal 3D graphics with three times the amount of textures and polygons that Corruption offered, and over the course of six months, two thirds of the game's tools and engine had to be rewritten by the programmers. Development accelerated at the outset of 2010, and the project was just "beginning to cohere as a game" around the time of E3, when it was officially announced to the press.{{cite web |url=http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/donkey-kong-country-returns/vol1_page2.jsp |title=The Magic Moment |year=2010 |website=Nintendo of America |access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405122909/http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/donkey-kong-country-returns/vol1_page2.jsp |archive-date=April 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Although the game was set for release in autumn that year, the team still had 70 levels to create or refine.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/03/04/gdc-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-donkey-kong-country-returns-and-retro-studios |title=GDC: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Donkey Kong Country Returns and Retro Studios |first=Samuel |last=Claiborn |date=March 3, 2011 |website=IGN |access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307121141/http://wii.ign.com/articles/115/1153582p1.html |archive-date=March 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

File:Retro Studios exterior.jpg. The company moved to a new location in 2011.]]

At E3 2011, it was announced during Nintendo's Developer Roundtable that Retro Studios would be involved in the development of Mario Kart 7 for Nintendo 3DS.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/live-at-nintendos-e3-2011-mystery-developer-q-a-5809704 |title=LIVE At Nintendo's E3 2011 Mystery Developer Q&A |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=June 7, 2011 |website=Kotaku |access-date=June 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611042759/http://kotaku.com/5809704 |archive-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=live }} At first, Retro would contribute assets to developing one of the Donkey Kong-themed levels,{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/08/nintendo-voice-chat-wii-u-zelda-and-the-3ds |title=Nintendo Voice Chat: Wii U, Zelda and the 3DS |first=Richard |last=George |website=IGN |date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=August 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720061443/http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/117/1174089p1.html |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=live }} but the number evolved to the stage design of sixteen tracks in the late stages of development, as the Nintendo EAD crew started working on other projects and the game would not be finished before the December 2011 deadline.{{cite web |url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/mario-kart-7/0/0 |title=Iwata Asks - Mario Kart 7 |website=Nintendo |access-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927194716/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/mario-kart-7/0/0 |archive-date=September 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}

In 2012, it was revealed that Retro Studios had received a Wii U development kit, and was reportedly working on a Wii U game.{{cite web |url=https://nintendotoday.com/reggie-retro-is-working-on-fantastic-wii-u-project/ |title=Reggie: Retro is working on fantastic Wii U project |first=Kyo |last=Sasaki |date=September 29, 2012 |website=NintendoToday |access-date=April 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214032740/http://wiiudaily.com/2012/09/reggie-retro-is-working-on-fantastic-wii-u-project/ |archive-date=February 14, 2013 |url-status=live }} Miyamoto has said he would like to work with Retro Studios in an installment for The Legend of Zelda; however, he says that the current game Retro Studios was working on is not related to Zelda.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/12/miyamoto-interview-transcript/ |title=Q&A: Shigeru Miyamoto Looks Into Nintendo's Future |first=Chris |last=Kohler |date=December 13, 2011 |magazine=Wired |access-date=December 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107202316/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/12/miyamoto-interview-transcript/all/1 |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |url-status=live }} At E3 2012, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé told IGN in an interview that Retro is currently "hard at work" on an untitled project for the Wii U.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/06/e3-2012-reggie-discusses-launching-wii-u-retro |title=E3 2012: Reggie Discusses Launching Wii U, Retro |first=Richard |last=George |date=June 6, 2012 |website=IGN |access-date=June 30, 2012 |archive-date=June 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628151255/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/06/e3-2012-reggie-discusses-launching-wii-u-retro |url-status=live }}

On February 28, 2014, Kensuke Tanabe announced that Retro Studios was working on a new game, which CEO Michael Kelbaugh declared had been in development for a few months since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was finished.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/28/wii-u-is-a-powerhouse-says-donkey-kong-country-developer |title=Wii U is a 'Powerhouse,' Says Donkey Kong Country Developer |first=Steve |last=Watts |date=February 28, 2014 |website=IGN |access-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613041035/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/28/wii-u-is-a-powerhouse-says-donkey-kong-country-developer |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |url-status=live }} In August 2015 however, during an interview about Metroid Prime: Federation Force, Tanabe said that he was not quite sure about what Retro Studios was working on, leaving the impression that he was no longer involved with their unannounced project.{{cite web |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/tanabe-on-metroid-prime-ff-amiibo-backlash-timeline-story-retro-studios/ |title=Tanabe on Metroid Prime: FF - amiibo, backlash, timeline, story, Retro Studios |author=Brian |date=August 5, 2015 |website=Nintendo Everything |access-date=August 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826153339/http://nintendoeverything.com/tanabe-on-metroid-prime-ff-amiibo-backlash-timeline-story-retro-studios/ |archive-date=August 26, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Nintendo announced Metroid Prime 4 at E3 2017, showing only the logo. Shortly after the announcement, Bill Trinen, Director of Product Marketing at Nintendo of America, confirmed that Prime 4 would not be developed by Retro Studios, the studio that developed the previous Metroid Prime games, but would be produced by Kensuke Tanabe, the producer of the previous games.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/06/metroid_prime_4_confirmed_for_nintendo_switch_but_retro_studios_isnt_involved|title=Metroid Prime 4 Confirmed For Nintendo Switch, But Retro Studios Isn't Involved|last=McFerran|first=Damien|work=Nintendo Life|date=June 13, 2017|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615052437/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/06/metroid_prime_4_confirmed_for_nintendo_switch_but_retro_studios_isnt_involved|archive-date=June 15, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/06/13/metroid-prime-4-is-being-developed-by-a-talented-new-development-team.aspx|title=Metroid Prime 4 Is Being Developed By "A Talented New Development Team"|last=Reeves|first=Ben|magazine=Game Informer|date=June 13, 2017|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122183935/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/06/13/metroid-prime-4-is-being-developed-by-a-talented-new-development-team.aspx|archive-date=November 22, 2018|url-status=live}} In 2018, Eurogamer reported that Prime 4 was being developed by Bandai Namco Studios in Singapore.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-02-08-yes-namco-bandai-is-working-on-metroid-prime-4|title=Yes, Bandai Namco is working on Metroid Prime 4|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=February 9, 2018|work=Eurogamer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119082756/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-02-08-yes-namco-bandai-is-working-on-metroid-prime-4|archive-date=November 19, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2019}} However, in a video released on January 25, 2019, Nintendo EPD general manager Shinya Takahashi announced that Metroid Prime 4 had been delayed, and that development had been restarted with Retro Studios. Takahashi said that development under the previous studio had not met Nintendo's standards.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/01/25/nintendo-restarting-the-development-of-metroid-prime-4|title=Nintendo Restarting The Development Of Metroid Prime 4|last=Kato|first=Matthew|magazine=Game Informer|date=January 25, 2019|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218002520/https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/01/25/nintendo-restarting-the-development-of-metroid-prime-4|archive-date=February 18, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Nintendo's shares fell by 2.8 percent in the week following the announcement.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-28/nintendo-declines-after-delaying-metroid-prime-4-game-for-switch|title=Nintendo Declines After Delaying Metroid Prime 4 Game for Switch|last=Allan|first=Gareth|work=Bloomberg News|date=January 27, 2019|access-date=January 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201065543/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-28/nintendo-declines-after-delaying-metroid-prime-4-game-for-switch|archive-date=February 1, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Games

class="wikitable defaultcenter sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Genre(s) ! scope="col" \| Platform(s) ! scope="col" \| {{Abbr\|Year\|Year of first release date.}}
scope="row" \| Metroid Prime \| rowspan="5" \| Action-adventure \| rowspan="2" \| GameCube \| 2002
scope="row" \| Metroid Prime 2: Echoes \| 2004
scope="row" \| Metroid Prime Hunters{{efn\|Character designs only; game developed by Nintendo Software Technology}} \| Nintendo DS \| 2006
scope="row" \| Metroid Prime 3: Corruption \| rowspan="3" \| Wii \| 2007
scope="row" \| Metroid Prime: Trilogy \| 2009
scope="row" \| Donkey Kong Country Returns \| Platform \| 2010
scope="row" \| Mario Kart 7{{efn\|Co-developed with Nintendo EAD}} \| Racing \| Nintendo 3DS \| 2011
rowspan="2" scope="row" \| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze{{efn\|Co-developed with Monster Games}} \| rowspan="2" \| Platform \| Wii U \| 2014
rowspan="3" \| Nintendo Switch \| 2018
scope="row" \| Metroid Prime Remastered \| rowspan="3" \| Action-adventure \| 2023
rowspan="2" scope="row" \|''Metroid Prime 4: Beyond \| rowspan="2" \|2025
Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

class="wikitable defaultcenter sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Genre(s)

! scope="col" | Platform(s)

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Year|Year of first release date.}}

scope="row" | Metroid Prime

| rowspan="5" | Action-adventure

| rowspan="2" | GameCube

| 2002

scope="row" | Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

| 2004

scope="row" | Metroid Prime Hunters{{efn|Character designs only; game developed by Nintendo Software Technology}}

| Nintendo DS

| 2006

scope="row" | Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

| rowspan="3" | Wii

| 2007

scope="row" | Metroid Prime: Trilogy

| 2009

scope="row" | Donkey Kong Country Returns

| Platform

| 2010

scope="row" | Mario Kart 7{{efn|Co-developed with Nintendo EAD}}

| Racing

| Nintendo 3DS

| 2011

rowspan="2" scope="row" | Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze{{efn|Co-developed with Monster Games}}

| rowspan="2" | Platform

| Wii U

| 2014

rowspan="3" | Nintendo Switch

| 2018

scope="row" | Metroid Prime Remastered

| rowspan="3" | Action-adventure

| 2023

rowspan="2" scope="row" |''Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

| rowspan="2" |2025

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

=Canceled=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Genre(s) ! scope="col"\| Platform(s) ! scope="col"\| Details
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| MetaForce \| Action-adventure \| rowspan="4" \| GameCube \| The game mostly consisted of concept artwork, design documents, and a mock up engine for a third-person game that was reworked into a first-person game due to pressure from Nintendo and Retro executives. This game was eventually cancelled, but apparently inspired Shigeru Miyamoto to hand Retro the Metroid license, thereby moving the development team to produce Metroid Prime instead.{{cite web \|last1=Hagues \|first1=Alana \|title=Metroid Prime Was Once A Third-Person Shooter About Eugenics \|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/metroid-prime-was-once-a-third-person-shooter-about-eugenics \|website=Nintendo Life \|access-date=April 18, 2022 \|date=April 18, 2022 \|archive-date=April 18, 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418113026/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/metroid-prime-was-once-a-third-person-shooter-about-eugenics \|url-status=live }}
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| NFL Retro Football \| Sports \| The game designers initially wanted to make a Mario Football game, but Nintendo settled on a realistic simulator with the NFL license due to Retro's purpose of creating mature games. The game was canceled in February 2001. A possible cause was Electronic Arts and Sega agreeing to port the Madden NFL and NFL 2K series to the GameCube.
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| Car Combat / Thunder Rally (working titles) \| Vehicular combat \| It was initially pitched to Nintendo as a mix of "QuakeWorld, Twisted Metal 2, and Mario Kart 64 with shades of Mad Max and Street Fighter II". Despite being the project with most progress at Retro, it was canceled along with NFL Retro Football in February 2001. Two members of the development team, programmer David "Zoid" Kirsch and modeler Rick Kohler, joined the Metroid Prime project.
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| Raven Blade \| Role-playing \| The game was showcased at E3 2001, but production was plagued with technical setbacks,{{cite web \|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/11/metroid-raven-blade-blues \|title=Metroid, Raven Blade Blues \|author=IGN Staff \|date=July 11, 2001 \|website=IGN \|access-date=April 2, 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603011259/http://cube.ign.com/articles/096/096517p1.html \|archive-date=June 3, 2012 \|url-status=live}} and the game eventually got canceled in July 2001 so Retro could focus on Metroid Prime. Nine members of its development team joined Prime.
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| Untitled The Legend of Zelda title \| Unknown \| Wii \| A Legend of Zelda title starring a Sheikah in a story that explores the origins of the Master Sword.{{cite web \|last1=Phillips \|first1=Tom \|title=Artwork reveals Retro Studios' cancelled The Legend of Zelda project \|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/artwork-reveals-cancelled-the-legend-of-zelda-project-starring-sheik \|website=Eurogamer \|publisher=Gamer Network \|access-date=5 September 2022 \|date=6 May 2020 \|archive-date=September 5, 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161521/https://www.eurogamer.net/artwork-reveals-cancelled-the-legend-of-zelda-project-starring-sheik \|url-status=live }}{{cite web \|last1=Nightingale \|first1=Ed \|title=Retro Studios' unreleased Zelda project was "an experiment gone wrong" \|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/retro-studios-unreleased-zelda-project-was-an-experiment-gone-wrong \|website=Eurogamer \|publisher=Gamer Network \|access-date=5 September 2022 \|date=5 September 2022 \|archive-date=September 5, 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161537/https://www.eurogamer.net/retro-studios-unreleased-zelda-project-was-an-experiment-gone-wrong \|url-status=live }}
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| Heroes of Hyrule \| Unknown \| Unknown \| A rejected pitch for a Legend of Zelda title starring a Goron, a Zora, and a Rito who set out to rescue Link.{{cite web \|last1=Doolan \|first1=Liam \|title=Metroid Prime Dev Retro Studios Pitched A Zelda Game Called 'Heroes Of Hyrule' \|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/09/metroid-prime-dev-retro-studios-pitched-a-zelda-game-called-heroes-of-hyrule \|website=Nintendo Life \|publisher=Gamer Network \|access-date=5 September 2022 \|date=4 September 2022 \|archive-date=September 5, 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161520/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/09/metroid-prime-dev-retro-studios-pitched-a-zelda-game-called-heroes-of-hyrule \|url-status=live }}
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| Star Fox Armada \| Unknown \| Wii U \| A rejected pitch for a Star Fox title featuring a puppet visual style and online multiplayer.{{cite web \|last1=Nightingale \|first1=Ed \|title=Unreleased Wii U game Star Fox Armada would have featured puppet visuals, online multiplayer, and invasions \|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/unreleased-wii-u-game-star-fox-armada-would-have-featured-puppet-visuals-online-multiplayer-and-invasions \|website=Eurogamer \|access-date=13 February 2023 \|date=6 February 2023 \|archive-date=February 12, 2023 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212225351/https://www.eurogamer.net/unreleased-wii-u-game-star-fox-armada-would-have-featured-puppet-visuals-online-multiplayer-and-invasions \|url-status=live }}
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row"\| Harmony \| Role-playing game \| Nintendo Switch \| An original role-playing title with singing mechanics. The game was cancelled in favor of development on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, restarting previous development of the game.{{cite web \| title=Cancelled Nintendo Switch games leaked online with footage of scrapped Retro Studios game, Ridge Racer [update: new footage] \| website=Nintendo Everything \| date=2025-04-09 \| url=https://nintendoeverything.com/cancelled-nintendo-switch-games-leaked-online-with-footage-of-scrapped-retro-studios-game-ridge-racer/ \| access-date=2025-04-09}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Genre(s)

! scope="col"| Platform(s)

! scope="col"| Details

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| MetaForce

| Action-adventure

| rowspan="4" | GameCube

| The game mostly consisted of concept artwork, design documents, and a mock up engine for a third-person game that was reworked into a first-person game due to pressure from Nintendo and Retro executives. This game was eventually cancelled, but apparently inspired Shigeru Miyamoto to hand Retro the Metroid license, thereby moving the development team to produce Metroid Prime instead.{{cite web |last1=Hagues |first1=Alana |title=Metroid Prime Was Once A Third-Person Shooter About Eugenics |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/metroid-prime-was-once-a-third-person-shooter-about-eugenics |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=April 18, 2022 |date=April 18, 2022 |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418113026/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/metroid-prime-was-once-a-third-person-shooter-about-eugenics |url-status=live }}

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| NFL Retro Football

| Sports

| The game designers initially wanted to make a Mario Football game, but Nintendo settled on a realistic simulator with the NFL license due to Retro's purpose of creating mature games. The game was canceled in February 2001. A possible cause was Electronic Arts and Sega agreeing to port the Madden NFL and NFL 2K series to the GameCube.

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| Car Combat / Thunder Rally (working titles)

| Vehicular combat

| It was initially pitched to Nintendo as a mix of "QuakeWorld, Twisted Metal 2, and Mario Kart 64 with shades of Mad Max and Street Fighter II". Despite being the project with most progress at Retro, it was canceled along with NFL Retro Football in February 2001. Two members of the development team, programmer David "Zoid" Kirsch and modeler Rick Kohler, joined the Metroid Prime project.

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| Raven Blade

| Role-playing

| The game was showcased at E3 2001, but production was plagued with technical setbacks,{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/11/metroid-raven-blade-blues |title=Metroid, Raven Blade Blues |author=IGN Staff |date=July 11, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603011259/http://cube.ign.com/articles/096/096517p1.html |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |url-status=live}} and the game eventually got canceled in July 2001 so Retro could focus on Metroid Prime. Nine members of its development team joined Prime.

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| Untitled The Legend of Zelda title

| Unknown

| Wii

| A Legend of Zelda title starring a Sheikah in a story that explores the origins of the Master Sword.{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Tom |title=Artwork reveals Retro Studios' cancelled The Legend of Zelda project |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/artwork-reveals-cancelled-the-legend-of-zelda-project-starring-sheik |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=6 May 2020 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161521/https://www.eurogamer.net/artwork-reveals-cancelled-the-legend-of-zelda-project-starring-sheik |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Nightingale |first1=Ed |title=Retro Studios' unreleased Zelda project was "an experiment gone wrong" |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/retro-studios-unreleased-zelda-project-was-an-experiment-gone-wrong |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161537/https://www.eurogamer.net/retro-studios-unreleased-zelda-project-was-an-experiment-gone-wrong |url-status=live }}

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| Heroes of Hyrule

| Unknown

| A rejected pitch for a Legend of Zelda title starring a Goron, a Zora, and a Rito who set out to rescue Link.{{cite web |last1=Doolan |first1=Liam |title=Metroid Prime Dev Retro Studios Pitched A Zelda Game Called 'Heroes Of Hyrule' |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/09/metroid-prime-dev-retro-studios-pitched-a-zelda-game-called-heroes-of-hyrule |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=4 September 2022 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905161520/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/09/metroid-prime-dev-retro-studios-pitched-a-zelda-game-called-heroes-of-hyrule |url-status=live }}

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| Star Fox Armada

| Unknown

| Wii U

| A rejected pitch for a Star Fox title featuring a puppet visual style and online multiplayer.{{cite web |last1=Nightingale |first1=Ed |title=Unreleased Wii U game Star Fox Armada would have featured puppet visuals, online multiplayer, and invasions |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/unreleased-wii-u-game-star-fox-armada-would-have-featured-puppet-visuals-online-multiplayer-and-invasions |website=Eurogamer |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212225351/https://www.eurogamer.net/unreleased-wii-u-game-star-fox-armada-would-have-featured-puppet-visuals-online-multiplayer-and-invasions |url-status=live }}

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row"| Harmony

| Role-playing game

| Nintendo Switch

| An original role-playing title with singing mechanics. The game was cancelled in favor of development on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, restarting previous development of the game.{{cite web | title=Cancelled Nintendo Switch games leaked online with footage of scrapped Retro Studios game, Ridge Racer [update: new footage] | website=Nintendo Everything | date=2025-04-09 | url=https://nintendoeverything.com/cancelled-nintendo-switch-games-leaked-online-with-footage-of-scrapped-retro-studios-game-ridge-racer/ | access-date=2025-04-09}}

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.retrostudios.com/}}

Category:1998 establishments in Texas

Category:2002 mergers and acquisitions

Category:American companies established in 1998

Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies

Category:Companies based in Austin, Texas

Category:First-party video game developers

Category:Nintendo divisions and subsidiaries

Category:Video game companies based in Texas

Category:Video game companies established in 1998

Category:Video game development companies