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2026 is full of big anniversary celebrations for Nintendo that every fan is talking about. The most obvious ones are definitely SuperMario and Pokémon, both of which have had substantial celebrations for their respective 40th and 30th anniversaries.
But with the NES turning 40 this year, there is one more major anniversary that very few fans are even thinking about — and no, it’s not Zelda.
Metroid Turns 40 in August With Big Announcements On the Way
Now that Mario and Pokémon have both gotten their anniversary celebrations out of the way, most Nintendo gamers have set their sights on The Legend of Zelda as the next big franchise set to get recognition from Nintendo. And with Ocarina of Time’s Switch 2 remake having been recently announced, it definitely does seem like it’s just a matter of time until fans return to Hyrule once again.
However, rumors are suggesting Ocarina of Time won’t even get shown again until September, and that actually makes sense considering next month belongs to Metroid.
The original Metroid for NES came out on August 6, 1986, and almost immediately created an entirely new genre of video games in the process. While Metroid never reached the heights of popularity that Mario or Zelda did, it is still one of Nintendo’s flagship IPs with one of its most recognizable heroes in Samus.
It already just makes sense for Nintendo to at least acknowledge Metroid’s anniversary, but recently confirmed leaks suggest Nintendo has something very big planned forSamus' birthday.
For any that missed it, a new Metroid game titled Metroid Ravenous was accidentally leaked by Nintendo of America earlier this month. Because this was an official document shared to the Brazilian government for an age rating, it’s 100% real, meaning this new game (which looks like a Metroid Dread sequel) is already in the post-production phase and preparing for release.
And along with that announcement, reputable insiders came out corroborating claims that there was another 2D Metroid game also in development, presumably the long-rumored Super Metroid remake. It would not be surprising at all to see Nintendo shadowdrop one of these Metroid games this August, or at least release a trailer for Metroid Ravenous to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its influential sci-fi classic.
Metroid may not be as big as Pokémon, Mario or Zelda, but it's an important part of Nintendo's lineup that fills a crucial role in the gaming giant's offering. It's an IP that can't be overlooked by Nintendo fans, because it's entirely capable of once again coming in and redefining the video game genre that bears its name at any moment.
In the year 2026, the Metroidvania genre has once again reached a new height of popularity, so it only makes sense for Nintendo to give Samus Aran her flowers with a 40th anniversary celebration befitting a gaming icon.
