Is Metroid Prime 4 developed by Bandai-Namco?

Rumors are swirling around the next Metroid Prime. Indeed, the journalist Marcus Sellars, working for several specialized magazines, affirmed on the networks that Metroid Prime 4 would be developed by Bandai Namco “but with significant help from Nintendo“.

Trailer/gameplay at Nintendo direct. You will also see My Nintendo Rewards and online being outlined in detail.

—Marcus Sellars (@Marcus_Sellars) December 9, 2017

This rumor raises several questions. In the first place, Nintendo announced that they already had an in-house producer heading up the development team. Why would Bandai develop one of Nintendo’s most important franchises? While it’s true that Bandai-Namco helped Nintendo develop episodes of Smash Bros., Metroid Prime 4 is of a whole different caliber. Nintendo even released a press release regarding the development of the game.

Or, Bandai Namco’s involvement is simply overstated. It is true that Monolith Soft has given a hand to Nintendo on Breath of the Wild. That doesn’t mean they developed the game though.

The last paragraph of Nintendo’s press release says the following:

The project is led by saga producer Kensuke Tenabe and a talented new development team. They all work hard together to bring the action, isolation and exploration of the Metroid Prime universe to life on Nintendo Switch.

It is true that the expression “talented new development team” can be subject to interpretations, but this implies that Nintendo has set up a new team internally. Entrusting the saga to a third-party publisher like Bandai Namco does not seem plausible.

But there should be a new Nintendo Direct in Januaryaccording to a leaked email from EA, which will confirm or deny this rumor.
Marcus Sellars could then be either admired or despised.

Do you think that Nintendo could entrust the development of one of its major series to a third-party publisher?

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