Overview
The American studio that earned Nintendo’s trust. Retro Studios faced troubled beginnings—multiple cancelled projects, staff turnover—before Shigeru Miyamoto intervened. The result was Metroid Prime, a first-person Metroid that reviewers called impossible. It wasn’t. Retro proved Western developers could handle Nintendo’s premier franchises with respect.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1998.
- Location: Austin, Texas.
- Parent: Nintendo (acquired 2002).
- Breakout: Metroid Prime (2002).
Metroid Prime trilogy
| Title | Year | Platform |
|---|
| Metroid Prime | 2002 | GameCube |
| Metroid Prime 2: Echoes | 2004 | GameCube |
| Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | 2007 | Wii |
| Metroid Prime 4 | TBD | Switch |
Donkey Kong work
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Donkey Kong Country Returns | 2010 |
| Tropical Freeze | 2014 |
Development style
| Aspect | Approach |
|---|
| Nintendo oversight | Miyamoto involvement |
| Polish | Extended development |
| Faithfulness | Respecting source |
| Technical skill | Hardware mastery |
Legacy
| Achievement | Impact |
|---|
| Prime success | Revived dormant franchise |
| Western trust | Proved external quality |
| Nintendo family | Full subsidiary |
| Ongoing work | Prime 4 development |
See also