MercurySteam CEO Defends Collaboration with Nintendo Amidst Allegations of Chaos in Creating Metroid Dread
MercurySteam CEO Discusses Success of Metroid Dread and Working with Nintendo
MercurySteam CEO Enric Álvarez has given an interview discussing the success of Metroid Dread, and addressing allegations that working with Nintendo was “chaotic.”
Speaking to Gamereactor (via Nintendo Everything), Álvarez spoke about their collaboration with Nintendo on the Metroid franchise.
A Strong Partnership
“We have an excellent understanding of each other. It’s fair to say that over time we became friends,” Álvarez said. “And they are super talented people, super hard-working people. They have a work ethic that is unbeatable. And they are open to accepting new ideas and trying them.”
Álvarez further explained, “We were also very hungry for leaving our own mark on the franchise. And we never ceased to suggest and propose ideas. Many of them ended up in the final product. So, we are very proud of the collaboration between us and Nintendo. And, yeah, as I said, one of the best development experiences we could possibly dream of.”
In 2021, there were allegations that the development of Metroid Dread was “chaotic.” However, in response to this, Álvarez pointed to the game’s success as a rebuttal.
“I don’t think the development was chaotic. Chaotic development doesn’t end with one of the best games in the franchise. It doesn’t end with a game that has sold over three point-something million copies. It doesn’t end with a game that won TGA awards. That’s all I have to say about it,” Álvarez confidently stated.
Metroid Dread’s Remarkable Sales
Metroid Dread has become the franchise’s best-selling game. While it is difficult to find public sales data for the entire Metroid series due to its age of 35 years, no other Metroid title has ever been reported to sell more than 3 million units. Retro Studios claimed in 2007 that Prime 1 had sold over 2 million units.
A Strong Marketing Campaign
The Metroid series has historically struggled to sell as well compared to Nintendo’s other first-party franchises. However, Metroid Dread was supported by a rigorous marketing campaign, including prominent TV advertisements, contributing to its success.
