Brazil’s Age Rating Site Reportedly Leaks Next Switch 2 Metroid Entry

Brazil’s government has reportedly become the accidental leak source for what could be the next Metroid entry, after an age-rating submission was filed through the country’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

The paperwork was posted online on July 1 before being taken down quickly, but players who were paying attention managed to capture screenshots. Those images then spread fast, bouncing from community boards to social feeds within hours and igniting a fresh wave of speculation around what Nintendo could be working on next.

The leaked material reportedly names the project as “Metroid Ravenous”, with its year of production listed as 2026.

For the content rating, the document’s intended guidance is shown as “not recommended for children under 10 years old,” while the rating that appears to have been assigned is “not recommended for children under 12 years of age.”

No one can verify the document’s authenticity at this stage, but the mere existence of the screenshots has already triggered a large online discussion. Fans are split between excitement at the prospect of another Metroid so soon after Metroid 4 Prime: Beyond and confusion about whether this is real, a misdirection, or something else entirely.

Some players have gone a step further with their own theories, suggesting Metroid Ravenous could be tied to Metroid Dread. Their reasoning: the “Ravenous” wording may connect to Raven Beak, the main antagonist from Dread.

Beyond that, there’s currently very little confirmed about the rumor. If Metroid Ravenous is indeed the next game, it would land as the latest Metroid release following 4 Prime: Beyond, which launched in December 2025. That release also received a mixed reception, with our review giving it an 8 out of 10 and describing it as an “excellent comeback,” while also pointing out “few underdeveloped elements” that prevent it from feeling as cohesive as earlier entries.

Why an age rating leak matters for players

Age-rating submissions are often one of the first public signals that a project is moving through official channels. Even when the details can’t be confirmed yet, they help fans narrow down what kind of timeline a studio might be targeting. In this case, the reported production year of 2026 and the under-12 rating band suggest a title that’s being treated as mature enough for older audiences, which is consistent with how the Metroid brand tends to handle atmosphere and tension.

“Ravenous” and the Raven Beak theory

The most interesting part of the chatter isn’t just the name—it’s what players think it might hint at. Speculation around Metroid Ravenous being related to Metroid Dread comes down to a thematic callback: “Ravenous” could be interpreted as a linguistic nod to Raven Beak. That would imply the next game may lean into story threads from Dread, rather than starting fresh with a completely unrelated plot. Of course, this is still conjecture, but it’s the kind of connection fans look for when they see a distinctive title word show up in official-looking paperwork.

The timing problem: another Metroid already?

Even if the screenshots are genuine, the schedule question is what’s keeping the community divided. Metroid 4 Prime: Beyond released in December 2025, and the potential next title in 2026 would mean a relatively tight turnaround for a franchise that typically takes time to build momentum. That naturally raises doubts and alternate possibilities: maybe this is a smaller companion project, a different type of release, or even a placeholder name that’s not the final direction.

It also matters that 4 Prime: Beyond didn’t land uniformly with players. Our review highlighted it as an “excellent comeback,” but also noted underdeveloped elements that kept it from matching the cohesion of earlier games. If Nintendo is already pushing forward to the next entry, fans will likely be watching whether the sequel—or follow-up—addresses the kinds of pacing and structure issues that came up during launch conversations.

Key takeaways from the leak so far

• A leaked age-rating filing tied to Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security reportedly surfaced on July 1, then was removed quickly.
• Screenshots of the document reportedly went viral, circulating across forums and social platforms within hours.
• The project name shown is “Metroid Ravenous,” with a production year listed as 2026.
• The age rating is shown as “not recommended for children under 10,” but the assigned rating appears as “not recommended for children under 12.”
• There’s no confirmed validity yet, but fans are debating whether it’s a new mainline game and how it connects to recent releases.
• Some players speculate “Ravenous” could reference Metroid Dread and its antagonist Raven Beak.
• If accurate, it would follow Metroid 4 Prime: Beyond, released in December 2025, which received mixed reviews at launch.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Switch 2 Edition Screenshots

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.