Metroid Prime 4: Beyond isn’t out until next year, but if you’re eager to hear more about this highly anticipated release, read on…
Just a few weeks after the initial reveal, Retro Studios lead UI artist Jon Wofford shared some insight into his involvement in the development of the fourth entry and his work on Samus’ visor, as well as the heads-up display (HUD) you see in-game:
“Metroid Prime 4 was a dream project and my favorite part was designing, building and animating Samus’ HUD. I learned a lot during MPR and I hope it shows… I think the trailer showed it well that the HUD shouldn’t have to try to compete with the incredible environments, characters, lighting, animation, VFX… I’m constantly humbled by the talent of this team.”
On his Artstation siteWofford goes into a little more detail, noting that “HUD was a true labor of love”:
“Reveal trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The HUD was a true labor of love and I’m so glad to finally be able to share it… A nice look at the HUD in combat. The goal was to create a modern visor update that respects Metroid Prime’s legacy.”
It also shows scanning animations, transitions, FUI details on Samus’ visor, and even her HUD Morph Ball. If you look more closely at certain shots throughout the reveal trailer, you can also see Wofford’s work on the user interface displayed on computer screens in one scene (see below).
Jon Wofford also worked as a UI artist on Metroid Prime Remastered, which was released on the Nintendo Switch in 2023.
