Metroid Dread developer Mercury Steam is working on two unannounced games

Metroid Dread developer Mercury Steam is working on two unannounced projects.

That‘a according to the latest earnings from Nordisk Games, which owns a minority stake in the developer. According to the filings, the studio is working on “two large undisclosed titles”.

It’s likely that one of the games that’s being referred to is the fantasy title that the studio is working on with publisher 505 Games, details of which have yet to be fully shared. However, the identity of the second title is unknown.

Codenamed Project Iron, the multiplatform fantasy game has an initial development budget of €27 million ($30.7 million).

“We are thrilled to work with the team at MercurySteam, a proven studio that over the years has created numerous phenomenal IPs – including the recent hit release Metroid Dread in partnership with Nintendo,” said Raffi and Rami Galante, co-CEOs of Digital Bros at the time of the announcement.

“With MercurySteam’s creative vision and talent and 505 Games extensive experience, gamers can expect a high-quality, captivating and engaging videogame.”

MercurySteam CEO Enric Álvarez recently gave an interview discussing the success of Metroid Dread, and the allegations that working with Nintendo was “chaotic.”

Speaking to Gamereactor Álvarez spoke of working with the publisher on the Metroid franchise.

“We have an excellent understanding of each other. It’s fair to say that over time we became friends. 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.”

In 2021 it was alleged that the development of the game was “chaotic,” however, in response to this, Álvarez has pointed to the game’s success as a rebuttal.

Metroid Dread is the franchise’s best-selling game. Although public sales data for the entire Metroid series is hard to come by – it is, after all, 35-years-old – no 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.

The Metroid series has historically struggled to sell well compared to Nintendo’s other first-party franchises, but Dread was supported by a strong marketing campaign including prominent TV advertisements.