Walmart cuts Metroid Ravenous preorder price to match digital, as 2021's Dread surges in sales

Key points

• Walmart is selling physical preorders of Metroid Ravenous for $59.88, a $10 discount off the standard $69.99 price, according to The Verge.
• The discounted price matches the digital version's cost, though the duration of the Walmart deal is unclear.
• Metroid Ravenous is a 2D side-scrolling game for the Nintendo Switch 2, set to release on January 28, 2027.
• The game is developed by MercurySteam, the studio behind Metroid Dread and Metroid: Samus Returns.
• The reveal of Ravenous has caused Metroid Dread to surge in popularity, climbing the Nintendo Switch eShop charts to the number one spot in the U.S., according to Nintendo Everything and ComicBook.com.
• The trailer for Ravenous features Samus absorbing abilities, which Gizmodo describes as having 'vampire vibes'.

Background

Metroid Ravenous is the first 2D side-scrolling Metroid game since 2021's Metroid Dread. The game was revealed at a September 2026 Nintendo Direct. Our archive notes that MercurySteam, the developer, had faced financial pressures from their previous project, Blades of Fire, before returning to the Metroid franchise. Additionally, Walmart recently reported a slowdown in U.S. same-store sales in Q2 2026, making such targeted discounts potentially significant for driving consumer interest.

How outlets are covering it

The Verge focuses on the immediate financial benefit of the Walmart preorder discount, noting it brings the physical copy in line with the digital price. ComicBook.com emphasizes the cultural impact, highlighting how the Ravenous announcement has caused a resurgence in sales for the 2021 title Metroid Dread, which has climbed past major titles like Super Mario Galaxy and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Gizmodo provides a gameplay-focused perspective, interpreting the trailer's mechanics as Samus gaining a 'vampire' ability to absorb power, contrasting it with the horror themes of Dread. Nintendo Everything provides the raw data, confirming Metroid Dread's rise to the top of the U.S. eShop charts in the week following the announcement.

Why it matters

The Walmart discount provides a cost-effective entry point for consumers interested in the upcoming Switch 2 title. The surge in Metroid Dread sales indicates strong consumer demand for the franchise's 2D entries, suggesting that Ravenous may be a significant commercial success for Nintendo and MercurySteam. The deal also highlights Walmart's strategy of using price parity with digital goods to drive physical game sales.

What to watch

Consumers can preorder Metroid Ravenous at Walmart for $59.88, though the deal may disappear as it has with previous Nintendo preorders. The game is scheduled for release on January 28, 2027. Nintendo's 'Customer Appreciation' sale, which includes a 30% discount on Metroid Dread, is currently ongoing through September 26, 2026.