Metroid Prime 4: Beyond isn’t out until next year, but if you’re eager to learn more about this highly anticipated release, read on…
Just a few weeks after the initial reveal, Jon Wofford, lead UI artist at Retro Studios, has shared some insights into his involvement in the development of the fourth game and his work on Samus’ visor and the heads-up display (HUD) you see in the game:
“Metroid Prime 4 has been a dream project, and my favorite part was designing, creating, and animating Samus’ HUD. I learned a lot during MPR, and I hope it shows… I also think the trailer does a great job of showing that the HUD doesn’t have to struggle to compete with the incredible environments, characters, lighting, animation, VFX… I’m constantly humbled by the talent on this team.”
On his Artstation page, Wofford elaborates on this a bit, saying that the “HUD has been a true labor of love”:
“The reveal trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The HUD has been a true labor of love, and I’m so happy to finally be able to share it….A beautiful look at the HUD in combat. The goal was to create a modern update to the crosshair that honors the Metroid Prime legacy.”
He also shows off scan animations, transitions, the FUI details on Samus’ visor, and even her Morph Ball HUD. If you look closely at certain shots in the reveal trailer, you can also see Wofford’s work on the UI being rendered on computer monitors in one scene (see below).
Jon Wofford also served as a UI artist on Metroid Prime Remastered, which was released for Nintendo Switch in 2023.