If a Metroid fan had anything even resembling expectations, they haven't been paying attention this last decade.

My point is not on the quality.  Metroid games have always been great (Other M, maybe not so much).  My point is the wait time the series has seen. We've had two metroid games in the last 11 years, and one in the last 8 years.  Metroid fans are used to waiting.

Well, given Nintendo involvement with the VGA in recent years, it makes more than sense that they would have at least something for the awards show, even if its something as lame as Kranky Kong.

But given how Nintendo seems to understands that each show has its own kind of audience, it makes sense for them to show something more mature looking like Metroid Prime 4.Not to mention that it has been(by that point) one year and a half since the reveal.So they would have something to show, regardless of when the development of the game started.But its just as likely for them to show a game like Bayonetta 3, which also appeals to that audience.Or even something like a WRPG, which for all we know, might be the game Retro is working.

Wasn't it confirmed that the game is being developed at Nintendo Japan?

Reggie's words (after the reveal at 2017) point more at the game starting development around that time, than the game being transferred from Wii U to Switch.

"“For certain games, games that will be in development for, let’s call it a decent amount of time, like Metroid Prime 4"
This doesn't really agree with the idea of a game that was saved for Switch.

Retro's lack of announcements is strange, but given some comments online from emplyees, things aren't going very well within the company. That may have delayed projects.

Cranky Kong announced as a playable character for Super Smash Bros Ultimate confirmed!

Honestly E3 is huge, but I feel like the only gamers that like the Prime series are the hardcore type, and TGA is very much that audience. Would be a smart move and would easily be the biggest world premiere there imo.

Don't think you are right about the game being developed at Nintendo Japan.

“Specifically, the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch exclusive is being developed by Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, which we understand is lead studio on the game in collaboration with Nintendo,” Eurogamer said. “This studio houses some former LucasArts Singapore staff who previously worked on, among other things, the ambitious cancelled Star Wars 1313.”

The article is based on unnamed sources, but also includes a good amount of circumstantial evidence that suggests the rumors were correct. The company has a close relationship with Nintendo, as Bandai Namco studios have previously worked on the Mario Kart arcade game as well as Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS and Wii U and Pokkén Tournament for Wii U and Switch.

https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/9/16994730/metroid-prime-4-developer-bandai-namco-nintendo-switch

It's all rumor of course, and I certainly stated I have no basis for my speculation.  But just because Nintendo denies something or Retro denies something doesn't mean it's true.  They're masters of expectation/rumor control.  Also, Retro continues to post pictures of prime rib on their Twitter feed.  If it's a joke, it's a sick joke...albeit, a delicious, tasty joke...But still sick.

I hope Metroid p4 has good controls and a high jump instead of a space jump. As far as the shirt he’s wearing.. means about as much as the pin he wore years back.

Yup!

I wouldn't necessarily say this is definitely a tease, but I think after the Cranky Kong debacle a few years back, Nintendo have a much better sense of the kind of announcements and trailers that the Game Awards' audience will expect or respond to, and Metroid fits the bill. It's a more 'serious' Nintendo title which will target an older demographic, and it's something critics and journalists will get excited about, which will move the hype cycle.

If you think, since the Cranky announcement at the Spike Awards in 2013, at the Game Awards Nintendo have shifted approach. They had early Zelda footage in 2014 (the first gameplay footage of the game), a Zelda trailer in 2016, and Bayonetta 3 and the Bayonetta ports for Switch in 2017 (I don't think Nintendo announced anything in 2015?). The emphasis on games like Zelda and Bayonetta, means that something like a Prime 4 reveal would make a lot of sense this year. I'd been hoping it would happen - we might even see a Prime Trilogy HD announcement as a release for early 2019, as with last year's Bayo 1/2 ports.