Dare I mention it but the Switch 1 version also suffers from high levels of piracy be it Mig-switch carts or just emulation. Already there are videos showing the Switch 1 version running at 4K 60 native and looking far superior to the Switch 2 version. Yes there are currently bugs and glitches but I'm guessing it won't be long before those are ironed out. Also as previously stated the Switch 2 version runs on Switch 1 and the reviews have been mixed, many will complete the game quickly and others simply don't like the game so maybe the Switch 2 version will be more resellable even if you bought it to play on your Switch 1. I suspect many won't need to go back to the game so physical this time around maybe the logical choice rather than digital where its just stuck in your library and never being played which sounds like about 70% of my steam library. I've been put off the game a bit with the reviews and was never the greatest Metroid fan anyway, I hated the 2D games and the 3D versions are not my favourite fps games by a long way. However I am a Switch owner and if I had bought it, it would definitely have been the Switch 2 version on cartridge to play on my Switch OLED and Switch Lite. If you are planning to buy a Switch 2 at some point it seems the logical choice. You can then experience the Switch 1 game and later have a Switch 2 game to enjoy on your new Switch 2.

If that ends up being similar to the overall split, they were dumb not to make this a switch 2 exclusive and really utilize the hardware. Probably could’ve helped the reception and in turn the sales significantly. 

Hindsight is great, although I did predict this would be the case. I think they should of leaned all in on Switch 2 from the minute the game restarted production and obviously had a middle of the decade release window... None the less this was probably the safest, most economical option, so I don't think they were dumb even if it was a missed opportunity. S2 hardware wouldn't of existed, developement would probably taken longer to take advantage of new technology and high quality assets there was always the potential the S1 userbase could of allowed the series to break through and achieve sales we hadn't seen before.

The thing is, Prime 4 was in production as a Switch 1 game under Retro since at least early 2019. I would theorise that it was probably supposed to come out long before Switch 2 arrived, but by the time it was finished the next generation had begun, and due to its extended development they were probably way over budget, so rebuilding the whole thing as a Switch 2 game would have only blown up their costs even more.

Switch 1 never stood a chance, but the hype potentially dying soon might be favorable to Switch 1, so it could have been worse.

Some people misinterprit the significance of installbase. Generally speaking, individual software will sell much better on the new (successful) hardware. But combined software will sell more on the old hardware for a while.

I mean for me it’s not even a hindsight thing since I’ve been saying they should move it to next gen hardware exclusive since the early years of this decade when it was clear it still wasn’t ready. Metroid has never been a huge seller that needed to be on a huge install base. They would’ve gotten way more eyes on the franchise building a game that blew people away with what Nintendo’s next hardware was capable of rather than the dusty old Switch. Pretty obvious to me. But I get what’s being mentioned about the potential cost of moving it to be a built for S2 game when it sounds like this game has been costing Nintendo a crap ton of money to make for years already. Still think the reward could’ve been worth the risk here.