For years now, a popular fan theory has circulated on the internet, speculating that Metroid’s Samus Aran is trans. These theories cite her size and build as key elements as to why she could be a trans woman, and fuel was only added to the fire in 2015, when Metroid background designer Hirofumi Matsuoka claimed, in a derogatory way, that Samus was trans.
Now, speaking to us at TheGamer, prominent trans actress Abigail Thorn (Baldur’s Gate 3, House of the Dragon, Andor), has called on Nintendo to “come out and tell us what we already know” and confirm the long-running fan theory.
Abigail Thorn Wants Nintendo To Confirm That Samus Is Trans
We spoke to Thorn last week as part of a larger piece set to hit TheGamer in the future, but with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in the public consciousness, the actress has her say on the series’ protagonist.
“I still think Nintendo should come out and tell us what we already know, which is that Samus is trans,” She says with a wry smile and a chuckle. “People just think that we’ve misunderstood her character. They think that she’s like a mother. And it’s like, no, she’s a badass trans bounty hunter from space, okay?”
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She then moves on to talk about how good The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is, stating that it’s great that Nintendo has given players control of the titular character, before circling back to her previous point, interjecting, “Also, Nintendo, call me when you make the [Metroid] movie.”
While Thorn’s comments were a little tongue-in-cheek, they’re relevant to ongoing discussions about diversity and representation within the games industry.
It’s like, no, she’s a badass trans bounty hunter from space, okay?
After years in development hell, Metroid Prime 4 finally hit shelves this week, and, while the reception has been solid, the game hasn’t lived up to the acclaim of the original trilogy.
We scored Beyond a 4/5 in our review, saying, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the game I wanted it to be, but I can’t say the same for anyone else. It’s a series that has been on hiatus for so long that fans have likely built up impossible expectations inside their heads that are never going to be met”.
- Released
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December 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Animated Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Retro Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
