Nintendo is well aware of fans' desire to see both 2D and 3D Metroid games in the future. In fact, it's hoping to share news regarding both styles "in the near future," according to Nintendo's Shinya Takahashi.

In an interview with Kotaku, the subject of a new Metroid was brought up. Shigeru Miyamoto responded by saying, "The original creators of Metroid and the director who was the director of the Metroid Prime games who worked under me when I was producing those both now work for Mr. Takahashi, so you'll have to ask him."

Takahashi then shared some tantalizing information: "So it has been a while since we released the last one and we're having discussions internally about what we can do next. So at this point we have two different types of Metroid games. We have the Prime style of Metroid game and we have the more traditional style of Metroid game. We feel that we do need to take care of both of these styles of play. And the hope is that at some point in the near future we'll be able to share something about them."

Many gamers expected a new Metroid to be unveiled at E3 this week when Nintendo scheduled a lengthy event to announce a 3DS game on Wednesday night. Instead, we learned that game would be a new IP, which proved to be Code Name: STEAM, a strategy game from Fire Emblem and Advance Wars developer Intelligent Systems. Metroid wasn't seen at all during E3, unless you count Samus appearing in Super Smash Bros.

The most recent game in the Metroid series was 2010's Metroid: Other M, the Team Ninja-developed action game for Wii that many fans bemoaned for its treatment of Samus' character. Prior to that, it was Metroid Prime 3: Corruption in 2007. In other words, the series has been mostly quiet for much of the last decade--which is exactly how long it's been since the last 2D Metroid game (Metroid: Zero Mission for Game Boy Advance) was released.

To many, a new Metroid seems like an obvious way to drum up excitement for the Wii U, which has struggled since its launch in November 2012. One thing we do know about the next Metroid is that series co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto is unlikely to be involved; after working on Tomodachi Life, he said earlier this year that he isn't interested in returning to traditional games.

What would you like to see next from the Metroid series? Let us know in the comments below.