Nintendo Denies Metroid Dread Development

After a cryptic message was found within Retro Studios' Metroid Prime 3--"Metroid project 'Dread' is nearing the final stages of completion."--many fans assumed that the long-rumored 2D Nintendo DS title was to be unveiled shortly. Not so, according to the big N. "Nintendo is not making the 2D Metroid at this point in time," the console manufacturer told CVG. While an apparent denial of the project, the specific wording leaves some waggle wiggle room for debate. Specifically, "the 2D Metroid" could imply that the game does in fact exist and that the title might simply be in development by a third party studio. Or it could be a Metroid with 3D graphics and 2D-style gameplay. Or we could simply be in denial. Retro wouldn't be cruel enough to slide that reference in for no reason, would they?