ZDR

Lore & Background

The situation deteriorated rapidly when the X Parasites, unleashed by Raven Beak's machinations, began infecting personnel and machinery, mutating them into grotesque forms that patrolled the corridors. The outbreak forced Samus Aran to investigate, revealing a complex history: while the Galactic Federation studied the X Parasites and E.M.M.I. units, the Metroids on ZDR were brought there by Raven Beak from SR388 for his own purposes—not for Federation research. The Thoha tribe originally intended Metroids as a biological countermeasure against the X Parasites, but the Mawkin tribe (Raven Beak's tribe) sought to weaponize them. Raven Beak manipulated this legacy, using the X to create a new army by infecting and controlling the E.M.M.I. and other beings, aiming to conquer the galaxy—not to revive his already fallen tribe.

In Their Own Story

Dr. Kael adjusted his visor, staring into the containment glass. Inside, the creature pulsed with a soft blue light, dormant and harmless. He logged the vitals, unaware of the microscopic shadow shifting in the ventilation grate above. A hiss escaped the seal, not mechanical but organic. The monitor flickered red before going dark. Kael reached for his comms unit, but the static was already gone, replaced by a wet, clicking sound echoing from the hallway behind him.

Reader's Guide

ZDR serves as the primary setting for Metroid Dread, functioning as a remote Galactic Federation research station located in deep space. Originally established to study specimens from SR388, the facility became a critical hub for understanding the biological properties of the Metroids. However, its purpose shifted drastically when an outbreak of the X Parasites occurred, turning the sterile corridors into a deadly labyrinth. The station is divided into five distinct regions, each reflecting different environmental hazards and architectural styles ranging from high-tech laboratories to ancient Chozo ruins. These sectors include Artaria, Ghavoran, Ferenia, Cataris, and Dairon, offering varied gameplay experiences that test the bounty hunter's abilities against both robotic enemies and biological threats. Narratively, ZDR matters because it holds the key to saving the galaxy from the X invasion. It is here that Samus Aran confronts the Mawkin Chozo tribe led by Raven Beak, uncovering a conspiracy involving the weaponization of life itself. The facility's fate remains sealed after the final confrontation, marking a somber end to this chapter of biological warfare.

Did You Know?

• The planet houses Metroids that were originally brought from SR388 by Raven Beak for his own purposes, not harvested by the Federation for study.
• Seven distinct environmental zones make up the interior layout of the world: Artaria, Burenia, Cataris, Ferenia, Ghavoran, Hanubia, and Elun.
• The Mawkin Chozo tribe built ZDR as a fortress and research facility, not as their homeworld stronghold.
• Raven Beak intended to use the X infection to create a new army by controlling the E.M.M.I. and other beings, not to revive his fallen tribe.