Metro 2039 is the next entry in the acclaimed series from Deep Silver and 4A Games, set to launch this winter. The game introduces a new protagonist and delivers a darker, more intense post-apocalyptic experience.
Metro 2039 Ushers in a New Era for the Post-Apocalyptic Series
Back to the Metro Tunnels this Winter
Metro 2039 has been officially revealed with a debut trailer showcasing new irradiated horrors in its post-apocalyptic world from Deep Silver and 4A Games. The announcement follows just days after the studio confirmed that a new Metro entry was in development.
A special developer presentation highlights the series’ return to the iconic metro tunnels beneath Moscow, alongside a winter release window for the upcoming title
During the presentation, creative director Andriy Shevchenko explained that Metro 2039 will focus on "the cost of silence, the horrors of tyranny, and the price of freedom," drawing from the real-world impact of the Russia-Ukraine War. Meanwhile, series author Dmitry Glukhovsky posted on X (Twitter) that the game will be "darker than anything you’ve seen before," calling it one of the stories he has long wanted to tell, but needed "reality to catch up."
A return to the series’ eponymous metro tunnels is a central focus in Metro 2039, echoing the setting of the earlier entries Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light. This marks a clear shift from Metro Exodus, where much of the journey unfolded on the surface beyond Moscow.
The presentation briefly teased a few seconds of gameplay, showing the unnamed protagonist navigating the metro and encountering mutated creatures along the way. Official screenshots also showed what to expect from the surface, though no gameplay was shown. Shevchenko further emphasized that this darker narrative direction reflects the team’s anti-war message, stating that Metro 2039 will put the "worst of humanity on full display."
A New Protagonist
One of the biggest changes in Metro 2039 is the introduction of a new protagonist. Previously, players followed Artyom, a hardened survivor navigating the nuclear winter. In 2039, an unnamed character known only as "The Stranger" takes center stage, witnessing the harrowing consequences of humanity’s destructive wars.
Set roughly four years after the events of Metro Exodus, Metro 2039 continues within the same universe, but with a new perspective. The protagonist was not part of the Aurora train crew and instead resides in a city within the tunnels overseen by a fanatical Spartan known as "Hunter." Longtime fans of the series will recognize Hunter as one of Artyom’s earliest allies in the metro.
4A’s Custom Game Engine
Another major detail mentioned in the special presentation is Metro 2039’s proprietary engine, built specifically for the game from the ground up. This new technology is designed to allow 4A Games to take advantage of recent advancements and push the series forward technically and visually.
The engine represents a clear departure from previous entries in the franchise. The team also acknowledged that Metro Exodus was one of the early showcases for ray tracing in the series, but noted that Metro 2039 aims to go even further in terms of visual fidelity and performance. While it remains to be seen how smoothly the new engine will run in practice, the brief gameplay footage shown so far appears promising.
While no specific release date has been announced, Metro 2039 is currently slated for a winter launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S
Source:
PlayStation Blog for Metro 2039
