Developer 4A Games has debuted the next title in the Metro series of video games, entitled Metro 2039. This comes shortly after Microsoft confirmed it would be showcasing the game as part of an Xbox First Look that was posted to YouTube. The title is available to wishlist and will be available as part of Xbox Play Anywhere.
The first look opens up with a 5-minute or so cinematic trailer that doesn’t give us much in the way of what the gameplay will be like. What we do know, however, is that players will not be taking control of the protagonist of previous games, Artyom, instead taking the role of a new, voiced protagonist known as The Stranger.
It is also stated by the developers that this entry will take on a much darker tone than previous games. While 4A Games is currently headquartered in Malta, the studio was originally founded in Kyiv, Ukraine, and still maintains strong ties there. Unfortunately, the situation in Ukraine and the invasion by Russia have had an impact on members of the team and their families. In turn, this led to a change in plans for a Metro follow-up, which now draws much more heavily on a choice-based narrative.
The Stranger returns to the subterranean home of humans amid a much deeper conflict than we have seen in previous games. Because of this, the team suggests gameplay will return to the of the original two games, focusing on tight spaces and dark corridors where every step is calculated.
The first look video, roughly 15 minutes long, ends with an in-game look at Metro 2039 running on the 4A Engine. While it doesn’t offer much to go by, it does at least keep the promises of the concept the team was going for.
Metro 2039 is set to release this winter, though no official date has been announced. It will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and on PC via Xbox, Epic, and Steam. It will also be available via Xbox Cloud.
Remember to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Bluesky to keep up to date on everything we have going on!
