4A Games and Deep Silver will finally showcase Metro 2039, the next mainline entry in the franchise, tomorrow at new Xbox First Look. It’s been a long time coming, and while the developer promised an “even darker story” than previous titles, Dmitry Glukhovsky, the author of the novel series of the same name, goes even further.
“This Metro game will be darker than anything you’ve seen before,” he said on Twitter. Of course, there’s the joke that it’s visually darker than the rest, which doesn’t quite work when considering Metro Exodus and its changing seasons, but I digress.
As always, the question remains “How?” and 4A Games did offer some indication last year. Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, there was a change to “how we wanted to tell the story of the next Metro game.”
“As conflict, the struggle for power, the horrors of tyranny, and the price of freedom have become part of our lives over the past 3+ years, we are still living and working during this wartime, and that inevitably shapes the games we make.” It signed off by confirming that Glukhovsky, who’s been against the war, remains involved, and that the studio is proud to have him “as a friend and co-creator” on this “next, and never more relevant chapter of Metro together.”
If it follows the same naming convention as previous titles, Metro 2039 will take place three years after the conclusion of Metro Exodus. The latter includes larger areas that players can explore in a non-linear fashion, and since it takes place over the course of a year, different seasons offer unique challenges. Perhaps the biggest game-changer, however, is the ability to craft on the go and break down weapons for resources.
Check out our review for more details. As for Metro 2039, it’s confirmed for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with a release date yet to be announced.