It’s been close to five years since 4A Games officially confirmed it was working on a sequel to Metro Exodus. Though a formal reveal of the title is still pending, the studio has provided a fresh update.
In a blog post commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Metro franchise, 4A Games has spoken about the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war that continues in the studio’s home nation. In 2022, it issued a similar statement, and once again, the developer speaks about how real-world events have impacted the next Metro’s development.
In a nutshell, you can expect “an even darker story” that focuses on the series’ staple “hard-hitting, political, anti-war” harder than ever before. And yes, Metro author Dmitry Glukhovsky is still deeply involved, as previously confirmed.
“As we said in our last studio update, in 2022, a full-scale Russian invasion changed how we wanted to tell the story of the next Metro game,” 4A Games’ message reads. “As art became life for many of our developers in Ukraine, we drew from that lived experience to create an even darker story, those themes already present in Metro becoming ever-more apparent and important.
“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.
“Metro has always had a hard-hitting, political, anti-war and often emotional story – and you can be sure these themes will continue thanks to our ongoing collaboration with franchise creator, author, and activist Dmitry Glukhovsky.
“Dmitry has always spoken out against the war in Ukraine from the start – a courageous decision for any Russian that has seen him sentenced to jail (in absentia) – and we are proud to have him as a friend and co-creator as we tell this next, and never more relevant chapter of Metro together.
“Rest assured, you are in for quite the ride.”
When exactly we can expect the next Metro to be announced remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say that there will be plenty of excitement surrounding the game. Metro Exodus, which is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, has sold over 10 million units worldwide. A VR prequel, Metro Awakening, from Vertigo Games also launched last November.
