A new gameplay trailer follows the Stranger, a new protagonist, expressing his thoughts about Hunter, who’s the new Führer of the Metro, having united all the factions under Novoreich. He muses about the Spartan that the latter used to be, as various snatches of gunplay are showcased.

We also get to see how life on the surface can be, and beyond the camps, patrolling soldiers and whatnot (which you’ll scope out from afar, potentially sniping foes), there are still the dark reaches of the Metro tunnels to investigate. You’ll face shambling horrors that require night vision goggles to see properly, but wanton slaughter is only one ingredient to survival, especially with the Dark Ones seemingly messing with the Stranger’s head.

Metro 2039 promises the series’ darkest story to date, one formed by the development team’s experience in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Thus far, based on the visuals, it’s keeping to the series’ intricate level of detail while ensuring an emotional atmosphere.

First up is the return of Crusade Mode, launching this Fall for free alongside a Map Pack. Billed as a “living campaign of conquest,” it offers multiple locations, occupied by different factions to attack (with each victory and loss promising ramifications on the overall war effort). Following this is Lord Ahmnok in Last Stand and another Map Pack, followed by a Mission Editor and yet another pack of maps in the Winter.

Around the same time, developer KING Art will release the first of two paid expansion packs – Blood Ravens, a story prologue where “ancient relics ignite deadly new conflicts.” Before Spring 2027, you can look forward to another Map Pack and the addition of Cuzutta in Last Stand. Around the same period comes AFTERMATH, which expands on the campaign and adds a brand new faction.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 will retail for $60 at launch, but those who pick up the Commander Edition can play three days early and access both paid expansions when available. That’s in addition to receiving a free digital soundtrack for the game.

“We are blown away to reach this milestone so quickly after the reveal,” wrote 4A Games. “Thank you for your incredible support, we cannot wait to invite you into the Metro this winter.”

Metro 2039 was officially unveiled last month, with the studio confirming that it will be a mainline entry in the franchise rather than a spin-off. More details about it were revealed through a comprehensive showcase during Microsoft’s recent show, where 4A Games also confirmed that it is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S this Winter.

In Metro 2039, players will once more return to the Moscow Metro. However, quite a bit of time has passed since the events of the previous games, and the various underground communities have seemingly been united under the Führer Hunter. Players will take on the role of The Stranger, who seems to have quite a few nightmares involving chains and Dark Ones throughout the trailer, and is compelled to venture into the Metro for reasons unknown.

The showcase capped things off by giving us a small look at the gameplay. While we don’t get to see too much, several iconic gameplay mechanics from the Metro franchise, including a watch that keeps track of when the breathing filter needs to be swapped out.

For more details about Metro 2039, here are five new things we’ve learned about it.

While based on the novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, 4A Games touts this as a brand new original story with a new protagonist and cast of characters. Plenty of ties abound to the previous games and universe as a whole, but it’s a place for newcomers to jump in and venture into the Metro for the first time. A single-player story experience, hand-crafted from the ground up to enthral and shock you.

What can you expect? Well, to start with, Metro 2039 marks…

The Return to Moscow and The Series’ Darkest Story Yet

4A Games and Glukhovsky said this would be the darkest story in the series yet, and they weren’t kidding. Set several years after the events of Exodus, Metro 2039 returns to the Moscow Metro, where a single cause has been born out of decades of fighting between multiple factions and ideologies – the Novoreich. They’re led by Hunter, the former Spartan Ranger whom Artyom viewed as a mentor, but time has clearly changed him.

He rules through fear, constantly subjugating the people to propaganda and seemingly indoctrinating them with his philosophy: “If it’s hostile, you kill it.” 4A Games says his regime is fighting against a “dark and terrifying enemy,” and considering his stance on the Dark Ones, who else could he be talking about?

However, Artyom may factor into all this; he’s not the star this time. Instead, players control Stranger, a mysterious individual who previously resided outside of the city. Assailed by nightmares, he ventures deep into the Metro. Based on the violent imagery in his head – including the Dark Ones seemingly pressuring him – attempting to resist and not returning isn’t an option. How will he cross paths with Hunter? What is his purpose? There are still a lot of blanks to fill, but as the first fully voiced lead in the series, the Stranger’s role is heavy indeed.

Only the Metro

The other notable bit from the presentation is how much Metro 2039 is seemingly going away from the structure of Exodus and back to that of previous games. Creative Director Andriy ‘mLs’ Shevchenko said the development team is going “back to the tunnels and leaning into what makes Metro, Metro.” Executive producer Jon Bloc also said during the presentation that the team is “all set on making an experience that is truly Metro. There is only Metro, nothing else.” Everything that you know about the first two games – the claustrophobia and intimacy of the underground, the weight of the darkness, and how every decision “has a cost” – will be reinforced.

Of course, based on the in-engine footage thus far (and even the cinematic trailer, which shows Stranger on the surface), it’s clear that players will spend time on the surface. Has 4A Games shifted away from the larger areas of Exodus? For now, it’s not exactly confirmed, although Bloch said that 2039 would “take advantage of the strengths of every game in the franchise before it.”

Rebuilt Ray Tracing and a Realistic World

That includes ray tracing, a staple of Exodus, and 4A Games isn’t resting on its laurels. Bloch says the team is “focused on rebuilding our implementation of this technology to bring a more tuned and performant experience that is still nothing short of stunning and hauntingly beautiful.” Thanks to the studio’s proprietary engine and tools, the team can craft a world that’s “as dense, realistic, and believable as we can imagine,” says Shevchenko.

“They allow us to make Metro feel tangible. You can walk into a room, and it behaves like a real place. Nothing is prefabricated. Everything is unique and grounded,” he adds. Everything that you’ll see has a reason to be there. Locations feel like they actually had people living in them, which means you’ll also be able to sense their final moments, leading us to…

Frozen Stories

Described as a way to push the player’s imagination even further, “Frozen Stories” are essentially environments that aim to convey a narrative without any dialogue. One example is happening upon a messy apartment and using all the chaotic details to piece together what happened. There’s some spilled tea on the table, a card game in progress, bags by the door as the former residents were either leaving soon or only staying for a short while.

What happened to them? Judging by the corpse near the bed and the unloaded gun, it seems they were attacked…and too late to mount a response. So if you’re curious to learn more about the setting of Metro and further immerse yourself in the world, 4A Games promises “many opportunities” like this, further incentivizing you to stay a while and try to piece together what was.

Returning Weapons, Familiar UI, Terrifying Enemies

Of course, we also received our first gameplay snippets mixed with real-time cinematics, which showed Stranger walking through the Metro before some Nosalises, the mutated creatures of old, discover him and give chase. He runs down the abandoned escalator, looks back, fires a single shot – clearly not the best idea – before getting pounced on. After a struggle, he manages to kill one with a knife to the head. Thankfully, some survivors dragged him inside their settlement, shutting the doors on the rest of the pack.

It may not seem like much, but it’s Metro throughout. The gas mask that Stranger breathes through, droplets realistically falling on it as he wipes the condensation off; the watch denoting how much time is left on the air filter; and even the signature Shambler shotgun. Movement appears weighty, and you can feel the walls seemingly closing in on the player. The environmental details are similarly incredible – as the Stranger runs down the stairs, you can see him kicking a pile of debris, which also tumbles down. The “frozen story” of the location is also apparent at first glance – a makeshift barricade, a corpse that couldn’t escape, and the remains of what seems to be other monsters.

As harrowing and incredible as it all looks, you need to remember: This wasn’t meant to be the vision for Metro 2039. However, real-world events, both in 2020 and 2022, essentially changed 4A Games’ outlook. While previous games were about “preventing war,” per Shevchenko, he says that now, “War is our reality, and our message has shifted to be about the consequences, the cost of silence, the horrors of tyranny, and the price of freedom.” What does that mean to the player, and how will it change them? It’s up to you to venture into the Metro and find it.

Metro 2039 will launch this Winter for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. And yes, unlike Exodus, it will be available on Steam and the Microsoft Store out of the gate alongside the Epic Games Store. Whether you’re a new player or simply returning to the darkness once more, it’s clear that this will be an experience unlike any other.

“To build that truly Metro experience at the level of atmosphere and detail we aim for, we rely on something we’ve invested in for decades now,” said co-creative designer and lead audio designer Pavel Ulmer. “Our own engine and tools. 4A Engine is purpose-built to make the games that we want to make. If we need to build a new feature or do something in a specific way, with our own engine, we can just make it. We’re limited only by our vision.”

Executive producer Jon Bloch also noted that the team gets to “take advantage of the strengths of every game in the franchise before it.” That includes ray tracing, which was featured extensively in Metro Exodus.

“This time we have focused on rebuilding our implementation of this technology to bring a more tuned and performant experience that is still nothing short of stunning and hauntingly beautiful.” Creative director Andriy “mLs” Shevchenko said the tools allow creating a world that’s “as dense, realistic, and believable as we can imagine.”

“They allow us to make Metro feel tangible. You can walk into a room, and it behaves like a real place. Nothing is prefabricated. Everything is unique and grounded.”

This aspect has defined the series pretty well thus far, but Metro 2039 is taking it to a whole new level, courtesy of “Frozen Stories.” You could walk into an environment, and it’s “clear a person lived there.” There might be bags near the door, spilt tea or an “unfinished card game” right next to a corpse and an unloaded gun. Based on the shells nearby, it seems they were too late to survive against whatever attacked them.

The goal is environmental storytelling without dialogue, pushing the player’s imagination “further” while immersing them. They also “give those who are curious many opportunities to explore and learn more about the world of Metro.”

Metro 2039 will launch for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, though pricing has yet to be announced. A brief gameplay snippet is available, showcasing much of what fans have come to know from the franchise, including the telltale wristwatch and the return of Nosalises. Check it out here.

As the text at the bottom points out, the capture is from real-time in-engine cinematics along with some gameplay. It starts off with the protagonist—the Stranger—walking into dilapidated underground ruins where some sort of struggle has already taken place. Things quickly escalate, however, when some mutated creatures show up to attack the hero. While one is able to successfully pounce on him to take him down, the Stranger is able to fight back before eventually being saved from a larger horde by friendly survivors.

Through the clip, we also got to see that the UI hasn’t seen too many changes from the previous Metro games. Players will still have access to the watch that keeps track of when the breathing filter needs to be swapped out. Similarly, weapons also haven’t changed too much since the events of Metro Exodus, keeping much of the same vibes of old-school scavenged guns of the franchise.

Metro 2039 will be coming to PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S this Winter. For more details, check out the official reveal trailer, which takes us back to the Moscow Metro. Also, take a look at what the series author has said about the “darker” story in the upcoming title.

Players return to the Moscow Metro, but things are much different this time around. All communities in the underground have united under a new Führer, Hunter. While things should seem better, the people are suppressed. The Stranger’s nightmares seemingly reflect this, with kids being kidnapped, sent off on trains, and eventually suffering indoctrination.

Why is he constantly chained? What are these nightmares, and why did the Stranger swear to never return to the Metro? Whatever the case may be – and the appearance of the Dark Ones is nothing short of foreboding – he finally awakens in Moscow and eventually descends into the Metro.

Metro 2039 is in development for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and launching this Winter. It’s developed on the 4A Engine, just like previous iterations but, this time around, the focus is on the Metro and leaning into everything that makes the series what it is. That means the darkness will be more overwhelming than ever, and every decision has a cost.

“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.

Further details weren’t offered, but the title is confirmed to be the “fourth mainline entry” in the franchise. Of course, you should still expect it to take place in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by nuclear fallout. Based on the name, it could take place about three years after the conclusion of 2019’s Metro Exodus.

Story-wise, nothing is known, aside from it having an “even darker story.” 4A Games has been extremely tight-lipped on the sequel since its announcement in late 2020. At least we know that it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, so that’s a plus. Perhaps we’ll also learn about that multiplayer experience that the studio was also working on.

Why is it appearing under an Xbox-branded show? The company claims that it’s “always been a home for the franchise,” and that it’s “honored to continue that relationship” with this First Look showcase. However, you have to wonder if there could be something deeper (like a Game Pass deal).

Of course, it could simply be as Microsoft says. After all, Metro 2033 debuted on Xbox 360 and PC, and would remain exclusive to the console for years. In a sense, it’s like coming home for 4A Games.

Either way, stay tuned for all the coverage on Metro 2039 later this week, and check out our review for Metro Exodus in the meantime.

But that’s not all. Microsoft is allegedly hosting a new showcase on April 16th, which will be the “venue of choice” for the game’s reveal, per NateTheHate. While The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that it’s an ID@Xbox show, Nate said he “didn’t know the branding.”

What about the alleged State of Play on April 16th? “Before anyone asks: No, I have not been able to confirm the previously rumored State of Play date information yet,” he responded. Of course, at the time, the insider wasn’t 100 percent confirmed, so take that as you will (and try not to get mad).

Regardless, if true, this should be a fun week for Metro fans. Nothing has been revealed about the next game, unofficially referred to as Metro 4. The last big update from 4A Games is that it would have an “even darker story” than its predecessors. The developer is also working on a separate multiplayer experience, which we’ve yet to hear about in more than five years.