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.

Following State of Play, it’s the Summer of Gaming with one major showcase after another, starting with the Summer Game Fest showcase on June 5th. It’s followed by the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6th and a double feature on June 7th with the Xbox Games Showcase and PC Gaming Show. There’s also the possibility of a new Nintendo Direct to outline what’s coming this year (and potentially beyond), but here are our picks for some of the biggest announcements that you could see, and it all begins with the return of a beloved franchise…

Gears of War: E-Day Release Date

Say what you will about XBOX, all caps or not, they know that fans are hungry for more Gears of War. Hence, the dedicated Direct for E-Day will feature its first-ever gameplay and other details. Since it’s allegedly out in the second half of 2026, all eyes are on The Coalition to finally announce a release date, which is looking to be September based on recently announced sponsorships. Either way, it’s been far too long without the king of cover-based shooters, and we’re looking forward to beginning the fight anew.

Fable’s “Major New Look”

Now, this one is interesting, especially since XBOX has already confirmed a delay to February 2027. So what could this “major new look” hold? Perhaps a walkthrough of a quest? The return of a beloved character? Showcasing the extent of consequences that are possible with increasingly hilarious results? It may end up just showcasing another well-known British actor in the game, but hey, we’ll take it if there’s solid gameplay.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Release Date

Halo Studios has been rather mum on this remake, which is odd for several reasons. Yes, it recently confirmed there’s no in-game store, but… that’s pretty much it. There’s been no new gameplay since its reveal at the last Halo World Championship, and it’s reportedly launching next month. Will marketing kick into overdrive after the showcase? Time will tell, but from every angle, it seems fans won’t have to wait long to go hands-on.

Phantom Blade Zero Gets New Trailer

Launching in September, being in the “intense, final stages of development” according to the developer, only one other big showcase until its launch – if ever there was a time to start marketing for Phantom Blade Zero, it would be at Summer Game Fest. As always, the question of what could be showcased always pops up – obviously, you want to get the people excited without spoiling too much. Alternatively, if S-Game wanted to drop that demo promised long ago, next week wouldn’t be the worst occasion to do so.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 3

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said that marketing won’t begin until Summer, clarifying that it won’t be for another few weeks. However, it doesn’t exclude the possibility of a new trailer, and it certainly doesn’t stop Rockstar from opening pre-orders. Could it stop short of the latter and release a new teaser, hyping up a reveal in the coming weeks? Sure. Does it need to do it at any of the upcoming showcases? Probably not, but it would be cool. Either way, expect to hear a lot more about the title this month, even if it’s when you least expect it.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Release Date

We’ve seen more than enough gameplay, know more than enough the story – so if the long-awaited Onimusha revival doesn’t get a launch date at some point in the coming days, I may lose it. Granted, the developer could always pull the patented, “Tune in to the Online Special Program later in June for more,” but like Pragmata at last year’s The Game Awards, it’s probably just going to cut through the noise and announce a date with pre-orders.

Monster Hunter Wilds Expansion Reveal

Now this is a classic example of potentially debuting a trailer and revealing more information later. Monster Hunter Wilds’ expansion is confirmed to receive more details this Summer, and given the franchise’s history at Keighley’s shows, a title reveal seems very likely. We could then see a proper Monster Hunter Showcase next month or in September, right before the so-called Summer period ends.

OD Update

It’s been a year since Hideo Kojima took the Summer Game Fest stage, promoting Death Stranding 2. With how close he is to Keighley, and the fact that there hasn’t been any update on its next title, OD, since September 2025, a new teaser would hardly be surprising. Then again, since Xbox Game Studios is the publisher, it may even appear at the upcoming Xbox Showcase. The real question is: Will Kojima attend both? It’s certainly not impossible, even if it would be excessive.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Release Date Reveal (or Delay)

It really doesn’t hit you just how many games could be released between June and October, simply to avoid “competing” – which is already a strong word – against Grand Theft Auto 6. I’m not sure that Amazon Game Studios would want to take the risk, even after announcing a 2026 release window, and rumors of a delay to 2027 may feed into that. An appearance certainly seems on the cards, but for now, it’s a toss-up on whether it launches this year or next.

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica Remake Announcement

Rumors have circulated about this remake since June 2024. Resident Evil Requiem was announced in June 2025, at the Summer Game Fest no less. With a supposed launch in the first half of 2027, odds are looking good that Resident Evil could steal the show once more with the long-awaited Code: Veronica Remake. Get your “welcome back, Claire Redfield” signs ready in advance.

Virtua Fighter Crossroads Reveal

Call it a mistake, an accident or just an honest-to-goodness leak, the new Virtua Fighter’s gameplay has seemingly leaked. The final name is apparently Virtua Fighter Crossroads, and admittedly, it looks quite good. Is Sega saving the announcement for a big show like Summer Game Fest, especially since it was announced at The Game Awards 2024? Possibly – it’s not like there’s any other shows it could fit in.

Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition Announcement

Add another game to the potential Nintendo Direct, as Sega seeks to bring Sonic Frontiers to Nintendo Switch 2 at long last. While previous rumors suggested a rewritten story, the Definitive Edition is allegedly closer to a standard port, complete with all updates, except that it should run better than the Switch 1 version. Again, if it’s indeed real, expect an announcement and release date soon.

Metro 2039 Gets More Gameplay

After its surprising reveal and the even more surprising First Look, Metro 2039 seems poised to appear at the Xbox Games Showcase. Not for the sake of filling up time, mind you – rather, to showcase more of the horrors that players will allegedly face. I’m skeptical about a release date, especially since 4A Games still has time to narrow things down – and decide whether it wants to fall on the 2026 or 2027 side of its Winter release window – but stranger things have happened at an Xbox show.

State of Decay 3 Gameplay and Updates

Meet one of the stranger things. I know, I know – Undead Labs is conducting closed tests, and it’s seemingly making progress after years and years of nothing. And while it could outright say “2027” as a release window, something tells me the team will simply provide new gameplay, an update from recent tests, and the assurance of providing more opportunities in the coming months. Playing things safe before it really decides to commit to something.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Release Date

Launching this Summer and already unveiling everything that sets it apart from the original, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 seems like a lock for Summer Game Fest. A release date seems a given, but it feels like something else is needed – a little je ne sais quoi. Maybe a brand new big bad that would replace the Queen as a major threat? Hard to say, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it arrives as soon as next month.

Valor Mortis Release Date

A first-person Souls-like set in an alternate 19th-century Europe focused on fighting Napoleon’s zombie soldiers after returning from the dead, developed by the team behind Ghostrunner 2? Sign us up, and more importantly, give us a release date, since it’s already confirmed for Fall. That may end up closer to October than November for the obvious reason, but I’m more interested to see if a demo or open beta ends up happening, especially with all the closed testing done so far.

Ananta Trailer and Launch Window

Geoff Keighley’s showcases have a thing for games – see the frequent appearances by ZZZ, Honkai: Star Rail, Wuthering Waves, and, more recently, Arknights Endfield. Ananta is interesting because it’s foregoing a character system while retaining the urban open-world fantasy we’ve seen thus far. It may not launch this year, but with most of its competition, particularly NTE, already released, a new trailer at least seems a given.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Release Date

What should have been rated recently by PEGI, but Bandai Namco’s next Ace Combat? Smarter minds will probably be able to tell you why its pre-release date is May 30th on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, but it’s further proof of a potential release announcement. And honestly, with how good Wings of Theve has looked, both the first-person cutscenes and the actual combat, we’re hoping it drops sooner than later.

The Duskbloods Release Month

Say what you will about its recent multiplayer focus – FromSoftware generally does a good job convincing millions to try its next game, regardless. The same will hopefully hold for The Duskbloods, and with rumors of a launch later this year (and not this Summer, apparently), it could appear at that alleged Nintendo Direct set for mid-June. Maybe Elden Ring Tarnished Edition will be shadow-dropped in the meantime.

New 3D Mario Announcement

Nintendo isn’t above announcing big names a good while before they actually launch – just as it has no qualms holding back finished titles, waiting for the right launch window. And with insider NateTheHate claiming that a new 3D Mario would be announced for 2027, that supposed mid-June Direct isn’t the worst place to announce it, especially after the success of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Pokémon Wind and Waves Release Window

Perhaps one of the safest possible bets for the Direct is the release date announcement for Pokémon Wind and Waves, especially with listings spotted on Amazon Germany. If it follows, say, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, then January/February 2027 aren’t outside the realm of possibility. Again, a safe bet, unless Nintendo goes in another direction (like saving the info for a Pokémon Showcase in July).

Hollow Knight: Silksong — Sea of Sorrow Gameplay

Geoff Keighley loves his Silksong teases, but that was for one of the most-anticipated games of all time. What are the chances the trend repeats at this year’s show, revealing the first gameplay for Sea of Sorrow, its free DLC? Probably low, but don’t forget about XBOX – they’ve featured Silksong on numerous occasions, and would probably jump at the opportunity to feature the title on their showcase, complete with a release date.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra Update

Game delays can be funny, especially when something like Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra – the next big game from Uncharted creator Amy Hennig – announced a delay beyond early 2026. That doesn’t mean 2027, but at this rate, with very little to actually show for it, we wouldn’t be surprised if it appears with a new trailer confirming it’s skipping 2026 entirely. Which is fine, but you’d have to expect a closer look at the game at some point.

Star Wars Zero Company Release Date/Delay

Star Wars crossed with XCOM sounds like a dream come true, and based on previews, it makes for an excellent tactical strategy experience. But there’s otherwise been relative silence – not even a peep during this year’s May the 4th. If it’s meeting that 2026 release window, then a new trailer at either the Xbox Games Showcase or Summer Games Fest is possible. Then again, EA could choose not to foot the bill and just drop these details at some random time.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Title Reveal

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was first announced during the original’s 25th Anniversary Celebration livestream in June 2022. So close enough to the Summer of Gaming at the time, but still nothing. However, its gameplay trailer would appear at the Summer Game Fest in 2023, followed by another trailer at The Game Awards, and so on. With director Naoki Hamaguchi already claiming more than 40 playthroughs and promising to share more updates on the overall project than ever before this year, a Part 3 reveal – if not a release window, then perhaps its name – seems very likely.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Release Date

Oh, look – another game that appeared at last year’s Summer Game Fest with a release window of 2026. Asobo Studio offered a substantial update last April, confirming “final tweaks, last recording sessions, the closing notes of the score,” and much more as it focuses on refining the prequel. It’s been four years since A Plague Tale: Requiem, yet the developer is focused on delivering “an experience as challenging as it is unforgettable.” We could thus see Resonance appearing next week to announce a delay to next year, if only to allow it to shine all the brighter.

Palworld 1.0 Release Date

With all the big announcements, I think back to Palworld, which exited early access this year. Pocketpair already said that Version 1.0 wouldn’t just be randomly revealed on Discord, and it has a history of featuring on these big shows. So what better time to reveal all the new content and a release date than Summer Game Fest, with further info dumps planned for the coming months? Again, there’s kind of a time limit given the elephant in the room called GTA 6, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Pocketpair decides on January 2027 of all months.

Nivalis Release Window

At this time, developer ION LANDS posted a new update for its cyberpunk restaurant management title, going over level design, visuals, how it’s handling simulating thousands of characters, and so on. However, one little bit stood out – the shift towards “final polish” ahead of release. From bug fixes to localization and optimization, the team has been busy. It will share a release date when it’s ready, so a shadow drop seems unlikely, but at this stage, a release date still seems very possible, especially in the coming week.

Light No Fire Appearance

Of all the studios and publishers sweating about November and finding the right days to release their titles, Hello Games has it made. No Man’s Sky continues to succeed, and it continues to receive quality free updates that deepen the experience. So when it comes to Light No Fire, a small teaser could be released at Summer Game Fest with very little context, much less a release window, and stand out. And if no one wants to feature an indie title that simply wants to remind people that it still exists, well, that’s alright then, because development will roll on until something concrete. The point is, at the end of it all, Sean continues to hold all the cards.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 Release Date

As if its first-party line-up for the coming months wasn’t enough, Mojang’s Minecraft Dungeons 2 is also launching in 2026. It’s not a huge title by any means, but the original had 25 million players, so the prospect of new locations and a brand new threat could be appealing…and you just know it’s going to be at the Xbox Games Showcase, showcasing its various new zones that totally weren’t leaked a year ago.

“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.