Metro 2039 announced with first look at post apocalyptic Moscow setting

Metro 2039 revealed with gameplay, story details and return to Moscow’s underground six years after original game

Metro 2039 has been announced as the fourth mainline entry in the Metro series, with developer 4A Games and publisher Deep Silver sharing a first look at gameplay, story and setting through an extended video presentation.

According to executive producer Jon Bloch, the new title is set six years after the original game and has been written in collaboration with Metro author Dmitry Glukhovsky.

The game returns players to the underground tunnels of Moscow, moving away from the surface environments featured in Metro Exodus.

The story introduces a new voiced protagonist known as the Stranger, described as a recluse experiencing violent nightmares. The character is forced to return to the Metro, where survivors of nuclear war live in underground stations.

In this instalment, factions have been unified under a regime known as the Novoreich, led by Hunter, referred to as Fuhrer. The leadership promises a new life, but the Metro is depicted as being shaped by propaganda, misinformation and fear.

The reveal trailer shows sequences from the protagonist’s nightmares alongside scenes set in post-apocalyptic Moscow. The narrative focuses on a journey involving past trauma and survival within the Metro system.

Gameplay footage highlights environmental storytelling, with developers describing “frozen stories” built into level design.

These include staged environments where players can interpret events through objects, bodies and surroundings. One sequence features an encounter with a mutant Nosalis before the protagonist reaches a populated station.

Metro 2039 has been developed using 4A Games’ custom engine, with the studio stating it has refined its use of ray-tracing technology. The game is expected to deliver enhanced visuals on PlayStation 5.

4A Games also stated that development took place under challenging conditions, with team members working during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The studio said the conflict influenced the themes of the game, including the consequences of war and the impact of authoritarian control.

The game is scheduled for release in winter.