No Russian dubbing, Moscow on fire: First look at Metro 2039
4A Games unveils official Metro 2039 trailer (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
4A Games has officially unveiled Metro 2039, the fourth main entry in the iconic franchise. The new installment is set to become the darkest chapter in the series’ history, offering players not only realistic graphics but also a deep socio-political drama.
RBC-Ukraine reports the information about Metro 2039 and its storyline.
Story and new main character
The game takes place six years after the events of Metro Exodus (around 25 years after the nuclear catastrophe). Instead of the familiar Artyom, the main protagonist is The Stranger.
This is the first protagonist in the series to have his own voice. According to the developers, players will more deeply experience his thoughts and inner struggle.
Key story details
Forced return. The Stranger once left the Metro and swore never to return. However, brutal nightmares and external circumstances force him to descend back into the underground once again.
Search for truth. The protagonist embarks on a dangerous journey through a devastated Moscow to confront the ghosts of his past and find answers to the questions that haunt him.
Horror atmosphere. The game focuses on a tense psychological thriller atmosphere and the claustrophobia of enclosed spaces.
Frame from the Metro 2039 trailer (screenshot: 4A Games)
Game universe: the Neo Reich regime and Hunter
Major changes have taken place in the Moscow Metro. Various factions have been united under the banner of the Neo Reich — a totalitarian regime with clear parallels to Nazi Germany.
The community is led by the legendary Spartan Hunter, who has become a ruthless dictator (the Führer). He promises society a “new path” and salvation on the surface, but in reality, the Metro is consumed by misinformation, fear, and brutal propaganda.
The main theme of the game focuses on the cost of silence in the face of tyranny and the true price of freedom.
Development and studio position
Most of the development team works in Ukraine. In a letter to the community, the developers emphasized that Metro 2039 is a “Ukrainian game created under the influence of real wartime experience.”
Frame from the Metro 2039 trailer (screenshot: 4A Games)
Game universe: the Neo Reich regime and Hunter
Major changes have taken place in the Moscow Metro. Various factions have been united under the banner of the Neo Reich — a totalitarian regime with clear parallels to Nazi Germany.
The community is led by the legendary Spartan Hunter, who has become a ruthless dictator (the Führer). He promises society a “new path” and salvation on the surface, but in reality, the Metro is consumed by misinformation, fear, and brutal propaganda.
The main theme of the game focuses on the cost of silence in the face of tyranny and the true price of freedom.
Development and studio position
Most of the development team works in Ukraine. In a letter to the community, the developers emphasized that Metro 2039 is a “Ukrainian game created under the influence of real wartime experience.”
The story of Metro 2039 is one that I long wanted to tell, but it had to wait for the reality to catch up. So now it doesn’t seem to be a dystopia or science-fiction any more. Now it is relevant to everyone.
— Дмитрий Глуховский (@glukhovsky) April 16, 2026
Technical features and gameplay
The game is being developed on an updated 4A Engine, optimized for modern consoles and PCs. The developers are using the concept of “frozen stories,” where the environment (bodies, objects, and abandoned belongings) tells micro-stories without a single word.
Frame from the Metro 2039 trailer (screenshot: 4A Games)
Technical specifications of the game
Ray tracing — ray tracing is integrated at a fundamental level. GPUs with RT support are expected to be required.
Realism — the game features a dynamic day-night cycle (one in-game day equals 120 real-world minutes) and advanced object physics.
Performance — on next-generation consoles, the developers are targeting a stable 30 FPS using dynamic resolution scaling.
Frame from the Metro 2039 trailer (photo: 4A Games)
The release of Metro 2039 is scheduled for winter (late 2026 – early 2027) for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. Players can already add the project to their Steam wishlist.
What we know about the Metro games
The Metro series is a cult franchise of first-person narrative shooters developed by the Ukrainian-Maltese studio 4A Games, based on novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky.
The events take place in a dark post-apocalyptic world where, after a nuclear war, the remnants of humanity survive in the tunnels of the Moscow metro. Players face mutants and hostile factions while dealing with scarce resources and difficult survival challenges.
Metro 2033, Last Light, and Exodus gained global recognition thanks to their deep philosophical storytelling, survival mechanics, and highly detailed environments that create a strong post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
