Metro 2039 is "much darker" than its predecessors, but most importantly it's a statement of intent

We've been waiting for a new Metro game for a long, long time. Exodus was released back in 2019, seven years ago. Metro Awakening was a VR-exclusive, and while it reviewed relatively well, I don't know anyone who's played it. Metro 2039, then, has some big shoes to fill. Set in the heart of a post-armageddon Russia, it's not a game that misses and hits the wall. Its central narrative engages with themes of death, tyranny, and political manipulation, coalescing under the shadow of a ruined Saint Basil's Cathedral. "Our games explore what humans were before the world ended… The meaning has always been about preventing war," creative director Andriy 'mLs' Shevchenko says. "But 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," co-creative director Pavel Ulmer continues. I don't think I have to explain the parallels between Metro 2039 and real life.

Thrust into the shoes of The Stranger, you're tasked with journeying into the depths of the Moscow metro, a place that he'd rather forget. There's movement in the tunnels, however: Russia's factions have united under the banner of the Novoreich, led by its new Fuhrer, the legendary Spartan, Hunter. His regime is authoritarian, and his propaganda machine is working double time - it's your job to put an end to it.

For the first time in the series' history, the player character is fully voiced, which I'm incredibly thankful for. Silent protagonists often ruin the immersion for me (Dragon Age: Origins gets me every time), and in an FPS game like Metro 2039, where atmosphere is key, this will make everything feel a bit more real. I'm excited to see how The Stranger's character takes shape; those dreams are certainly something.

In terms of action, we catch a brief glimpse of what to expect at the end of the Xbox First Look showcase. Underground, The Stranger earns the ire of a particularly nasty-looking creature, and flees further into the metro to escape it. I expect tight, close-quarters shooting mixed with elements of survival horror, as well as the return of some familiar weapons and your trusty wristwatch.

Developed in Ukraine despite disruption from the Russian invasion, Metro 2039 is a uniquely Ukrainian experience. It still hits all of the core tenets of both the game and Dmitry Glukhovsky's novels, but is described as the most "shocking" entry yet. The eerie, dragon-like monsters hanging off the buildings in the Red Square certainly took my breath away, as did the introductory shot of what appears to be myriad deceased children. I've always loved the Metro games for their grit, and 2039 doesn't look like it's skimping on that.

While there's no official release date for Metro 2039, it's expected to launch in the winter of 2026. I'd expect it to drop in Q4, presumably between October and December. It's worth noting that the GTA 6 release date is still pegged for November, so, despite the clear differences in genre and gameplay, I'd expect 4A Games to try and avoid November.

I've never been one to shy away from the darkness, and Metro 2039 has that in droves. But, I also have a degree in War Studies, and have interviewed Ukrainian developers before about their struggles creating videogames in a city under siege. Experiences like that change people: it's clearly changed the 4A team. How that, in turn, affects the Metro experience is yet to be seen, but I have a feeling that this will be the rawest game 4A has ever made - and that's a good thing.