Devs reveal Russia-Ukraine war impacted Metro 2039: “Everything we planned changed”

Metro 2039 is scheduled to release in winter 2026, and the next chapter in the series will introduce a new character dubbed “The Stranger” following Artyom’s story. The post-apocalyptic FPS shooter has been fundamentally reshaped by Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to developer 4A Games.

Metro 2039 was revealed via a dedicated Xbox First Look stream, followed by a detailed post on the PlayStation Blog. After Metro Exodus freed players from Moscow to explore the farther stretches of the wasteland, Metro 2039 will drag players back into the decrepit and dark underground Metro tunnels.

A title influenced by real-world events

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed the direction of the game. Executive Producer Jon Bloch of 4A Games explained in the PlayStation Blog post:

“Everything we had planned for the next chapter of Metro changed in 2022. We are so proud to have a new Metro game to reveal to you today. As a Ukrainian studio, we’ve spent the last few years developing Metro 2039, with many of our team having to shelter from drone strikes and use batteries and generators to complete our work.”

He continued, “What’s more, original author Dmitry Glukhovsky is living in exile from his native Russia after being sentenced to eight years in prison (in absentia) for criticizing the invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had a direct impact on our approach to the next Metro.”

“The series has always been about preventing war, but our new reality meant we needed to take a different approach. While this is still an authentic Metro story set in the Metro universe, it’s told from our uniquely Ukrainian perspective. The themes you’ll see in this next chapter focus on the consequences of war, the cost of silence, the horrors of tyranny, and the price of freedom. We can’t wait to show you more of what we’ve been working on as we head toward the release this winter.”

A new Führer rules the roost

The story picks up in 2039, after the events of Metro Exodus, when all factions are under the direct banner of the Novoreich, led by a new Führer known as the legendary Spartan Ranger Hunter. While he promises the Metro's inhabitants a fresh start on the surface, the tunnels are plastered with propaganda and disinformation, and civilians live in fear.

That’s where the new protagonist, “The Stranger,” steps into the picture: a loner haunted by nightmares who is forced to return to the Moscow Metro.