Developer 4A Games and publisher Deep Silver have officially confirmed Metro 2039, the highly anticipated fourth mainline installment in the post-apocalyptic shooter franchise. The announcement comes after leaked gameplay footage surfaced over the weekend, prompting Microsoft to formalize plans for an Xbox First Look showcase dedicated exclusively to the upcoming title. The reveal event is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK time, and will stream as a YouTube Premiere on the official Xbox channel.
According to IGN, the announcement was preceded by accurate reports from industry leaker NateTheHate, who correctly predicted both the game’s title and reveal date. Xbox Wire Editor Will Fulton emphasized the franchise’s longstanding relationship with the platform, stating that Xbox is honored to provide fans with their first glimpse at this new chapter in the series. While story and gameplay specifics remain under wraps until the showcase, the confirmation marks a significant milestone for fans who have waited seven years since 2019’s Metro Exodus.
The Metro series, based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s acclaimed novels, has chronicled the harrowing journey of protagonist Artyom and fellow survivors navigating a nuclear-ravaged Russia. Previous entries—Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus—have earned critical praise for their atmospheric tension and immersive survival-horror gameplay. As Eurogamer notes, 4A Games first confirmed work on a new Metro project back in November 2020, meaning the title has been in development for nearly six years.
Metro Exodus represented a bold evolution for the franchise, bringing the traditionally claustrophobic underground action to the surface for an open-world journey across a devastated landscape. GameSpot highlights that the 2019 release featured a charismatic crew and expansive environments that departed from the tunnels of earlier games, earning widespread acclaim in the process. The extended development cycle for Metro 2039 suggests another potential reinvention of the formula.
With Glukhovsky’s final Metro novel, Metro 2035, published in 2015, questions remain about whether the new game will follow an original storyline or continue adapting the author’s work. The franchise also expanded into virtual reality last year with Metro Awakening, demonstrating 4A Games’ commitment to exploring different dimensions of the post-apocalyptic world. Thursday’s showcase promises to answer many lingering questions about what direction Metro 2039 will take.
The timing of the announcement comes amid speculation about other industry showcases this week, with unconfirmed rumors suggesting Sony may hold a State of Play event as well. For now, Metro fans can mark their calendars for Thursday’s Xbox First Look, which will provide the definitive first glimpse at a sequel that’s been years in the making.