Metro 2039 confirmed for 2026 release, as Russian invasion of Ukraine revealed to have had direct impact on game

Post-apocalyptic shooter Metro is set to return later this year with the confirmation of the next chapter in the series.

It has been seven years since the last main entry in the series, Metro Exodus, was released by developer Deep Silver.

Now, following a turbulent few years for the studio, they have confirmed that their next game, Metro 2039, is set for a 2026 release.

Taking place six years after the original game, and written in collaboration with Dmitry Glukhovsky, author of the original Metro novels, Metro 2039 will see players return to the metro tunnels beneath Moscow.

The game will focus on the story of a city under the rule of the Novoreich, led by a brutal new Fuhrer, Hunter.

Players will be placed in the shoes of The Stranger, a recluse suffering from recurring, violent nightmares forced to return to the Metro to "face the ghosts of his past."

Unsurprisingly, the game's story and development have been impacted tremendously by the war in Ukraine, with the development team spread between Kyiv and Malta.

In a post published on the official PlayStation blog, Jon Bloch, executive producer of Metro's publisher 4A Games, explained the difficulties the team has faced:

"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.

"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 criticising 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 are focused on the consequences of war – the cost of silence, the horrors of tyranny, and the price of freedom."

Alongside the announcement, a roughly six-minute cinematic trailer was also released, showcasing the game's setting.

Metro 2039 is not the first game to have its development severely impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kyiv-based GSC Game World had to postpone development of 2024's Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl following the invasion, with one of its developers being killed in action, and has since been forced to relocate to a temporary office in Prague.

Russian studios have also been impacted by the country's conflict and censorship laws.

Indie studio Odd Meter were forced to relocate to Kazakhstan to complete their 2024 game Indika, while World of Tanks developer Wargaming withdrew from the country in 2022, setting up new studios in Warsaw and Belgrade, and continues to support its Kyiv studio.

Metro 2039 is scheduled to release in winter 2026.

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