As the Metro franchise celebrates its 15th anniversary, developer 4A Games has offered fans a glimpse into the future of the series while acknowledging how the ongoing war in Ukraine has profoundly influenced their creative direction. The Ukrainian studio behind the post-apocalyptic first-person shooter series is planning a year of celebratory events while continuing development on the next Metro installment under challenging circumstances.
War's Impact on Development
The development of the next Metro game has been significantly affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. 4A Games revealed that the conflict has fundamentally changed their storytelling approach, with many developers drawing from their lived experiences during wartime. The team stated that themes of conflict, the struggle for power, the horrors of tyranny, and the price of freedom have become part of their daily lives over the past three-plus years, inevitably shaping the games they create. This real-world context has led to what they describe as an even darker story for the upcoming Metro title.
Studio Operations During Conflict
Despite the ongoing war, 4A Games continues to operate with a team of over 200 developers. Approximately 150 team members remain in Kyiv, Ukraine, while the rest work from the company's headquarters in Sliema, Malta. The challenging circumstances have affected their development timeline, with the studio asking fans to manage expectations regarding the reveal of the next Metro game, adopting a ready when it's ready approach. It's worth noting that it has already been more than six years since the release of Metro Exodus, the most recent mainline entry in the series.
4A Games current structure:
- Total team size: 200+ developers
- Kyiv office: ~150 developers
- Malta headquarters: Remaining team members
- Currently working on: Next Metro game and an unannounced IP
Collaboration with Dmitry Glukhovsky
The studio confirmed their continued partnership with Metro franchise creator Dmitry Glukhovsky for the upcoming game. 4A Games praised Glukhovsky's courage in speaking out against the war in Ukraine from the beginning, a stance that resulted in him being sentenced to eight years in prison in absentia by a Moscow court in 2023 for allegedly spreading false information about Russia's armed forces. The developer expressed pride in having Glukhovsky as a friend and co-creator as they work together on what they call the never more relevant chapter of Metro.
Anniversary Celebrations
To mark the 15th anniversary of Metro 2033, which will officially fall on March 16, 2025, 4A Games has announced plans for a year of special events. Fans can expect deals, celebratory content on Metro social media channels, and other activities designed to thank players for their support throughout the franchise's history. The studio released a new video and blog post expressing gratitude to the community while teasing what's to come in 2025.
Metro franchise timeline:
- Metro 2033 - Released March 16, 2010 (celebrating 15th anniversary in 2025)
- Metro: Last Light - Released May 14, 2013
- Metro Exodus - Released February 15, 2019
- Next Metro game - In development, no release date announced
Studio Clarification
4A Games took the opportunity to clarify that their upcoming Metro sequel and new IP project are separate from the work of Reburn (formerly known as 4A Games Ukraine), which is now an independent studio developing a sci-fi co-op FPS called La Quimera. This distinction was previously made clear by 4A Games in February when they wished Reburn success with their new venture.
As development continues under extraordinary circumstances, 4A Games promises that fans are in for quite the ride with the next Metro installment, which they describe as the most relevant chapter in the series to date.