Very few game franchises have managed to evoke the haunting beauty of a post-apocalyptic world quite like the Metro series.
Born from the depths of the Moscow Metro, this first-person series charted a course through the irradiated ruins of Russia, offering gamers an immersive take on survival horror action. Now, as developer 4A Games marks the fifth anniversary of Metro Exodus, whispers have begun to form, hinting at the next chapter in the fictional saga.
It’s been half a decade since Metro Exodus, the third installment in the series, took us on a journey across a Russia ravaged by nuclear fallout, where mutated beasts lurked and what remains of humanity clung to survival in scattered enclaves. With a blend of tight corridor shootouts and expansive, desolate landscapes, Metro Exodus proved to be a critical and commercial success, selling over 10 million copies and cementing its place in the halls of legendary first-person shooter titles.
A recent tweet has now revealed that the wheels are in motion for something new, a development that fans of the series have been waiting for with bated breath. The official Metro Twitter account disclosed that a 2024 VR spin-off, Metro Awakening, is in the works, with VR studio Vertigo Games leading the charge.
Metro Exodus turns 5 years old today, and has now sold over 10 Million copies.
Metro will return in VR with Metro Awakening from @vertigogames in 2024 – and the next mainline Metro from @4AGames…
When it’s ready
Thank you for coming on the journey so far with us. pic.twitter.com/qlOW9du4Jc
— Metro (@MetroVideoGame) February 15, 2024
As for the next mainline entry in the Metro universe, all we got was a cryptic answer, “When it’s ready,” implying 4A Games is currently working on a sequel to Metro Exodus. A map was also shared, depicting the journey the Metro series has taken since its inception in 2010 with Metro 2033, but it seems that’s all the information available at this point.
From what we can gather so far, Metro Awakening is a clever way for Embracer Group, the Swedish company that owns the Metro IP, to keep the Metro series relevant in the gaming community and also take it into a new frontier with VR. Metro Awakening will be set before the events of Metro 2033 with an entirely new protagonist, essentially making it a prequel.
Embracer Group recently revealed its quarterly earnings report, and the Metro series was not among the list of franchises with upcoming releases. Though some might view this as a negative, the upside is that 4A Games is not being pushed to develop a Metro Exodus sequel within a certain timeframe.
By stating that the next Metro mainline title will be released “when it’s ready,” we can take comfort in the thought that 4A Games will take its time to create something worthy of the franchise’s great reputation.
For newcomers and veterans alike, there’s never been a better time to dive into the Metro series, with sales and promotions making it easier than ever to lose yourself in this post-apocalyptic fantasy. Head over to GOG.com and snag yourself the Metro Franchise Bundle, which currently has an 84% discount. For only $9.51, you can get Metro 2033 Redux, Metro: Last Light Redux, and Metro Exodus and its DLCs (“The Two Colonels” and “Sam’s Story” DLCs).
