Metro 2039 Takes Advantage of “Every Game in the Franchise Before It,” Including Ray Tracing

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After years in development, Metro 2039 is coming this Winter! 4A Games recently shared details about the game’s story and some early gameplay footage. We also met the new main character, Stranger, and learned that the game is being built using 4A Games’ own game engine.

Pavel Ulmer, co-creative designer and lead audio designer, explained that the immersive atmosphere and detailed world of Metro are made possible by their in-house 4A Engine, a technology they’ve developed over decades. This custom engine allows the team to directly implement the specific features and unique vision they have for their games, without being restricted by the limitations of off-the-shelf tools. Essentially, they can bring their ideas to life without technical barriers.

Jon Bloch, the executive producer, explained that the development team has the benefit of using the best features from each game in the series as they build the new one. This includes advanced visual effects like ray tracing, which was a key part of Metro Exodus.

We’ve completely rebuilt how we use this technology to deliver a smoother, faster, and visually breathtaking experience. According to creative director Andriy MLS Shevchenko, these tools let us build worlds that are incredibly detailed, realistic, and immersive – as believable as we can possibly make them.

These tools help bring the world of Metro to life, making it feel incredibly real. Every location feels authentic and lived-in, as if you’re actually there – nothing is copied or repeated, and everything feels original and connected to the environment.

Throughout the series, a strong sense of atmosphere has been a key feature, and Metro 2039 really emphasizes this with its ‘Frozen Stories.’ Environments feel genuinely lived-in; you might find personal belongings like bags by the door, spilled tea, or even an unfinished card game next to a body and an empty gun. The spent shell casings suggest the person didn’t survive whatever attacked them.

The aim is to tell a story through the environment itself, without relying on characters speaking. This encourages players to use their imaginations and become fully absorbed in the game world. It also provides plenty of chances for curious players to discover more about the world of Metro.

The game Metro 2039 is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, but its price hasn’t been revealed yet. A short gameplay video has been released, showing familiar elements like the iconic wristwatch and the return of the Nosalises. You can watch it here.

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2026-04-16 21:41