4A Games and Deep Silver have stated when we can expect the latest entry in the Metro franchise.

Combining breathtaking gameplay with impressive graphical fidelity, the new video shows the return of tight, claustrophobic stealth-action gameplay, exploration of tunnels and the surface, the signature mechanics of Metro, and survival elements that exist within the game world. In the three-minute premiere, we get a look at the new stealth weapon, the Shatun, as well as a new explosive device that can be added to our equipment while we descend deeper into the dark heart of Metro.

The Metro has been transformed by a powerful new regime and its leader, the fanatical Spartan commander known as Hunter. The protagonist of Metro 2039, the Stranger, is consumed by anger and hatred, lashing out at the Führer for his lies and hypocrisy. As a member of the Spartan Order, Hunter was a legend, a high-ranking and experienced ranger who swore to protect the Metro. The Spartan Order as he knew it lies in ruins, and while the Spartans were once seen as selfless protectors, the Stranger believes that Hunter has become exactly the enemy the Spartans once fought.

As the title suggests, the game is set in 2039, a quarter of a century after nuclear war forced Moscow’s survivors into the Metro tunnels. Hunter’s Novoreich government rules through propaganda, fear, and a staged war against an enemy on the surface. The player does not control Artyom, but a new protagonist, a withdrawn former Metro resident haunted by violent waking nightmares. He is exiled into the wilderness outside the city, but when his past catches up with him, he is forced to return to the Metro and the ruins of Moscow.

After the semi-open-world levels of Metro Exodus, Metro 2039 returns to the series’ signature linear, atmospheric, tension-filled design. Stealth remains an important part of the game’s identity, and official materials highlight the series’ familiar mixture of stealth, violence, immersion, and horror. The developers have also hinted at new dangers both on the surface and underground. The surface in particular is said to be deadlier than ever; it is melting and contaminated by radiation. 4A Games is once again using its internally developed 4A Engine to create the game. The developers have not gone into technical details, but considering that Metro Exodus was the first game to use ray tracing widely with its Enhanced Edition, we can expect the same from this new entry.

Metro 2039 will be released in February for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC, though so far they had only said it was coming in winter.

Source: Gematsu