Not counting the Awakening VR spinoff, it has been six long years since the last Metro game was launched to the market. But it seems developer 4A Games is shaking up its plans for Metro 4, according to a leak. The report said that the next entry in the beloved post-apocalyptic series might be moving away from its original ambitions. The developer is also continuing its work on another gritty and dark space-themed sci-fi project.
It’s said that work on the game began in 2020 with a focus on creating a fully open world. However, for reasons unknown, the team decided to scrap those plans after two years of development. The project was rebooted later that year and now aims to deliver large open explorable areas while sticking to a more traditional linear structure.
Metro 4 promises to expand familiar environments such as the Moscow Metro and its surrounding areas. Iconic factions like Hanza are also set to make their return. It also mentioned that Metro 4‘s art direction remains in the capable hands of Sergei Karmalsky, ensuring the foreboding atmosphere the series is known for. But the most significant departure from previous games is the choice of protagonist.
Longtime series lead Artyom will reportedly not be the main character this time around. Still, Exodus has been the perfect send-off for him and this could open new story opportunities and potentially fresh gameplay dynamics.
Interestingly, the hard work of the team at 4A Games does not stop there. The Metro 4 leak adds that work has resumed on their ambitious AAA project: codenamed EOLLA. Often described as a ‘STALKER in space,’ the project was started between 2011 and 2014. After some internal trouble, it returned to active production at the end of 2023.
While these leaks are unconfirmed, they come from a source with a strong track record of providing reliable insider information. Called ‘Вокруг билдов метро’ or ‘All Around Metro builds’ according to Google Translate, this leaker has shared unfinished game builds and unreleased trailers before. Fans of the series can only hope that these changes and future project will offer another memorable experience. Let’s just hope it doesn’t make us wait in the dark too long.
