4A Games

GameRant sat down with Metro 2039 co-creative director Pawel Ulmer and executive producer Jon Bloch ahead of the game's February 2027 launch. The throughline: patience. 4A Games built the franchise on what it internally calls "frozen stories," handcrafted environmental details that reward slowing down instead of sprinting to the next objective. As Bloch put it: "You need to slow down, absorb the atmosphere, think, look, listen. That's the type of experience that Metro is." It's a design philosophy that runs counter to most modern shooters, and it may explain why Metro has long been one of gaming's most misunderstood franchises. A good read for anyone interested in how narrative design and pacing shape player behavior. Read our full interview: https://lnkd.in/gFNpmiSd

Our colleagues from Kyiv also joined us at our booth in Cologne this year! With civilian flights from Ukraine still unavailable, getting to gamescom takes a little more planning than simply booking a flight. The team had to find the safest and most practical way to make the journey, that meant more than 30 hours on the road. Apollinariia Nepsha, our Senior VFX Artist, shared what the trip looked like: “We planned the journey well in advance and were choosing between taking a train and then flying, or travelling by bus. In the end, we went with the bus — the price and overall travel time were almost the same, while the train option felt more risky because of ongoing attacks on railway infrastructure and delays during air raid alerts. The whole journey took around 31 hours, including six hours at the border. It wasn’t an easy trip, but looking back, it was absolutely worth it. No one can take away our gamescom 2026 experience, the new friends, unexpected discoveries and reunions with old ones. I believe that one day, a ticket to gamescom will once again sit next to a ticket from Boryspil”. A very special shoutout to our Kyiv team for making the long journey and being there with us in Cologne! 💙 💛

🏆 The Best Visuals award at gamescom goes to METRO 2039! We’re incredibly honored to see our world, atmosphere, and art direction recognized at such a major event. Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by, played the demo, and shared their impressions with us. Come see us on the show floor for two more days!

The show floor is OPEN! Here is how to find us in Hall 9 — we can't wait to welcome you to the tunnels of METRO 2039.

"The Spartans were wolves in helmets... ...but I am something worse." The Renegade gameplay trailer gives you a glimpse into the mind and world of The Stranger. https://lnkd.in/eFFhUtXg Coming February 2027.

"The Spartans were wolves in helmets... ...but I am something worse." The Renegade gameplay trailer gives you a glimpse into the mind and world of The Stranger. https://lnkd.in/eFFhUtXg Coming February 2027.

We have an important update for everyone looking forward to METRO 2039 and hoping to own a real piece of its world. Today, we’re sharing a first look at the METRO 2039 Collector’s Edition, which will be available to pre-order later this year. When creating the Collector’s Edition, we wanted to offer fans more than just another collectible. We wanted to bring a piece of METRO’s post-apocalyptic world beyond the game itself.  The result is a full-scale replica of the Stranger’s helmet, carefully recreated from the in-game 3D model. The Spartan Helmet is one of the most recognizable elements of the METRO universe and an essential piece of equipment for those brave enough to face the dangers of the post-nuclear world. Its integrated gas-mask components, custom details, scratches, scuffs, and other signs of wear make it feel as though it has survived years of expeditions, battles, and harsh conditions both on the surface and underground. Gamescom visitors will be able to see the helmet in person at our booth in Hall 9 later this week! Watch the full teaser here: https://lnkd.in/e_NJPKrs

METRO 2039 is coming to gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25! Tune in at 8PM CEST / 7PM BST / 11AM PDT to catch the next trailer. Visiting gamescom? We’ll see you on the show floor!

On International Cat Day, we’d like to give a little shoutout to the furry assistants behind our team, so meet some of our colleagues’ cats! The ones who keep a close eye on our calls, supervise our work from the keyboard, and remind us that sometimes it’s good to step away from the screen. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to game development!