Metro 2039 crossed 1 million wishlists in two weeks — here's what to expect
Metro 2039 surpassed one million Steam and platform wishlists within two weeks of its reveal — faster than many of the year's biggest games. Developer 4A Games publicly said the response caught them off guard. The game is slated for a winter 2026 release on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store, though no exact date or price has been confirmed.
The pitch
Metro 2039 is the fourth mainline entry in the post-apocalyptic shooter franchise based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel series. The story picks up four years after Metro Exodus (2019), returning players to the tunnels beneath Moscow. 4A Games describes this as the darkest and most morally complex installment yet — a claim shaped directly by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The studio rewrote the entire planned narrative in collaboration with Glukhovsky, who has been living in exile in the EU after being handed an eight-year sentence in Russia for publicly criticizing the war. The developer team itself operates split between Kyiv and Malta under active wartime conditions.
METRO 2039 has reached 1 million wishlists!
— 4A Games (@4AGames) May 1, 2026
We are blown away to reach this milestone so quickly after the reveal. Thank you for your incredible support, we cannot wait to invite you into the Metro this winter.https://t.co/2WHjhw8Y8w pic.twitter.com/oNBhOsRqFY
The new protagonist is called The Stranger — the first fully voiced main character in the series. Unlike Artyom, he actively participates in dialogue rather than serving as a silent vessel for the player. He returns to Moscow's Metro after years away, intending to tell former residents what the outside world looks like now. Standing in his way: the Novoreich, a neo-Nazi faction previously seen in the franchise that has since consolidated total control of the tunnels, led by a familiar face from the Sparta Rangers.
The competition problem
A winter 2026 window puts Metro 2039 in direct competition with what is expected to be one of the busiest release quarters in years — potentially including GTA 6. The seven-year gap since Exodus adds pressure: loyal fans are ready, but 4A Games needs to hold their attention through a crowded second half of the year.
There's also no word yet on Game Pass inclusion, special editions, or regional pricing. Until those details land, it's hard to know exactly where this fits in a consumer's end-of-year budget.
What is clear: the wishlist numbers signal genuine appetite. A million additions in a fortnight is a strong signal, even if the finish line is still months away.
Source: @4AGames
