The Metro 2033 franchise is getting a new lease of life in 2024 with the arrival of Metro Awakening. Spearheaded by VR veterans Vertigo Games, this VR entry will be no mere port. Instead, it’ll be an original entry into the series. So let’s see where Metro Awakening fits in the timeline, shall we?
The original Metro 2033 was a novel written by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky. It was 4A Games and publisher Deep Silver that then wove its apocalyptic tale into a much-loved videogame. As the title indicates, the first entry in the Metro video game series takes place in a dystopian 2033. An apocalyptic event all but wiped mankind from the face of the earth in 2013 – so thankfully that hasn’t happened – forcing the few remaining survivors underground.
As you probably already know, this saw Moscow’s Metro system become the home and focal point from here on out.
Metro Awakening Timeline
While the rest of the franchise (Metro: Last Light (2013), Metro: Redux (2014) and Metro Exodus (2019)) moved the franchise forward, the VR instalment looks back. In all of those games mentioned, you take on the role of Artyom, who was raised in the haunting Metro tunnels. As they progress, the games move from the confines of the underground to a sprawling open world, with Exodus providing a variety of locations in Moscow and throughout desolated Russia.
Metro Awakening VR, meanwhile, will take place before all of these. It’ll be set in 2028, and for the first time, feature a new protagonist. Players will be stepping into the shoes of a doctor called Serdar, who’s on a mission to find and reunite with his wife. Why is she missing, how did they get separated? We don’t know at this point. Just the fact that she desperately needs medication. What we do know is that Glukhovsky is on hand to pen the tale – so it’ll be in keeping with the rest of the franchise. Teasingly, the narrative will see players: “walk the line between life and death, the spirit and the material world.” There are definitely some supernatural events going on.
We’re also looking forward to unearthing more details about this apocalyptic future. A 2024 launch has been slated for PSVR 2, Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3, and PCVR headsets on Steam. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait until the end of the year to find out.
What are your expectations for Metro Awakening? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
