Metro (franchise)

Metro
Logo since Last Light
Created byDmitry Glukhovsky
Original workMetro 2033 (2005)
Years2005–present
Print publications
Novel(s)Metro 2033 (2005)
Metro 2034 (2009)
Metro 2035 (2015)
Other
ComicsMetro 2033: Britannia
The Gospel According to Artyom
Graphic novel(s)Metro 2033: Britannia Comic Prologue
Games
TraditionalMetro 2033
Video game(s)Metro 2033 (2010)
Metro: Last Light (2013)
Metro Exodus (2019)
Metro Awakening (2024)

Metro (Russian: Метро) is a post-apocalyptic fiction franchise consisting primarily of novels and video games that began with the 2005 release of Russian writer Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel Metro 2033. It was followed by his sequels Metro 2034 and Metro 2035, as well as by many other books by different authors, including Tullio Avoledo, Pierre Bordage, Robert J. Szmidt and Shimun Vrochek. Ukrainian studio 4A Games created the original novel's video game adaptation Metro 2033, followed by Metro: Last Light and Metro Exodus.

All of the Metro stories share the same setting – the fictional universe of Glukhovsky's novels. Although these described only his own vision of a devastated Moscow, and in particular the titular Moscow Metro system, the works of the extended universe take place in a wide variety of different areas within Russia and elsewhere in a world ravaged by global biological and nuclear warfare.

Video games

A first-person shooter video game titled Metro 2033 was created for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 gaming platforms. It was developed by 4A Games in Ukraine and published in March 2010 by THQ. A sequel, Metro: Last Light, was released in May 2013 on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Redux versions of the games were released in 2014, featuring updated graphics and gameplay with all previously released downloadable content bundled. The Metro Redux bundle was released for the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.[1] A third game, Metro Exodus, was released in February 2019.[2]

Title Details

  • NA: 16 March 2010
  • AU: 18 March 2010
  • EU: 19 March 2010
Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows,
OS X (2014), Linux (2015)
Notes:

  • NA: 14 May 2013
  • AU: 16 May 2013
  • EU: 17 May 2013
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3,
Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
Notes:

  • NA: 26 August 2014
  • AU: 4 September 2014
  • EU: 29 August 2014
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (2020), Stadia
Notes:

15 February 2019 – Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Stadia
Notes:
  • Sequel to Metro: Last Light
  • Development of the game began in 2014 at 4A Games' studios in Malta and Kyiv
  • 10 Million + copies were sold

7 November 2024 – Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5
Notes:

Other novels

The Universe of Metro 2033 (Russian: Вселенная Метро 2033) is a series of short stories, novellas, and novels, spanning a variety of genres ranging from post-apocalyptic action to romance, written by several different authors. Despite being written by various authors, the stories of the extended Metro series are all supported by Dmitry Glukhovsky and advertised on the official Metro website.[4]

Author Title Locations Date of publication
Vladimir Berezin Road Signs Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Tver Oblast, Moscow Oblast December 2009
Sergey Antonov Dark Tunnels Moscow January 2010
Shimun Vrochek Piter Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast February 2010
Sergey Kuznetsov Marmoreal Paradise Moscow Oblast, Moscow May 2010
Andrey Dyakov Towards the Light Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast June 2010
Andrey Erpylev The Yield by Force Moscow July 2010
Suren Tsormudian The Wanderer Moscow September 2010
Andrey Butorin The North Kola Peninsula, Murmansk October 2010
Sergey Antonov In the Interest of the Revolution Moscow November 2010
Alexandr Shakilov War of the Moles Kyiv December 2010
Ruslan Melnikov Murancha Rostov on Don January 2011
Sergey Paliy The Nameless Samara February 2011
Sergey Moskvin To See the Sun Novosibirsk March 2011
Andrey Grebenschikov Below Hell Yekaterinburg April 2011
Anna Kalinkina Ghost-Station Moscow June 2011
Andrey Dyakov Into the Darkness Leningrad Oblast, Saint Petersburg June 2011
Sergey Zaytsev Corpsmen Moscow August 2011
Grant McMaster Britannia Glasgow, Scotland, England, Carlisle, York, Conisbrough, Doncaster, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Leicester, London September 2011
Igor Vardunas Ice Prison Baltic Sea, La Manche, Atlantic Ocean, Africa, Antarctica October 2011
Andrey Butorin Siege of Paradise Kola Peninsula, Polyarnye Zori November 2011
Twenty two Russian authors (edited by Dmitry Glukhovsky) The Last Refuge (short story collection) Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Moscow Oblast, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, Biisk, Sochi December 2011
Sergey Antonov Unburied Moscow January 2012
Andrey Chernetsov, Valentin Lezhenda Blinding Emptiness Moscow, Kharkiv January 2012
Tullio Avoledo The Roots of Heaven Rome, Lazio, Torrita Tiberina, Umbria, Marche, Urbino, Emilia Romagna, Rimini, Santarcangelo di Romagna, Ravenna, Veneto, Venezia March 2012
Anna Kalinkina Kingdom of Rats Moscow March 2012
Zahar Petrov MRLs Minsk May 2012
Suren Tsormudyan Ancestral Heritage Kaliningrad July 2012
Denis Shabalov The Right to Use Force Serdobsk August 2012
"Timofey Kalashnikov" (collective authorship) The World's End (short story collection) Moscow September 2012
Sergey Moskvin Hunger Novaya Zemlya October 2012
Irina Baranova, Constantine Benev The Witness Saint Petersburg November 2012
Andrey Butorin The Daughter of Heavenly Spirit Kola Peninsula, Murmansk December 2012
Andrey Dyakov Over the Horizon Saint-Petersburg, Leningrad, Vologda, Cherepovets, Yaroslavl Oblast, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo Oblast, Tatarstan, Kazan, Bashkortostan, Beloretsk, Yamantau, Orenburg Oblast, Dagestan, Kaspiysk, Primorsky Krai, Vladivostok January 2013
Denis Shabolov The Right to Life Serdobsk, Penza Oblast, Mordovia, Tatarstan, Mari El, Komi Republic, Kirov Oblast March 2013
Sergei Antonov Rublyovka June 2013
Olga Shvetsova The One Standing at the Door July 2013
Ruslan Melnikov From the Depths September 2013
Nikita Averin Crimea October 2013
Dmitri Yermakov Blindmen November 2013
Tagir Kireev White Leopard January 2014
Fourteen Polish authors In the Firelight (short story collection) Moscow, Łódź January 2014
Igor Osipov The Meter February 2014
Andrei Grebenshchikov Sisters of Sorrow March 2014
Tullio Avoledo The Children's Crusade Milan March 2014
Andrey Butorin Mutant April 2014
Dmitry Manasypov The Road of Steel and Hope May 2014
Anna Kalinkina The Host of the Yauza June 2014
Victor Lebedev Born to Crawl July 2014
Sergei Antonov Rublyovka-2 August 2014
Paweł Majka The Promised District Nowa Huta, Kraków, Poland August 2014
Nikita Averin Crimea-2 September 2014
Elona Demidova, Evgeny Shikil The Apostate October 2014
Olga Shvetsova Nobody December 2014
Kira Ilarionova Beast Code January 2015
Eight Polish authors Whispers of the Fallen Kyiv, Moscow, Warsaw, Zwonowice, Radom, Szczecin, Częstochowa, Slovakia, Hungary April 2015
Nikita Averin Crimea-3 July 2015
Robert J. Szmidt The Abyss Wrocław August 2015
Igor Osipov Leshy Never Die September 2015
Victor Lebedev Flying Away October 2015
Sergey Semyonov Through Alien Eyes Nizhny Novgorod December 2015
Dmitry Manasypov Towards the Distant Blue Sea February 2016
Rinat Tashtabanov Countdown March 2016
Fourteen Polish authors Echo of an Extinguished World (short story collection) Warsaw, Zabrze, Kraków, Giewont, Moscow, Stockholm, Dunmore Cave, Gdańsk Bay, Gdynia, Project Riese March 2016
Robert J. Szmidt The Tower Wrocław May 2016
Yuri Ulengov Edge of Humanity June 2016
Maria Strelova Isolation July 2016
Paweł Majka The Promised Man Kraków November 2016
Olga Shvetsova Guardian Demon February 2017
Artur Chmielewski Achromatopsia Warsaw March 2017
Yuri Kharitonov At the Edge of the Abyss May 2017
Denis Shabalov The Right to Revenge Serdobsk, Penza June 2017
Twelve Polish authors In the Ruins (short story collection) Oleśnica, Katowice, Szczecin, Sława, Ostrołęka, Żar mountain, Warsaw, Chicago June 2017
Pavel Makarov Crossroads of Fate July 2017
Sergei Antonov Rublyovka-3 August 2017
Sergey Moskvin Pythia October 2017
Suren Tsormudian The Edge of the Earth January 2018
Shimun Vrochek Piter. War. February 2018
Sergei Nedorub The Red Option March 2018
Dmitry Manasypov Beyond the Ice Clouds April 2018
Suren Tsormudian The Edge of the Earth 2: Fire and Ashes April 2018
Rinat Tashtabanov Raising the Dead May 2018
Dmitry Manasypov Bad Dog June 2018
Sergey Moskvin Pythia-2 June 2018
Olga Shvetsova, Shamil Altamirov Pandora's Box July 2018
Igor Osipov, Olga Shvetsova Running Along the Edge August 2018
Yuri Kharitonov Shelter of Forgotten Souls September 2018
Dmitry Manasypov, Shamil Altamirov Steel Island October 2018
Svetlana Kuznetsova Ouroboros November 2018
Irina Baranova, Konstantin Benev Queen of the Night November 2018
Zakhar Petrov Muos: Purgatory December 2018
Vladislav Vystavnoy The Roof of the World January 2019
Oleg Grach Parad-alle January 2019
Victor Lebedev Blackwater February 2019
Andrei Lisieva The Winter of Mercy March 2019
Tullio Avoledo The Conclave of Darkness March 2019
Zakhar Petrov Muos: The Fall April 2019
Yuri Mori Embryo: The Beginning May 2019
Robert J. Szmidt The Giant May 2019
Dmitry Manasypov Loyal Dog June 2019
Irina Baranova, Konstantin Benev City of Seven Winds July 2019
Sergey Alexeyev Nomad July 2019
Vladislav Vystavnoy The Roof of the World: Carthage August 2019
Yuri Mori Embryo: The Duel October 2019
Shimun Vrochek Piter. Battle of the Twins December 2019
Yuri Mori Embryo: The Fusion January 2020
Victor Tochinov Kovacs' Defense February 2020
Dmitry Blinov Arkaim February 2020
Sergei Nedorub The Lost Clan April 2020
Pierre Bordage Left Bank Paris May 2020
Svetlana Kuznetsova A Palace for Slaves June 2020
Yuri Kharitonov Death of the Octane Gods September 2020
Irina Bakulina, Igor Vardunas The Cage November 2020
Sergey Antonov The Supreme Power November 2020
Sergey Semyonov The Price of Freedom January 2021
Pierre Bordage Right Bank Paris March 2021
Pierre Bordage City Paris April 2022

Translations

Most of the written works of the series were originally released in Russia. Some books from the universe of Metro 2033, like Piter, Towards the Light and Into the Darkness, have been translated to a number of European languages, such as German, Polish and Swedish.[5] Prior to 2014 and the video games Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light, no books in the series were released in a country where English is the prominent language.[6]

Other media

Pyrkon 2015 attendees playing the board game Metro 2033

A graphic novel titled Metro 2033: Britannia Comic Prologue inspired by the prologue of the Metro 2033 novel Britannia was published in 2012. The story was written by Grant McMaster, the author of the novel and is illustrated by Benedict Hollis. It is available as a free download and unlike the novels it is in English rather than Russian.[7]

A Metro 2033 board game based on the original novel was released in 2011. It was designed by Sergei Golubkin and was published by Hobby World.[8][9]

The Metro series was also being developed into films by Michael De Luca and Solipsist Films for MGM, but the deal has been cancelled by Glukhovsky due to his disapproval to their Americanization of his work. A Russian Metro 2033 film adaptation project was announced by the Russian state company Gazprom Media in 2019.[10] The film is now unlikely to be made since Glukhovsky left the country to avoid prosecution and prison for his criticism of the Russian war in Ukraine.

References

  1. ^ Sarkar, Samit (24 June 2014). "Metro Redux launches Aug. 26 on PC, PS4, Xbox One". Polygon. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  2. ^ Brown, Fraser (13 December 2018). "Metro Exodus brings its release date forward by a week". PC Gamer. Future US. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. ^ Kennedy, Victoria (1 February 2024). "Metro Awakening is a series origin story for VR, coming 2024". Eurogamer. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Metro 2033 books" (in Russian).
  5. ^ "Dmitrij Gluchovskij". Coltso Publisher (Sweden). 31 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Metro 2034 in English is finally released". Facebook. 3 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Publications". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  8. ^ "The boardgame "Metro 2033"". BoardGameGeek.
  9. ^ "{Exclusive} Michael De Luca Boards Adaptation Of Post-Apocalyptic Video Game "Metro 2033"". The Tracking Board. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Gazprom Media to Adapt Sci-Fi Epic 'Metro 2033' as Feature Film". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 August 2019.