Metro 2039 is almost here, launching on February 4, 2027, and it brings the franchise to current-generation consoles. But before that, developer 4A Games is giving the first two games a next-gen refresh. Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light will get updated versions on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
The two older games were technical marvels when they launched, but they have not aged gracefully. Metro 2033 got an initial remaster back in 2014, but it still struggles with modern hardware. Tweaks are needed every time the writer returns to play it. These next-gen updates should finally fix some of those bugs.
How the Console Update Looks
The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will run at either native 4K at 60 frames per second or an upscaled 4K at 120 hertz. PS5 Pro gets PSSR, while Xbox consoles use traditional temporal upscaling.
PC Gets DLSS Support
On PC, the update adds DLSS support. There are also some unnamed quality-of-life improvements included.
Patch Notes Coming Before Release
4A Games has not shared full details yet. The company promises to publish full patch notes ahead of the October 22 release on PC and October 29 release on consoles. That timing means players will know exactly what is changing before the update ships.
What Is Actually Changing
The update is about stability and performance, not visual overreach. The writer notes that 4A is not adding ray tracing or anything crazy to the older games. That means Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light should be more stable than they were when they launched in 2010 and 2013.
For players who do not want to push their hardware to the limit, this is good news. The older games have demanded a lot from graphics cards over the years, and the writer clearly remembers that pain.
Hands-On With Metro 2039
The writer has already gone hands-on with Metro 2039, the upcoming title in the series. It looks like a brutal post-apocalyptic shooter, exactly what the franchise should be. The visuals seen so far are impressive, and the writer expects the game to push PC hardware again.
The RAM Crisis Problem
There is one caveat. Metro 2039 launches in the middle of an ongoing RAM crisis. That could limit its already niche appeal when the benchmarks start rolling out. The writer hopes 4A Games finds a way to make the game scalable at launch for once.
A Lifelong Fan’s Take
The writer is a lifelong PC gamer, and all three Metro games hold a special place in their heart. The older games put the writer’s graphics cards through torture in the past, but the writer is ready for the fixes. As long as the games are more stable, they are all in.
The next-gen updates arrive on October 22 on PC and October 29 on consoles. They address real problems that have been building for years.
Key Facts Box
- Metro 2039 launches February 4, 2027
- Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light update arrives October 22 on PC, October 29 on consoles
- Metro 2033 launched in 2010, Metro Last Light in 2013
- PC version adds DLSS support
- Console versions run at native 4K at 60 fps or upscaled 4K at 120 hertz
What to Watch
- Full patch notes before October release
- How Metro 2039 handles the RAM crisis at launch
- Whether the older games actually run more stable after the update
The update is a necessary step. Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light deserve to be playable without constant tweaks.
Source material: “Ahead of Metro 2039, Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light Are Getting Next-Gen Updates,” IGN.
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