4A Games, the studio behind the Metro franchise, is teaming up with Saber Interactive to explore ways of bringing multiplayer to its next title. The developer is quick to point out this will not impact single-player, as a dedicated team will focus on Metro's multiplayer mode.
The news was announced in a lengthy 10th Anniversary blog post on the developer's website. While it mentions development has begun on the next Metro game, not much else about the game was revealed. We know it's being built for next-gen consoles and PC using an overhauled version of the studio's engine – but details are still tightly under wraps.
However, 4A did divulge a bit more about multiplayer and what we can expect to see moving forward. Now that Saber Interactive is working with 4A, it finally has the resources to explore different online options when it comes to the Metro universe. That being said, the team understands single-player is the heart and soul of Metro right now and is doing everything in its power to ensure the next game has a campaign just as strong as its predecessors.
"We're… committed to ensuring that whatever we do, it's not to the detriment of our single-player ambitions. We'll need a dedicated team focused solely on the online component, and this is what our new partnership with Saber can bring; years of expertise, technology, and know-how to help us realise our ambitions."
Before you get too excited – or nervous – it's worth pointing out that multiplayer isn't guaranteed to be in the next Metro game. 4A Games' post mentions, "none of the thoughts above mean that the next Metro game will be multiplayer only; or that the next game will have single and multi-player in the same package. We are still figuring things out, but know that we are absolutely committed to more single-player, story driven experiences in the Metro universe that our fans have come to know and love."
For more info about 4A Games, Metro, and related topics, check out the full blog over at 4A Games' official website.