{
  "id": 3532144,
  "title": "Metro 2039 devs say the ongoing war in Ukraine has changed how they write morality: 'The franchise's very nature is getting too close to reality'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/metro-2039-devs-say-the-ongoing-war-in-ukraine-has-changed-how-they",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T15:12:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/metro-2039-devs-say-the-ongoing-war-in-ukraine-has-changed-how-they-write-morality-the-franchises-very-nature-is-getting-too-close-to-reality/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Metro series, rooted in a post-apocalyptic war-torn world, explores complex themes of human morality and the consequences of authoritarian regimes. The developers behind the games, 4A Games, a studio based in Ukraine, have firsthand experience of the ongoing war and its impact on their work.\n\nExecutive producer Jon Bloch explains that the previous games in the series focused on preventing war, but the studio's proximity to the conflict has shifted the team's perspective on morality. In a real-world scenario, where authoritarian regimes are on the rise and causing widespread harm, the developers believe that the grey areas of morality depicted in the past games are no longer sufficient. They need to clearly define the concept of evil and its consequences in the game's narrative.\n\nCo-creative director Pawel Ulmer adds that the studio has a unique opportunity to showcase the potential outcomes of failing to prevent war. Despite the studio being created in a world already devastated by war, they aim to create a game that remains politically relevant and engaging. The franchise has always touched on the dark realities of war, propaganda, and the cost of others' ambitions, but the developers acknowledge that their work is becoming increasingly aligned with the harsh realities of the current world.\n\nThe developers emphasize the importance of their work in these challenging times, as they believe that art, including video games, has a crucial role to play in addressing the serious and often horrifying circumstances we face today.",
  "summary": "\"Our team has been living in a state of war for the last four and a half years.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Metro Ukraine among group's top four companies by cash flow – CEO",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/metro-ukraine-among-groups-top-four-companies-by-cash-flow-ceo",
        "published": "2026-08-26T17:17:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}