A note on the Redux upgrade for existing owners

[Professor Pew]

When we announced Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux earlier this year, we confirmed that PC gamers who owned the original title would benefit from a 50% discount against the corresponding ‘Redux’ version.

We thought this was a great offer – but while there are many who are clearly very happy with the deal, it's been made clear on the Steam discussions here that there are others who think we have not done enough for owners of the existing games.

Some think we should have released these as ‘free’ updates, or offered a bigger discount (particularly on Metro: Last Light Redux).

This response blindsided us a little. We have taken our time to review the concerns and arguments and offer a proper response.

So here it is:

Almost the entire team of around 80 people at 4A Games will have been working on the Metro Redux titles for almost a year by the time we release next month. It has been a substantial project for the studio, with three main elements:

• Significantly updating the 4A Engine, adding (amongst many other features) Global Illumination and terrain tessellation, as well numerous performance enhancements
  
• Upgrading Metro: Last Light to run in this engine, while adding some minor features such as Check Watch and Check Inventory, and some significant ones such as the new 'Survival' play style
  
• Completely re-building Metro 2033 to run in the new 4A engine, with the new and improved Last Light gameplay framework; and adding new content and assets

For sure, Metro 2033 Redux is a far more significant upgrade over the original than Metro: Last Light Redux (and we're not trying to pretend otherwise).

We think the 50% discount is more than fair for the amount of work that has gone into this title. It is a complete remake of the original game in the latest engine, that will offer a significantly different experience from the original throughout with improved graphics, performance and gameplay.

Metro: Last Light Redux, we will readily admit, does not represent as significant a change over the original. So why the same 50% discount and not more? Why not just patch the game?

The latter proved to be impossible for a technical reason. Because of the changes to the engine, which necessitated dropping 32-bit support; we literally could not 'patch' the game.

In fact, both Redux games will exist as new titles in your Steam libraries, and the originals will still be there.

So why ‘only’ a 50% discount, the same as 2033?

We felt that because the Redux version also included the DLC in addition to the new game mode and enhancements, that was also a fair price.

But we understand that for those of you who already had the DLC, the offer is not as compelling - again, we are not pretending this is as significant an overhaul as Metro 2033. And we did consider alternatives – e.g. 50% if you only owned the base game, 75% if you owned all the DLC – but these ideas raised a number of practical / logistical challenges.

In the end, a flat 50% discount was judged to be the simplest, fairest solution. Ultimately, you are free to vote with your wallets.

If you have already bought Metro: Last Light, with or without the DLC, and you feel that we are not offering enough to tempt you to upgrade - that's fine.

We are extremely grateful for your support for the original game - we do not expect you to purchase the Redux version, nor do we feel entitled to your custom. Make your own decision based on whether you think that $12.49 (or the local currency alternative) is worth the asking price, and we will respect that.

We know this response will not please everyone – but even though you still might not agree with the rationale, we do hope you understand that our goal was to reward, not exploit, existing owners while still making a viable business model that allowed this Redux project to go ahead on PC as well as console.

And for newcomers to the series who have yet to experience the world of Metro, we hope that you will enjoy what we believe is an extraordinary amount of content, painstakingly remastered at great length to the highest standard, for a fantastic price.

[RIOT|Stalkermaster]

Thanks for taking the time to post this
its greatly appreciated to hear from your perspective as well as clearing things up which many people have debated about
Thanks again :)

[Gvaedyn]

Heh...I just randomly visit the forums and low-and-behold this was only posted three hours ago.

I pre-ordered both redux's as soon as they were announced/made available. I love the Metro games, and the 50% discount was more than enough to entice me. That, and I always feel the need to support good development studios.

All I can say is, thank you for clearing things up for those who aren't as happy with the decision as people such as myself. I understand you've worked extremely hard on these updates and I for one appreciate it. Keep up the good work!

[Soup Dragon]

As the others have said, I greatly appreciate this post - thank you for not only answering the community's queries but doing so in a calm and respectful manner. It is encouraging to see a big studio talk to the fans in such a down to earth way.

[johncage]

charge us 13 bucks for metro 2003 redux, but for godsakes, and by your own admission that development was smaller scale and less significant, the last light redux update should be free!

[jbailey8]

Thanks for the news update, you got my money! Keep up the good work!

[Spartacus_QC]

Pre-order both redux the same day it got announce ! You deserve every penny and thank you for taking the time for us .I cant wait ;)

[THE PILGRIM]

HAHAHAHAHA still such a rip. Put those man hours and 80 workers on something worthwhile. like a new game or something LOL. Not satisfied by this response.

[RIOT|Stalkermaster]

Originally posted by GAY-BRIEL ANGE-LOOSE:

HAHAHAHAHA still such a rip. Put those man hours and 80 workers on something worthwhile. like a new game or something LOL. Not satisfied by this response.

For all we know this could just be a filler untill the next metro game

[THE PILGRIM]

AHHH YES THE NEXT METRO GAME. Well I won't be getting the next METRO game or pre ordering it. I will be getting it a year later when they release the triple redux EFF customers in the butt mega pack. Won't be buying they're games until they finish them. Like last light redux, which is being finished this month. Finally coming out of alpha I guess LOL.

[RIOT|Stalkermaster]

Originally posted by GAY-BRIEL ANGE-LOOSE:

AHHH YES THE NEXT METRO GAME. Well I won't be getting the next METRO game or pre ordering it. I will be getting it a year later when they release the triple redux EFF customers in the butt mega pack. Won't be buying they're games until they finish them. Like last light redux, which is being finished this month. Finally coming out of alpha I guess LOL.

Stopped reading after alpha
I also preordeded last light and apart from one glitch thee game ran fine
many people had problems becauss they didnt understand advanced physics which left AMD users with shotty framrates etd
the game ran fine for many people so could you explain what you mean by the game being alpha?

Now you talk about them possibly releasing a redux version of tbe next metro
but you forgot why this redux was happening. To bring both 2033 and light to next gen consoles, while they did this they decided to include pc users into the fray. Now the next metro will obviously be relessed on next gen so a redux version seems unnecessary

[THE PILGRIM]

stopped reading after alpha and missed what? Three words? LOL, I hope the redux does very well. I wish this company all the best in the coming years. Not something I would think people need or want but hey if they do well then who am I to say? Also what I meant by it being in alpha was just a cheeky comment about how the redux is a more complete version of the game making the old one seem obsolete like a previous version of a completed alpha game. And seriously, I will feel like I have an obsolete version of the game. Glad steam is going to add the ability to hide games. Have a nice day lol.

[RIOT|Stalkermaster]

Originally posted by GAY-BRIEL ANGE-LOOSE:

stopped reading after alpha and missed what? Three words? LOL, I hope the redux does very well. I wish this company all the best in the coming years. Not something I would think people need or want but hey if they do well then who am I to say? Also what I meant by it being in alpha was just a cheeky comment about how the redux is a more complete version of the game making the old one seem obsolete like a previous version of a completed alpha game. And seriously, I will feel like I have an obsolete version of the game. Glad steam is going to add the ability to hide games. Have a nice day lol.

Um have a nice day to?
Last light and 2033 are far from obsolete as they are for many people classics
hiding games is nice though

[THE PILGRIM]

Obviously have a nice day to you, the person I was having a discussion with. *rolls eyes so hard it hurts*

[妺喜]

"But we understand that for those of you who already had the DLC, the offer is not as compelling - again, we are not pretending this is as significant an overhaul as Metro 2033. And we did consider alternatives – e.g. 50% if you only owned the base game, 75% if you owned all the DLC – but these ideas raised a number of practical / logistical challenges.

In the end, a flat 50% discount was judged to be the simplest, fairest solution. Ultimately, you are free to vote with your wallets."

LOL WUT sound like lazy excuse for me, to not give progressive discount to who already have MLL complete / have all DLC.

I will wait until reach $5 then for MLLR.

[RIOT|Stalkermaster]

Originally posted by GAY-BRIEL ANGE-LOOSE:

Obviously have a nice day to you, the person I was having a discussion with. *rolls eyes so hard it hurts*

Your rudeness is not appreciated