Seeking a Broader Audience for Metro Doesn't Mean 'Dumbing Down'

Deep Silver has no plans to dumb down the sort of gameplay found in Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light for future entries in the series, the publisher has said.

The company's CEO provided a mixture of good and potentially bad news for fans of the franchise during Gamescom. He stated the series will "absolutely continue," all but confirming a third title. He also caused fans to worry about what that game might look like when he said the company would "look to [make] it more accessible for a broader gamer audience."

To some, this was taken to mean the next game would be made to appeal to a larger audience, perhaps by simplifying things or making them easier -- the sorts of things its fans don't want to hear. But in a blog post published today, Deep Silver global brand manager Huw Beynon put to bed any of those lingering concerns.

After acknowledging fans concerns that Deep Silver was looking to "dilute Metro's core gameplay values, 'dumbing down' the game in a bid to woo a wider, more 'casual' audience," Beynon stated, "We understand the concern, and we would like to reassure the Metro fanbase that Deep Silver has absolutely no intention of compromising Metro's unique DNA. We completely understand that it is the passion and evangelism of our fans that allowed Metro to grow from a cult hit to genuine, bonafide hit.

"Whatever direction a new Metro game takes (and we are still assembling the drawing boards), it will build on the bleak, post apocalyptic pillars of atmosphere, immersion, challenge and depth that sets this franchise apart from the crowd."

As for what making Metro "more accessible for a broader gamer audience" means, Beynon said this will be accomplished through things like the release of Mac and Linux versions of Metro: Last Light, as well as through "a commitment to ever higher product quality" and "greater strategic investment in the brand."

Fans will no doubt be pleased to hear this is the case, particularly since some were already disturbed by the way Last Light's Ranger Mode -- described as "the way it was meant to be played" -- was released as DLC.

Deep Silver acquired the rights to Metro in January following THQ's collapse.

"Metro is a pulsating, radioactive gem in Deep Silver's crown of rotting zombie flesh," Beynon concluded, "and we believe we can build on the success of Metro: Last Light by doubling down on our unique brand of bleak, Russian, post apocalyptic horror."

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer who spends his spare time agonizing over the final seasons of The X-Files. Check out what he's saying on Twitter and follow him on IGN.

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