4A Games#Technology

{{Infobox company

| name = 4A Games Limited

| logo = 4A Games Logo 2015.svg

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Video games

| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2006}} in Kyiv, Ukraine

| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Andrew Prokhorov|Oles Shyshkovtsov|Alexander Maximchuk}}

| hq_location_city = Sliema

| hq_location_country = Malta

| num_locations = 2

| num_locations_year = 2025

| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Dean Sharpe (CEO)|Andrew Prokhorov (creative director)|Oles Shyshkovtsov (CTO)|Alexander Maximchuk (CIO)}}

| products = Metro series

| num_employees = 200+{{cite web |url=https://embracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Embracer-Annual-Report-and-Sustainability-Report-2021.pdf |title=Embracer Group Annual Report & Sustainability Report 2020 / 2021 |date=25 August 2021 |publisher=Embracer Group |access-date=12 September 2021 |archive-date=25 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825223946/https://embracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Embracer-Annual-Report-and-Sustainability-Report-2021.pdf |url-status=live}}

https://www.4a-games.com.mt/4a-dna/2025/2/28/4a-games-studio-update

| num_employees_year = 2025

| parent = {{ubl|Saber Interactive {{nowrap|(2020–2024)}}|Embracer Group {{nowrap|(2024–present)}}}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.4a-games.com.mt/|4a-games.com.mt}}

}}

4A Games Limited is a Ukrainian-Maltese video game developer based in Sliema, Malta. The company was founded in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2006 by three developers who departed from GSC Game World. In 2014, 4A Games moved its headquarters to Sliema, wherein one Kyiv office was retained as a sub-studio (which became independent and was rebranded in 2025 as Reburn). The company is best known for developing the Metro video game series.

History

= Foundation =

4A Games was founded by former developers from GSC Game World: Andrew Prokhorov, Oles Shyshkovtsov, and Alexander Maximchuk; they, together with Sergei Karmalsky, formed the core team of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, which was in development at GSC in the early and mid-2000s.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/28/games-from-the-real-world-post-apocalypse |title=Games from the Real-World Post-Apocalypse |first=Rich |last=Wordsworth |date=28 January 2014 |website=IGN |access-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219020203/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/28/games-from-the-real-world-post-apocalypse |archive-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/9/8/4568598/stalker-fallout-gsc-game-world |title=Stalker fallout: Polygon traces the exodus from Kiev's legendary GSC Game World |first=Charlie |last=Hall |date=8 September 2013 |website=Polygon |access-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328115749/https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/9/8/4568598/stalker-fallout-gsc-game-world |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }} Prokhorov had disliked that Sergiy Grygorovych, the chief executive officer (CEO) of GSC, prioritized money over his employees, withholding royalties for games the company had produced. The situation came to a high point when the two fell out over wages in 2006, leading Prokhorov and two of the company's lead programmers—Shyshkovtsov and Maximchuk—to leave the company and found a new studio, 4A Games, with the intention to treat its employees better than Grygorovych did.

= ''Metro'' series =

The company's first game was Metro 2033, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky that was announced in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5387467/metro-2033-shooter-brings-apocalypse-to-moscow |title=Metro 2033 Shooter Brings Apocalypse to Moscow |first=Brian |last=Crecente |date=22 October 2009 |website=Kotaku |access-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824043921/http://kotaku.com/5387467/metro-2033-shooter-brings-apocalypse-to-moscow |archive-date=24 August 2016 |url-status=live }} The game was released in March 2010 on the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows to generally favorable reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/metro-2033/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Metro 2033 Critic Reviews for PC |website=Metacritic |access-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425030820/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/metro-2033/critic-reviews |archive-date=25 April 2017 |url-status=live }}

Following their initial success, 4A Games began work on the sequel, Metro: Last Light, which was announced during the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo convention.{{cite web |url=http://hexus.net/tech/news/industry/30714-e3-2011-metro-last-light-announcement-trailer/ |title=E3 2011: Metro: Last Light announcement trailer |first=Steven |last=Williamson |date=6 June 2011 |website=Hexus |access-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052028/http://hexus.net/tech/news/industry/30714-e3-2011-metro-last-light-announcement-trailer/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }} The game faced several issues during its production, whose release date was delayed from 2012 to 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/thq-troubles-continue-delays-metro-2033-seeks-help-warhammer-mmo/ |title=THQ delays Metro: Last Light, seeks help with Warhammer 40K MMO |first=Matt |last=Bradford |date=3 February 2012 |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012203821/http://www.gamesradar.com/thq-troubles-continue-delays-metro-2033-seeks-help-warhammer-mmo/ |archive-date=12 October 2016 |url-status=live }} The most significant setback for the company occurred in January 2013, when the game's publisher, THQ, closed down after declaring bankruptcy and auctioning off its intellectual properties. The publishing rights to the Metro 2033 franchise, including the sequel, were sold to Koch Media for $5.8 million on 22 January, allowing the company to finish making the game.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/23/3908254/koch-media-bidding-on-volition-and-metro-franchise |title=Koch Media offers $22.3M for Volition and $5.8M for 4A Games' Metro franchise in THQ auction |first=Alexa Ray |last=Corriea |date=23 January 2013 |website=Polygon |access-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426122552/http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/23/3908254/koch-media-bidding-on-volition-and-metro-franchise |archive-date=26 April 2013 |url-status=live }} Metro: Last Light was finally released on 14 May 2013, and was published by Koch Media's video game label, Deep Silver.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/01/metro-last-light-release-date-announced |title=Metro: Last Light Release Date Announced |first=Luke |last=Karmali |date=1 March 2013 |website=IGN |access-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922172823/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/01/metro-last-light-release-date-announced |archive-date=22 September 2016 |url-status=live }}

On 30 March 2014, a remastered re-release of both Metro titles, under the name Metro Redux, was leaked, and confirmed the day after. The compilation was released in August 2014 for eighth-generation platforms.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/5/22/5739550/metro-redux-trailer-2033-last-light |title=Metro 2033 and Last Light get remastered Redux on PS4, Xbox One and PC this summer |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=22 May 2014 |website=Polygon |access-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412051502/https://www.polygon.com/2014/5/22/5739550/metro-redux-trailer-2033-last-light |archive-date=12 April 2019 |url-status=live }} In 2017, the company released a virtual reality game, Arktika.1.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/metro-2033-developer-announces-arktika1-an-oculus-touch-exclusive-fps/ |title=Metro 2033 developer announces Arktika.1, an Oculus Touch-exclusive FPS |first=Andy |last=Chalk |date=6 October 2016 |website=PC Gamer |access-date=9 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109222243/http://www.pcgamer.com/metro-2033-developer-announces-arktika1-an-oculus-touch-exclusive-fps/ |archive-date=9 November 2016 |url-status=live }}

During the 2017 E3 convention, at the Microsoft press conference on 11 June 2017, a new game, Metro Exodus, was announced for a 2018 release. Gameplay was shown to both announce the game and act as a graphical showcase for Microsoft's native 4K-focused update to the Xbox One hardware, Xbox One X.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/11/e3-2017-metro-exodus-announced-for-2018 |title=E3 2017: Metro Exodus Announced for 2018 |first=Jonathon |last=Dornbush |date=11 June 2017 |website=IGN |access-date=12 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611221633/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/11/e3-2017-metro-exodus-announced-for-2018 |archive-date=11 June 2017 |url-status=live }} The game was released in 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/metro-exodus-delayed-to-2019/ |title=Metro Exodus delayed to 2019 |first=Joe |last=Donnelly |date=16 May 2018 |access-date=16 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516172023/https://www.pcgamer.com/metro-exodus-delayed-to-2019/ |archive-date=16 May 2018 |url-status=live }}

= Expansion =

On 12 May 2014, amidst the Russo-Ukrainian war, 4A Games announced that they were to expand by opening a new studio in and moving their headquarters to Sliema, Malta to allow for easier operations inside the European Union. At the same time, the Kyiv studio became separately owned and continued to operate for Eastern European operations.{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=20 August 2014 |title=Ukraine's 4A Games lands in Malta: 'We are not betrayers' |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/20/6048533/ukraines-4a-games-lands-in-malta-we-are-not-betrayers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920171102/http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/20/6048533/ukraines-4a-games-lands-in-malta-we-are-not-betrayers |archive-date=20 September 2016 |access-date=16 September 2016 |website=Polygon}}{{Cite news |last=published |first=Joshua WolensContributions from Andy Chalk |date=2025-02-27 |title=Metro 2033 dev pulls a reverse Fight Club twist: It's been two companies this whole time and one of them is changing its name and making a sci-fi shooter in a dystopian South America |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/metro-2033-dev-pulls-a-reverse-fight-club-twist-its-been-two-companies-this-whole-time-and-one-of-them-is-changing-its-name-and-making-a-sci-fi-shooter-in-a-dystopian-south-america/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}} It kept the 4A Games name, operating as 4A Games Ukraine until February 2025, when it was rebranded as Reburn, while the original company continued to operate as 4A Games Limited. After the release of the Metro Exodus DLCs, 4A Games Limited opened a second studio in Kyiv.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-28 |title=4A GAMES STUDIO UPDATE |url=https://www.4a-games.com.mt/4a-dna/2025/2/28/4a-games-studio-update |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=4A Games |language=en-US}}

4A Games Limited was acquired by Saber Interactive under the Embracer Group for approximately {{USD|36 million}} in August 2020. The publisher of the Metro series, Deep Silver, was already a part of the Embracer Group via Koch Media, making the acquisition a "sensible one" for both groups.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/thq-parent-company-embracer-has-purchased-i-metro-i-dev-4a-games-and-others | title = THQ parent company Embracer has purchased Metro dev 4A Games and others | first = Chris | last =Kerr | date = 13 August 2020 | access-date= 13 August 2020 | website = Gamasutra }}{{cite press release | url = https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-acquires-4a-games/ | title = Embracer Group Acquires 4A Games | date = 13 August 2020 | access-date = 13 August 2020 | publisher = Embracer Group }}

Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Saber Interactive stated that all employees at 4A's Kyiv studio can relocate to other Saber-owned companies abroad if they choose to.{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/dmarket-ukraine-russia-vlad-panchenko-4813a5e1-8138-43d7-a2a3-5875d239c9c5.html|title=Tech CEO flies workers out of Ukraine as fear of invasion looms}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/EmbracerInvest/status/1494797082150023168|title=I pray everyone in Ukraine stays safe during this rough time. "4A and the other Saber-owned studios with presences in Kyiv all have the option of working in one of our other locations abroad if they choose to." --Saber Interactive $EMBRAC representative}} Like other Ukrainian video game studios, it became involved in the campaign to organize funds and support for Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Inwazja Rosji na Ukrainę - cios w gamingowe serce Europy? |url=https://www.logo24.pl/Logo24/7,154809,28285304,inwazja-rosji-na-ukraine-cios-w-gamingowe-serce-europy.html |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Logo24 |language=pl}}

In March 2024, Saber Interactive was sold to Beacon Interactive, a new company from Saber co-founder Matthew Karch. Many of the studios under Saber, including 4A Games, were not included in the sale. Embracer will retain the rights to the Metro series through its Plaion subsidiary.{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2024-03-14 |title=Saber Interactive Splits From Embracer, Taking 38 Video Game Projects With It |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/saber-interactive-splits-from-embracer-taking-38-video-game-projects-with-it |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=IGN |language=en}}

= Technology =

Oles Shishkovtsov and Oleksandr Maksimchuk split from the development of S.T.A.L.K.E.R because that "its inherent inability to be multi-threaded, the weak and error-prone networking model, and simply awful resource and memory management which prohibited any kind of streaming or simply keeping the working set small enough for 'next-gen' consoles" along with its "terrible text-based scripting", which he explained led to the delays in the original game.{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2010 |title=Metrospective: 4A Games vs. Digital Foundry |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-metro2033-article |access-date=December 29, 2017 |website=Eurogamer}}

There have been accusations that the 4A Engine is a modified version of the X-Ray engine used in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series, instead of an original development. 4A denied the accusations.{{cite web |date=February 18, 2010 |title=4A Games dismisses Metro 2033 engine rumours |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/4a-games-dismisses-metro-2033-engine-rumours |access-date=December 29, 2017}} Shishkovtsov also noted that porting the original engine to consoles would have proved extremely difficult.

Games developed

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+ ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Platform(s) ! scope="col" \| Publisher(s)
scope="row" \| 2010 \| Metro 2033 \| Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 \| THQ
scope="row" \| 2013 \| Metro: Last Light \| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 \| rowspan="2" \| Deep Silver
scope="row" \| 2014 \| Metro Redux \| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
scope="row" \| 2017 \| Arktika.1 \| Microsoft Windows \| Oculus Studios
scope="row" \| 2019 \| Metro Exodus \| Amazon Luna, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S \| Deep Silver

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Platform(s)

! scope="col" | Publisher(s)

scope="row" | 2010

| Metro 2033

| Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360

| THQ

scope="row" | 2013

| Metro: Last Light

| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360