Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux have officially received free next-generation upgrades for Xbox Series X|S consoles. Following initial reports from early October regarding these enhancements, the updates are now live for digital owners, bringing the titles in line with modern hardware capabilities. While the upgrade is available immediately, players should note that previous save files will not carry over to the new versions, requiring a fresh start for those upgrading.
Physical disc owners can also access these improvements through the Xbox Disc to Digital programme. By inserting their discs and claiming the digital license, users are eligible to download the next-gen update. To install the 'Next-Gen Update' versions, players need to press 'Y' on the Xbox dashboard, input 'Metro Redux', and navigate to the specific Xbox Series X|S versions of each game.
The technical highlights of this upgrade include native True 4K resolution at 60FPS and an upscaled 4K option running at 120FPS on Xbox Series X. The update also introduces Xbox Play Anywhere support, optimization for Xbox Ally and Ally X devices with 4A TSR upscaling and antialiasing, and significant visual overhauls. These improvements encompass Screen Space Global Illumination, increased geometry details, run-time tessellation and displacement, higher quality textures supporting 4K, improved PBR materials, and enhanced lighting, shading, shadows, and particle effects.
Audio and control features have also been refined, with the addition of spatial audio support, improved sound quality, and impulse triggers for Xbox controllers. The update includes a comprehensive list of stability fixes addressing issues such as black screens when resuming from suspend, crashes after Quick Resume, and graphical corruption on modern hardware. Specific gameplay bugs were resolved, including enemies detecting players through walls or darkness, weapons getting stuck in reload animations, and various progression blockers.
For Metro 2033 Redux specifically, the patch fixes issues where the Demon freezes during its grab attack in the "Outpost" chapter, performance problems in "Torchlight," and a bug preventing weapon collection from the armorer at the game's start. It also resolves freezing mechanics involving Khan and his men in the "Khan" chapter, stuck cutscenes in "Library," unresponsive mechanisms in "D6," and missing ending cutscenes. Additionally, fixes address instant death in toxic areas despite wearing a gas mask and achievement unlocking failures.
Metro: Last Light Redux receives targeted fixes for the bear boss fight in "The Garden," where the enemy would remain knocked out indefinitely, blocking progress. The update restores stealth knockouts and kills from the "Revolution" chapter onwards, resolves crashes when purchasing the RPK at the Venice armory, and fixes progression issues in the "Khan" DLC. It also corrects a bug where players could end up out of bounds after falling into water in the "Nightfall" chapter.
Regarding save data for Microsoft Store versions, the update explicitly states that saves will not transfer to the upgraded version. However, the Chapter Select feature is unlocked, allowing players to start any chapter with a default set of equipment if they choose not to begin from the very start.
Sources: Pure Xbox.