Metro 2039 developers say the war in Ukraine has changed how they write morality in the series. Executive producer Jon Bloch said the previous Metro games focused on preventing war and the cycle of violence. But after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the developers’ real-life experiences changed their approach. "When Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, that brought war to our doorstep. Now, our team has been living in a state of war for the last four and a half years. And that changes things. Significantly." Bloch said the series is moving away from the idea of grey morality in some situations, especially when dealing with authoritarian regimes. “The grey morality of the past needs to be more defined now. It needs to be more specific and clear.” “It’s uncomfortable [that] the franchise’s very nature is getting too close to reality.”