A one-time inconvenience.
@MetroVideoGame on X has revealed that the physical editions of the upcoming METRO 2039 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will require an internet connection to unlock and launch the game for the first time, as the full game cannot fit on the disc.
@melito2344 METRO 2039 will require an initial download as the game does not fit fully on one disc. To make sure our community gets to experience the game at the same time, you will need an internet connection initially to unlock the game. The game does not otherwise require internet.
— METRO 2039 (@MetroVideoGame) October 15, 2026
Just how large is this game? Considering Sony officially allows PS5 game discs to hold up to 100 GB of data per disc,[1] this means the game is potentially larger than this size. However, this fact alone doesn't prove that the entire game exceeds 100 GB.
Even though the Xbox Series X also uses 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, which can hold up to 100 GB of data on triple-layer discs, their developer documentation specifies a 50 GB limit per Xbox game disc under its standard disc-authoring process, with games requiring more data distributed across multiple discs or delivered through other methods.[2]
In my opinion, a physical copy of a game should offer more than just a disc in a case. Part of the appeal of owning physical games on PS5 or Xbox Series X is knowing I can install and play them without relying on an internet connection. If METRO 2039 requires an online connection for its initial unlock simply because the publisher chose not to distribute the game across multiple discs, it significantly diminishes the value of the physical edition in my eyes. Physical media should offer a sense of ownership, independence, and long-term preservation, not require an internet connection just to access a game I’ve purchased on disc.
I'll most likely hold off on purchasing METRO 2039 until it becomes available on GOG. It's disappointing, especially since I'm currently playing through Metro 2033 Redux, Metro: Last Light Redux, and Metro Exodus on PC and was really looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Sources:
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"PlayStation 5 Launches this November at $399 for PS5 Digital Edition, and $499 for PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive." sonyinteractive.com. September 17, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
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"Microsoft Game Development Kit - Creating discs." learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved October 15, 2026.