Dovetail Reveals "Metro Rivals: New York," an Arcade Subway Sim Coming in 2026
In Metro Rivals: New York, players step into a near-future New York City where the subway system has been carved into 10 fiercely contested districts. Each is controlled by one or more of the five Track Titans – larger-than-life celebrity drivers who dominate their territory with unrivalled skill, enormous social media influence, and unshakable reputations. These figures guard their turf with ferocity, and only the most talented newcomer has any chance of challenging their dominance.
Players begin their journey with nothing but a hand-me-down train and a determination to rise. To succeed, they must take on a variety of missions, earn cash fares, upgrade their train’s performance, build a loyal following, and win respect. This journey is about more than speed; it requires strategy, precision, and cool-headed execution.
With authentic simulation at its heart and adrenaline-fueled gameplay running through its veins, the game blends strategy and story-driven action in a way that demands both nuance and skill. From high-stakes rivalries to carefully planned upgrades, Metro Rivals: New York offers a fresh and thrilling take on the train sim genre.
In addition to its single-player campaign, the game features an intense PvP mode where up to four players can compete online or with friends. Here, drivers race to stop at designated platforms, but victory is not determined by speed alone. Players are scored on their ability to handle their train with precision and control under pressure, and only the competitor with the highest score leaves with the spoils and the bragging rights – and a place at the top of the asynchronous leaderboards.
For those seeking a more relaxed experience, Metro Rivals: New York also includes options for players to set their own paths, hop into their train, and enjoy the sights of the city (and their train!)
And for players’ trains to be the envy of everyone on the rails, customization plays a large role. Players can express themselves with extensive options to upgrade their train’s performance, apply unique skins and liveries in signature colors, and personalize their character’s appearance to stand out on the tracks. There will be in-game purchases, but these will be entirely cosmetic. No pay-to-win.
This release also signals Dovetail Games’ first foray into Unreal Engine 5 development, offering more deeply immersive experiences than ever before with tools such as Nanite, Lumen, and procedural generation designed to create a world that feels intensely alive. Working with Reactional Music, players’ sessions will pulse with the same rhythm that players will feel when shooting down the subway to beat a Track Titan.
Rob O’Farrell, co-CEO of Dovetail Games, said: "Metro Rivals: New York marks a bold new chapter in the Dovetail Games portfolio, offering a real sense of pick-up-and-play, thrill, speed, and excitement within the simcade genre. By merging our deep knowledge of trains with the expertise and talent of our development teams, and by harnessing Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen, Nanite, and procedural generation, we are confident this will deliver an incredibly immersive and exciting experience for players to enjoy in both single-player and our first-ever train multiplayer experience.
"We are also excited to announce we are working with the team at Reactional Music, introducing its procedural music engine into Metro Rivals: New York. Reactional real-time musical interactivity means music is fully native and cinematically integrated in the game, even when swapping tracks."
Gemma Brown, co-CEO of Dovetail Games, summarizes the experience: "Metro Rivals: New York feels gritty, fast-paced, and full of energy. It keeps you on your toes and blends the attitude of New York with the thrill of a competitive simcade racing experience – think Crazy Taxi meets Need for Speed: Underground. Early feedback from our new on-site Playlab has been fantastic, and we can’t wait to get it into players’ hands next year."
Metro Rivals: New York is being developed for Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with release planned for early 2026. Players can wishlist the game now and sign up to the official mailing list via https://metrorivals.com/gb/
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