GOONL!NE

THQ have announced the release date for their highly anticipated shooter Metro 2033. The game will launch in North America on March 16th and will follow in Europe three days later on March 19th.

There’ll also be a Limited Edition available too giving you an exclusive shotgun and four art cards by Anton Grechko.

You can find the full PR after the jump.

THQ CONFIRMS RELEASE DATE FOR METRO 2033^TM

Post-apocalyptic first person shooter scheduled to reach North American stores on March 16th; Europe on March 19th – pre-order at selected retailers for bonus content

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. January 28th, 2010 – THQ Inc. today announced that Metro 2033TM, the hotly anticipated first person shooter for Xbox 360® and PC, is scheduled to reach North American stores on March 16th, and European stores on March 19th 2010.

A Limited Edition will be available for both formats, including an exclusive in-game weapon – the formidable automatic shotgun – and four art cards by the Russian painter Anton Grechko, who was commissioned to create a range of artwork inspired by the universe of Metro 2033.

Standard and Limited Edition versions of Metro 2033 are available to pre-order now, with selected retailers offering free Metro 2033 themed Xbox LIVE® Avatar items with every pre-order.

For the latest Metro 2033 news, visit Metro2033Game.com, follow Twitter.com/Metro2033 or become a fan at Facebook.com/Metro2033.

About Metro 2033

Set in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow, Metro 2033 is a story of intensive underground survival where the fate of mankind rests in your hands.

In 2013, the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the earth’s surface into a poisonous wasteland. A handful of survivors took refuge in the depths of the Moscow underground, and human civilization entered a new Dark Age.

The year is 2033. An entire generation has been born and raised underground, and their besieged Metro Station-Cities struggle for survival, with each other, and the mutant horrors that await outside.

You are Artyom, born in the last days before the fire, but raised Underground. Having never ventured beyond your Metro Station-City limits, one fateful event sparks a desperate mission to the heart of the Metro system, to warn the remnants of mankind of a terrible impending threat. Your journey takes you from the forgotten catacombs beneath the subway to the desolate wastelands above, where your actions will determine the fate of mankind.

About Dmitry Glukhovsky
Dmitry Glukhovsky, (born 12th June 1979) is a Russian author and journalist.
Glukhovsky’s first novel, Metro 2033, was originally made freely available via his own website in 2002 and quickly became a cult classic, attracting thousands of readers. A publishing deal followed, and Metro 2033 was eventually released in hard copy in 2005. It has since sold 450,000 copies in Russia, whilst online readers have topped 2 million. The book publishing rights have been sold in more than 20 countries, including Germany where the book has already been released to critical acclaim; and the UK, where it goes on sale later this year. Metro 2033 the game has been in development at 4A Games for just over two years, and the film rights are currently in negotiation with a number of Hollywood studios.

As a journalist, Dmitry Glukhovsky has worked for EuroNews TV in France, Deutsche Welle, and the Russian Television station, RTtv. He writes columns for Harper’s Bazaar, l’Officiel and Playboy.

Glukhovsky has lived in Israel, Germany and France and speaks English, French, German, Hebrew and Spanish apart of his native Russian.

About THQ
THQ Inc. is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox Live logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “THQ”), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the Metro 2033 video game, and are based upon management’s current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ’s financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2009, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.