The long-running development of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will continue into 2023. Given that it was initially planned (and even shelved) ten years ago, fans of the original post-nuclear fallout survival-horror/shooter hybrid may be anxiously anticipating this gorgeous-looking sequel from GSC Game World. Here is everything we currently know about the formerly troublesome, now promising genre-bender while we wait for the game to release.
Stalker 2's scheduled debut
The original release date for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl was 2021, however that date has already passed. Later, Stalker 2 was scheduled for release on April 28, 2022, however that date has also passed.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine since then has had a direct impact on the development team, and while progress has continued, it has done so rather slowly. As a result, the game is not yet scheduled for release. Even in the midst of a chaotic event like a real-life conflict, it's feasible that the team is not far off from completion given that it was previously set for 2021.
Following the outbreak of hostilities, Xbox released a trailer in support of the development teams operating in Ukraine and occasionally in the line of fire. As you can see for yourself in the video below, the GSC Game World team received a lot of attention. You may have also noticed that the title of the game was significantly altered to reflect the Ukrainian pronunciation of "Chornobyl."
Platforms for Stalker 2 and Game Pass
Launching on PC and Xbox Series X|S is Stalker 2. For subscribers to Xbox Game Pass on both PCs and consoles, it will also go live on day one. Although a PlayStation release has not yet been announced, a leak seems to indicate that the game will be an Xbox timed-exclusive for three months. After that, the game might come to other consoles, though a Switch release seems doubtful (unless it's a cloud edition) given the game's hefty system requirements and status as a current-gen exclusive.
The long-running development of Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl will continue into 2023. Given that it was initially planned (and even shelved) ten years ago, fans of the original post-nuclear fallout survival-horror/shooter hybrid may be anxiously anticipating this gorgeous-looking sequel from GSC Game World. Here is everything we currently know about the formerly troublesome, now promising genre-bender while we wait for the game to release.
Stalker 2: What is it?
The long-awaited mainline successor to the 2007 cult masterpiece Stalker: Shadow of Chornobyl is called Stalker 2. The game, which at the time was a PC exclusive, quickly produced two sequels, the first in 2008 and the second in 2009. A fourth game, which was supposed to bring back the use of numbered entries for the series, was initially scheduled for 2011 but was scrapped in 2012 due to a lack of funds.
The numbered mainline sequel appeared to have vanished for years, but in 2018 Stalker 2's re-announcement gave it new life. The game received a complete introduction during the Xbox Games Showcase that year, which took held as part of an extended E3 replacement series of online presentations in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, after a brief teaser via a single screenshot in the spring of 2020.
In Stalker 2, players will once more assume the position of a gas mask-wearing, rat-eating survivor in and around the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, the scene of the historic 1986 disaster that caused agony for generations of people who were exposed to the consequences of the nuclear reactor.
GSC Game World described the gameplay in which you take on the role of the titular Stalker, a bounty hunter who explores the polluted zone in search of valuables and secrets. The company promises that whether or not you are present to watch events, the monsters and groups within the zone will interact with one another in a virtual live environment.
It also offers a branching plot with a ton of alternate endings dependent on your decisions, as well as one of the largest open worlds ever. The narrative will be non-linear, which might provide more context for the game's interpretation of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
NFTs
When GSC Game World revealed that Stalker 2 would feature NFTs, the company stirred some controversy. It was announced that special in-game objects were under development. They were planned to be initially auctioned in an auction house, after which ownership would be passed to players. If they could find purchasers, those players would then be able to resell their goods for a profit. This is the goal of NFTs in games, and GSC Game World was hoping to be one of the pioneers. However, almost as soon as the team unveiled its ideas, it encountered resistance from detractors who cited the NFTs' pyramid scheme-like structure and environmentally disastrous effects.
The following day, GSC Game World briefly tweeted a statement that appeared to be a mixture of an apology and a reiteration of its ambitions, but it was shortly removed. A short while later, the team released another, much shorter statement announcing the cancellation of all intentions to use NFTs in Stalker 2.
Trailers for Stalker 2
The above cinematic reveal trailer from the Xbox Games Showcase is the first time we've seen the game to date. More recently, a developer diary—which you can view below—gave us our first look at actual gameplay sequences.
We first learnt that the game would be included in Game Pass for Xbox and PC at launch and that it would be delayed until April 2022 in the summer of 2021. Later, after the Russia-Ukraine war, it was postponed until the end of the year before being completely dropped.
The team released its most recent trailer this past summer despite a tumultuous work environment, stressing the updated 2023 release window and showcasing more of the game. The trailer almost plays like a defiance against the invaders of their native land.
The system requirements for PC play have not yet been disclosed by GSC Game World. We are aware that the Xbox Series X|S console version won't work on an Xbox One build because it will be native to the hardware.
Order Stalker 2 now
For a while, Stalker 2 was up for presale on both of its announced platforms, Xbox and PC (via Steam). However, more recently, reports claimed that Xbox was canceling preorders and giving refunds, most likely due to the hazy conditions in which the game is still being developed. Preorders are still accessible on Steam as of December 2022, so it's probable that Xbox's decision has to do with how it likes to handle shady preorders as opposed to Valve.
It is anticipated that this break in preorders for Stalker 2 will only be that. Preordering the game on Xbox ought to be back soon.
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