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Update 11/5/2024: Updated with all the latest information about STALKER 2 ahead of its imminent release date.
• What is it?
• Story
• Game Pass
• Release date
• Announcement
• Platforms
• Mod support
• Trailers
At long last, one of the most highly anticipated shooter games is finally coming out in the next few weeks — STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. First announced many years ago, GSC Game World's survival horror FPS was first scrapped before it resurfaced in 2018, with the studio planning to release the game in late 2022. Due to the onset of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, however, it's been delayed several times as its developers fight to survive while also "working to prove that we cannot be broken."
Indeed, to say that STALKER 2's development has been tumultuous would be a major understatement. But even as the creatives behind it are driven to evacuate their homes and retreat to safer territory, shelter from strikes on Ukrainian citizens, and fight for their homeland on the front lines, they've continued to build what could be one of the biggest game releases of 2024. Ahead of launch, the title is in fifth place on Steam's most-wishlisted games list, and excitement for it is starting to ramp up exponentially now that it's just days away.
Even so, STALKER as a franchise was never particularly mainstream, so lots of folks aren't sure what exactly to expect from it or what it's about. Don't worry, though, because I've covered all of that in the guide below, along with everything you need to know about STALKER 2's release date, Game Pass availability, platforms, and more.
What is STALKER 2?
STALKER 2 is a continuation of a series that GSC Game World started in 2007 with Shadow of Chernobyl, which was the first game in the original STALKER trilogy (ports of it shadow dropped on Xbox and PS5 earlier this year, by the way). It's characterized by its combination of survival elements with tense shooter gameplay, non-linear exploration, and horror-style atmospheres — quite similar to Metro Exodus in many ways, though STALKER is more of a sandbox RPG than 4A Games' FPS. Notably, a recent gameplay deep dive revealed that there are "almost no barriers" in the game and that you'll have the freedom to roleplay and explore as you see fit, with quest outcomes changing in response to how you approach completing them and what happens during your journey.
In the first three STALKER games, encounters were generally designed to feel intense and nerve-wracking. Whether you were fighting scary supernatural mutants or squads of heavily armed mercs, you always felt like you could die at any moment because of how deadly both gunfire and the environment was. Therefore, properly using cover and getting your hands on quality gear and valuable supplies was paramount, as was keeping your head on a swivel as factions and mutant packs dynamically moved around the map. Everything we've seen (and played; read our STALKER 2 preview and hands-on interview) of STALKER 2 so far indicates that it will feel much the same, albeit with significantly improved gunplay (some weapons were wildly inaccurate in the original titles).
The emphasis on survival elements like hunger, sleep, encumbrance, stamina, and radiation was generally pretty light, though finding ways to manage the latter became increasingly important as you approached endgame areas where radiation hotspots were more frequently encountered. The developers have said that there will be a deeper focus on these mechanics in STALKER 2, though, and there will be penalties to things like stamina capacity and weapon handling for anyone who fails to take care of their character's needs.
GSC Game World has also confirmed that, in addition to everything seen before in the older games, new locations, mutants, and artifacts — valuable items that give unique stat buffs when equipped — would all be coming to the game as well. One such mutant is a vicious irradiated deer that'll use its bones as both armor and weapons against its prey, and will also possess the power to control other nearby mutants and create illusory copies of itself. There are plenty of new weapons, outfits, and factions available for players to interact with and use, too, including Ward, a faction that aims to police and control The Zone.
It's known that STALKER 2 will support ray tracing, giving players with advanced hardware the opportunity to push their rig for cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5 visuals. Additionally, the developers are aiming to make each and every stalker in The Zone look unique with tools that allow them to give NPCs distinguishable features. For example, some of the stalkers you encounter may have missing teeth or dental crowns.
Is STALKER 2 multiplayer?
STALKER 2 is primarily a single player game, and won't have any multiplayer at launch. However, GSC has confirmed that a PvP multiplayer experience will be added "soon after the release date." There will be both Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes and you'll be able to customize your character's appearance, but beyond that, very little is known about this multiplayer.
Will STALKER 2 have co-op?
Co-op is something many STALKER fans have wanted for years, but unfortunately, it's not coming to STALKER 2 — at least not at launch. The developers have officially confirmed this, but there's nothing to suggest a co-op mode couldn't come later if the demand for one is high enough.
Is STALKER 2 open world?
Yes, STALKER 2 will be an open-world game, just like the first three STALKER games were. Its inhabitants — fellow stalkers, mutants, and other entities — will be controlled by A-Life 2.0, which is GSC Game World's brand new version of the A-Life simulation system that dictated how NPCs dynamically moved across and behaved within The Zone in the STALKER trilogy. The map itself will have 20 regions in total, including several new ones and returning ones from previous titles that have been expanded.
What is STALKER 2 about?
STALKER 2 takes place in a fictional version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (typically just called "The Zone") that was cordoned off after the infamous 1986 disaster, though in the STALKER universe, a mysterious second catastrophe occurred in 2006 that transformed most people and creatures in the Exclusion Zone into deadly mutants and resulted in the creation of "anomalies" — pockets of supernatural phenomena that dot the landscape and horribly burn, melt, electrocute, or rip apart anyone or anything that gets too close.
Though anomalies are lethal, it was soon discovered that those who braved their dangers could find unique, almost otherworldly items called artifacts they spawn. These artifacts provide special effects to the people who hold them, such as protection from radiation or increased natural healing. Due to how valuable these artifacts are, many have made a living sneaking past The Zone's military blockade to collect and then sell them the outside world. Some have formed factions within the Zone as well, such as Duty, which is a group comprised primarily of ex-Ukrainian military soldiers who want to protect the world from the dangers of the Zone. All of the people who operate within the Zone's borders are known as stalkers.
Little is known about the story of STALKER 2 specifically other than the fact that you'll be in control of a stalker called "Skif," though GSC Game World has stated that the game will feature an "epic, non-linear story" that will be driven by player choice. This is on-brand for the STALKER series, as the three previous games — Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat — all had stories that were influenced heavily by player decisions. Also, the developers have said that you won't need to have played those games to enjoy or understand the story of STALKER 2.
Is STALKER 2 a sequel?
STALKER 2 is indeed a sequel to the original STALKER trilogy, but while we know it "takes place in a modern world," the exact year it's set in is unknown. Since the last game, Call of Pripyat, was set in 2012, though, STALKER 2 could be taking place 12 years later if it's set in 2024.
Is STALKER 2 coming to Game Pass?
When you take all the excitement for STALKER 2 into account, it's not surprising that many are hoping to play the game through Xbox Game Pass — Microsoft's all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service that gives members access to hundreds of games in exchange for a monthly fee. Subscribing to it has become a very popular way to check out new games, though not all titles come to it at launch or otherwise.
STALKER 2, though, will indeed be available through Game Pass on day one, which means you'll be able to jump in on Xbox with Xbox Game Pass Standard, on PC with PC Game Pass, and on both with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate will let you stream the game to a variety of devices with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
STALKER 2 release: When does it come out?
After several delays and setbacks, STALKER 2 has a final release date of November 20, 2024. That's now just a few weeks away, so you'll be able to begin your adventure in The Zone very soon.
At the moment, it's not known whether it will unlock earlier on some platforms or in some regions than others, as GSC Game World hasn't posted a launch map or anything of the sort. I expect that the studio will soon, though, so check back here frequently for the latest information.
When was STALKER 2 announced?
STALKER 2 was initially announced in 2010 after Call of Pripyat's release, but was cancelled in 2012. However, it was revealed back in 2018 that it was resurfacing on GSC Game World's X (Twitter) account. Since then, the developer has been working hard on the game, developing it in Unreal Engine 5 and using photogrammetry for environments and motion capture for animations, according to a Q&A.
During the Xbox Series X July 2020 event, we got our first look at STALKER 2 in a trailer for the game. Following this, the developers at GSC Game World then shared a preview of STALKER 2's outfits and weapons in 2021, giving fans a closer look at the gear they'll be using while exploring The Zone.
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A few months later, a gameplay trailer for the game was released during the Xbox and Bethesda 2021 Showcase. This vertical slice showcased combat with enemy stalkers in The Zone as well as with several mutants, and also demonstrated the power of anomalies. At this time, STALKER 2 was also officially renamed to STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Development of the game was then interrupted by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022, as GSC Game World's headquarters was located in the capital of Kyiv. Many of the developers at GSC Game World have been able to move to Prague in the Czech Republic to escape the conflict, though a number of the studio's employees are still in Ukraine for a number of reasons. Some are currently unable to safely leave the country, with many serving as volunteers or as defenders of their homeland within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the Xbox and Bethesda 2022 Showcase, GSC Game World shared a dev diary that provided a harrowing look at the Ukraine conflict, as well as a new trailer that showcased STALKER 2's opening cutscene.
Additional trailers released as time passed (watch them in the trailers section below), but the impact of the ongoing conflict led to the scheduled 2023 release date being moved into 2024 and pushed to early September. In July, it was delayed one final time to November 20 for polishing, and now — following the release of a documentary film that chronicles the studio's development efforts amid the war — the game is finally almost here.
Is STALKER 2 coming to PS5?
While many PS5 players are no doubt hoping that they'll be able to check out STALKER 2 when it launches later this month, the unfortunate truth for users of Sony's console is that it isn't coming to PS5 at launch. There's no reason to believe it couldn't come to the system in the future, however.
Is STALKER 2 an Xbox exclusive?
STALKER 2 is an Xbox console exclusive — at least for now. It's exclusively launching on Xbox and Windows PC (via the Microsoft Store, Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG), but this may only be the result of a temporary exclusivity deal. After all, Microsoft doesn't own GSC Game World, so while STALKER 2 is exclusive right now, it's not a first-party Xbox release. Because of that, there's a good chance it could come to PS5 at some point post-launch.
Will STALKER 2 be on Xbox One?
Xbox players who haven't yet upgraded to an Xbox Series X|S console will be disappointed to learn that STALKER 2 isn't coming to Xbox One consoles (and very likely won't come to PS4, either, if the game gets a PlayStation release). This is unfortunate for last-gen players, though arguably not surprising given the very high graphical fidelity that GSC is aiming to achieve.
Will STALKER 2 have mod support?
Mods are a huge part of the STALKER community, with talented fans taking advantage of open-source code to create impressive projects like STALKER Anomaly and its various mods and modpacks that deliver a modernized, highly customizable experience. Naturally, many are wondering if STALKER 2 will have mod support, and luckily, it will. On the official STALKER 2 website, it's been confirmed that the game will have this feature, "granting the crafty stalkers freedom to expand and enrich the game universe."
How specifically STALKER 2's mod support will work isn't clear at the moment, but it's worth noting that GSC utilized mod.io to bring mod support to the recently released Xbox and PS5 ports of the original STALKER games earlier this year. The developer may opt to do the same for STALKER 2.
Will STALKER 2 have mod support on Xbox?
While mod support on PC has become increasingly common over the years, it's a rare sight on consoles due to their "closed off" nature. However, GSC has actually confirmed that STALKER 2 mod support is coming to Xbox as well in an interview, which is great news. I'm expecting the developers to use mod.io to achieve this, though the game could have a different system in place.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl trailers
Looking to watch some trailers? We've rounded up every one released for STALKER 2 so far here for easy viewing.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is slated to drop on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (Microsoft Store, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG) on November 20, 2024, and looks like it could be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year. It costs $59.99 to purchase directly, though you'll also be able to play it with Xbox Game Pass.
