- Shares
- 34
The road to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been riddled with delays. Resurfacing in 2018 after an initial announcement – and eventual cancellation – in 2012, it was scheduled to release in December 2022, but wartime circumstances put development on hold. Still, Ukrainian studio GSC Game World was determined to see the journey through, announcing an early 2024 return, which later got pushed back to 5 September.
With the finish line almost in sight, it now faces another hurdle. The post-apocalyptic survival shooter will now launch on 20 November, citing additional time needed to further refine gameplay and bring it up to scratch.
“We know you might be tired of waiting, and we truly appreciate your patience. These two additional months will give us the chance to fix more “unexpected anomalies” (or simply “bugs”, as you call them),” said Yevgen Grygorovych, game director at GSC Game World. “We are always grateful for your ongoing support and understanding – it means the world to us. We’re just as eager as you are to finally release the game and for you to experience it for yourself.”
To smooth over the delay, the team is hosting a Developer Deep Dive with Xbox on 12 August. The presentation is touted as the biggest and most comprehensive update on the game yet, featuring never-before-seen content, such as interviews and behind-the-scenes of the development process; new footage including world overview, various locations, gameplay, and cutscenes; as well as a full video walkthrough of one of the story quests.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl marks the fourth entry in the series, and the first in 15 years. Originally released in 2007, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl was followed up by 2008’s Clear Sky, which served as a prequel, and Call of Pripyat one year later. “Chornobyl” is the Ukrainian romanisation of the nuclear power plant.
The upcoming installment is developed on Unreal Engine 5, and will add multiplayer mode as a free update when it welcomes players back into the Zone on 20 November. “The Heart of Chornobyl has never been beating so loud as it is right now. The Zone is calling for stalkers, who are ready to delve into the non-linear journey through a sinister open world in the Eastern European post-apocalyptic setting,” reads its official description.
“Dangerous mutants and deadly anomalies will not be the only obstacles on your journey. You will feel all the griefs of a new stalker life while searching and consuming rare and valuable supplies — food, drinks, meds, alcohol, etc. Immersive survival mechanics will be enriching the gameplay on the path through the branched storyline.”
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Zheng Yi
