Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the next hotly anticipated entry in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise. The game is releasing over 13 years after the last entry in the series, and it’s making its debut on consoles as an Xbox Series X exclusive.
Developer GSC Game World was forced to delay this title after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began and uprooted the team members’ lives. Despite the hardships and tragedy every member of the team no doubt suffered, and all the sacrifices they made, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was not abandoned and the team pushed on to continue developing the game.
To get you up to date on the postapocalyptic survival shooter, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
Stalker 2 release date
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl got one (hopefully) last delay and will now launch on November 20, 2024.
Platforms
Stalker 2 is an Xbox console exclusive. The game is launching on Xbox Series X and Series S, as well as PC. When it launches, the game will be available through Xbox Game Pass. Although a release date for PlayStation 5 hasn’t been announced, leaked internal documents revealed that the game will only be a console exclusive for three months.
That doesn’t mean the game is coming to PS5, though. Tetris Effect: Connected was also named in the documents with six months of console exclusivity. This updated version is coming to PS4 in July, but not PS5. GSC Game World says Stalker 2 won’t come to last-gen systems due to limited performance capabilities.
Trailers
Microsoft showed off Stalker 2 with an in-engine trailer during the Xbox Series X game showcase in 2020. It shows the grim, desolate wasteland through a series of striking images, setting the brooding tone the game will likely have. You can watch the first trailer below.
As far as the story is concerned, the official site invites players to “Discover the vast Chornobyl Exclusion Zone full of dangerous enemies, deadly anomalies, and powerful artifacts. Unveil your own epic story as you make your way to the Heart of Chornobyl. Choose your paths wisely, as they will determine your fate and shape the future of the Zone in the End.” This heavily implies that, much like the first game, your actions will make a big impact on how the narrative wraps up. Beyond that, not much is known about what the actual story will be aside from it being non-linear and focusing on bounty hunters seeking treasure in the Zone.
Another trailer was revealed during the Xbox Extended Games Showcase in 2022 that is all about an area known as the “Zone” that could potentially “reveal a whole new world” according to the voices we hear. When a truck drives into this area, all the electronics begin to malfunction, the road cracks and concludes with a shot of debris floating around a small beam of light.
Showing up at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, this trailer finally gives a name to our main character, Skif. He meets up with Richter as the two step out into the overgrown wilderness. That’s unfortunately all the plot we’re given as the rest of the trailer is focused on the action with some snippets of narration.
Gameplay
Microsoft debuted gameplay for Stalker 2 during its E3 2021 press conference. The trailer cuts in scenes of gameplay with a group of survivors huddled around the campfire. You can watch it below.
The trailer shows off a lot of interesting gameplay systems. The first is the ability to grab attachments for your weapons around the environment and immediately attach them. It shows the player grabbing a scope and a silencer and equipping them right away without going through an inventory screen.
It also shows off several enemy designs, including an updated Bloodsucker design that looks strikingly similar to Cthulhu. True to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, the visuals look insane in the gameplay trailer. However, Microsoft didn’t clarify what system the gameplay was running on.
Following the announcement, GSC Game World released a commentary video detailing some of the interesting points from the gameplay reveal.
While we do see a lot of action, survival mechanics will still be involved. Hunger, radiation, and stamina all need to be managed in this open-world game.
The last look from the Xbox Games Showcase had plenty of gameplay clips, but a few notable things we saw were the enemy variety. Among the normal humans with firearms and melee weapons, there are mutated animals and massive monstrosities stalking the Zone you will need to contend with. There will also be safe zones where you can interact with other NPCs and presumably trade for items and supplies.
Preorders
Preorders for Stalker 2 have returned after being temporarily discontinued on the official store page.
Regardless of the version, all preorders come with an exclusive preorder pack, which includes extended campfire content, exclusive weapon and armor skins, and an early bird multiplayer badge.
There are several different versions available for preorder. On the digital front, the Standard Edition includes the game, the preorder bonus pack, and exclusive Steam content. Here’s what’s included with the other digital versions:
Deluxe edition
- $80
- All Standard edition content
- Special extra quest
- Digital artbook
- Official soundtrack
- One costume and three weapon single-player skins
- Two costumes and three weapon multiplayer skins
Ultimate edition
- $110
- All Deluxe edition content
- Three costumes and seven weapon multiplayer skins
- Two story expansions
- Season pass
In addition, GSC is offering four physical versions of the game. The Standard version comes with the game plus a preorder bonus, a steelbook case, a letter from the developers, a souvenir zone permit, and a sticker pack. Here’s what the other versions include:
Limited edition
- $80
- All Standard edition content
- Zone map
- Poster
- Faction patches
- Military token
- Multi-tool with fire starter
Collector’s edition
- $180
- All Limited edition content
- Deluxe digital content
- Collector’s art steelbook
- Art book
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. figurine
Ultimate edition
- $340
- All Collector’s edition content
- Ultimate digital content
- Ultimate art steelbook
- Artifact Container lamp
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. backpack
