release date, map, location, weapons, latest news and rumors

Too many years have passed since the arrival of the first S.T.A.L.K.E.R., but finally we have it closer than ever. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl will be a reality with its proposal for an apocalyptic future after more than a decade of work by GSC Game World. The Ukrainian developer has long drawn out the work.

And there are several production problems that have hindered the progress of the project, including graphics engine change. There are many novelties to review, so we are going to go point by point to break down everything you need to know to delve into radioactive terror.

Release date on PC and Xbox Series

The hardest question to answer so far. In principle, everything pointed to the fact that on April 28, 2022 we could play it, but not everything has gone as well as expected. A delay confirmed that his arrival would finally take place on December 8 this year, although the war has intervened in the life of Ukraine.

What we do know is that It will arrive at launch on Xbox Series X/S with Xbox Game Pass and on PC through the Epic Games Store. In the case of PS5 users, there is no indication if or when it will come to Sony’s console.

Development News

The truth is that the story behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 it is dilated. You have to go back to 2010 to find the first mention of the project by GSC Game World, although financial and staff problems hit the studio hard. Such was the severity of the wound that the developer was dissolved

In 2014, a former GSC Game World developer created his own studio, West Games, and submitted a Kickstarter for a work called Areal. The idea was regain the spirit of the original STALKER and act as a pseudo sequel, but user criticism fell on crowdfunding. Several screenshots of STALKER and Unity files were used to promote the proposal, which ultimately did not catch on.

At the end of the same year, GSC Game World managed to reform itself and now we jump back in time. We go to 2018, when STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl is mentioned for the first time, which was shown during E3 2021 and announced its jump to Unreal Engine 5 in August of the same year.

At the end of 2021 the controversy broke out about the game. GSC Game World announced that the metaverse would be introduced to the title, even with NFTs. Criticism was voracious about this line of work that allowed scan a few to introduce them to the work. Therefore, it was decided to back down and abandon the idea. However, the war has twisted many things for the studio.

As you have been able to read before, the war in Ukraine has completely paralyzed the country from its usual activities. Of course, GSC Game World is no stranger to it. Therefore, the development of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is in a state of suspension

In a shared video From GSC Game World we have learned that the team is focusing its efforts on “helping our employees and their families to survive. The development of the game took a back seat. But we will definitely continue. After the victory. Glory to Ukraine”. Even the name of the game has changed, since now we no longer read the city of Chernobyl, occupied by Russian troops, but the official title is with the word Chornobyl. In this way, the Ukrainian orthography is faithfully reflected against the Russian one.

The most radioactive apocalypse

We already know what awaits us in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Mutants, misshapen creatures and ruthless factions have been around since 2006, making the fight for survival a real challenge. All in all, there are still enough resources to plunder, leading the so-called STALKER to venture into the region to hoard it all.

However, one hidden truth lies in the heart of Chornobyl and maybe we’ll be the ones to find out what it is. As long as the mutations leave us alone and for this, their behavior will have to be fully studied.

There are not only different species, but subtypes within each of them, which rest in refuges full of large groups. As if that were not enough, there are anomalies produced by radiation that make no sense, but are very dangerous, so you will also have to avoid them.

An open world full of dangers

A S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl It is played in a radioactive zone of 64 km², which offers us a totally post-apocalyptic atmosphere. We talk about a photorealistic open world and that we will play alone, at the same time that we take different paths to decide what kind of story we want to live.

There are weapons of all kinds, taking into account the variety of factions. Some are friendlier than others and between the corsage of 30 variations We will have to choose what equipment we want, to which we must add hundreds of possible modifications for each one. Terror will also be the order of the day, as we will have moments of pure tension in which we will only want to flee.

The A-life 2.0 life system allows us to simulate in detail conditions that we will have to keep in good condition, such as the hunger, health, sleep, bleeding or the effects of radiation itself. In addition, the weather will not be exactly pleasant, since the weather will hit hard while we have a day-night system.

For those who want to tinker more, we will have support for mods, which will bring the tremendous creative vision of the user community. At first we will play on our own, since the multiplayer mode will arrive in the future as part of a free update.

Minimum and recommended requirements for PC

Custom PC configurator

Trailers and images

The arrival of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl It will be a great victory. It will be that of the development of a game that has dragged out its creation for too many years and has suffered too many setbacks. Fame precedes the franchise thanks to a great first installment that was surrounded by fabulous expansions. Let’s hope he’s above his legacy.