After most recently being pushed back from a 2023 release to early this year, the upcoming and hugely anticipated sequel, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has finally landed a solid release date – albeit with just one more delay.
The game will now launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 5th, 2024 and will be available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day.
GSC Game World posted a very lengthy message to Twitter announcing the delay and release date, and explaining that although the team recognised fans’ fever for the game and was pushing to have it out in Q1 this year, it ultimately saw too many technical issues and made the decision to push the release back one more time to meet the standards that the studio and players expect.
Dear stalkers,
Last year, during Gamescom 2023, we finally had the chance to meet in person. We gathered around the campfire with you to share something valuable that we have been creating for you for all these years — a small part of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:…
— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) January 16, 2024
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl aims to take the atmosphere and immersion of the beloved original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, and is being built on Unreal Engine 5 using motion capture and photogrammetry tech to push the series’ established ideas further than ever. GSC Game World touts advanced AI systems promoting a considered tactical approach against numerous enemies, promising a thoroughly challenging and engaging experience. The studio also says that its “A-Life 2.0” life simulation system will see players’ actions have a tangible effect on the world around them.
Amazon has the Standard, Limited and Collector’s Editions of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl available for pre-order now:
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Standard Edition – $79 at Amazon
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Limited Edition – $99 at Amazon
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Collector’s Edition – $249 at Amazon
You can also see a short new trailer for the game to go alongside the release date announcement below: