STALKER 2 Team Has Message for Fans as Release Date Nears

STALKER 2 Team Has Message for Fans as Release Date Nears

Key Takeaways

  • STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to be released this year after numerous delays and challenges during development.
  • The game features mutants, anomalies, radiation, and an immersive open world for an FPS survival horror experience.
  • Fans are excited about impressive graphics, 60 FPS performance, and unique weapon combinations in the game.

As a dedicated fan who has been eagerly awaiting the release of STALKER 2 for over a decade, I can hardly contain my excitement! The journey has been long and fraught with challenges, but GSC Game World’s perseverance is truly commendable. It’s heartening to see how they’ve managed to keep the project alive amidst the turmoil of Ukraine’s struggle for independence.


After a series of setbacks spanning over ten years, the highly anticipated game STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is gearing up for release this year. In anticipation of its November debut, the development team at GSC Game World in Ukraine has shared an update with fans following Gamescom 2024. Additionally, a fresh gameplay overview and trailer titled “The Time of Opportunities” for STALKER 2 were unveiled during the event, featuring footage captured within The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

The sequel to 2009’s Call of Pripyat, titled STALKER 2, will be teeming with mutants, intriguing anomalies, and a generous dose of radiation that will challenge players to stay alert. This game offers an immersive open-world experience in the first-person shooter survival horror genre, providing distinct encounters within dynamic, unpredictable environments.

In an interview with PC Gamer at Gamescom, STALKER 2’s technical producer, Evgeniy Kulik, discussed the game’s prolonged development due to difficult circumstances, leading to multiple delays. With Ukraine facing a full-scale invasion by Russia in early 2022, Kulik emphasized the unique pressures faced during game development under such extraordinary times. He noted that some team members were called to serve in the Ukrainian armed forces to resist the invasion. Despite the turmoil, he shared how the team persevered and guided the project towards completion, also detailing their efforts to support their colleagues throughout this challenging period.

STALKER 2 Producer’s Message to Fans Provides Insight Into Game’s Development Journey

Upon relocating to the Czech Republic following the Russian hostility, our work relationship grew particularly close. Even outside office hours, we’d engage in discussions about games, make decisions, and frequently exchange ideas on potential improvements. This collaboration proved incredibly beneficial as we were deeply concerned about our colleagues and families still in Ukraine, given our two substantial studios – one in Prague and a large office with nearly 200 employees in Kyiv. These team members were consistently working under immense pressure due to constant bombing and air raid alarms.

Originally intended for release in 2012, the launch of STALKER 2 has been a protracted journey due to several setbacks such as a significant fire at the developer’s office in Prague and leaked test versions. Nevertheless, Kulik expressed gratitude towards the fans for their unwavering support, stating they serve as an energy source. The team is eagerly anticipating player feedback on the long-awaited sequel. In his closing remarks, Kulik expressed that despite the exhaustion from numerous challenges encountered during development, it’s essential to complete this project and deliver the game to the public once more, saying: “Here we are!”

Feedback for the demo and pre-launch exhibits of the game at Gamescom has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising its stunning visuals and impressive technical aspects. Fans were especially excited to learn that STALKER 2 will run smoothly at 60 frames per second, a feature that will be the only performance option. Additionally, the massive, 64-square-kilometer open-world map was a hot topic of conversation among enthusiasts.

To entice fans even more, Nvidia and MSI are teaming up to create a special edition graphics card themed around the much-anticipated game, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. This partnership is another exciting move in their marketing strategy, leading fans closer to the game’s release day. With its development by a team aiming to portray Ukraine’s indomitable spirit globally, STALKER 2 is poised to be the standout PC game of the year for many players.

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2024-08-28 16:13