The highly anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is now available on PC and Xbox Series X/S, concluding a tumultuous development journey that spanned over seven years. The game’s creation faced extraordinary challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberattacks, a fire in the developers’ Prague office, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, which continues to impact the team’s homeland.
Available for purchase on PC platforms (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG) and Xbox Series X/S via the Microsoft Store, the game is also accessible to Game Pass subscribers on launch day.
Set in a fictionalized Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 immerses players in a treacherous world shaped by two nuclear disasters and brimming with mutated creatures, radiation, and enigmatic anomalies. Players take on the role of Skif, a lone stalker uncovering secrets of the Zone while navigating its dangers, factions, and moral dilemmas in a richly non-linear narrative.
Powered by Unreal Engine 5 and photogrammetry, the game delivers unparalleled authenticity, enhanced by the team’s on-site research in the real Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. The narrative features three hours of cinematic cutscenes, making it the series’ most ambitious entry yet.
Reflecting on the release, GSC Game World CEO and Game Director Ievgen Grygorovych stated:
“After more than seven years in development, it feels surreal to finally release S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. This is not just our biggest game but a deeply personal story and a love letter to Ukraine, completed despite unimaginable challenges.”
A documentary, War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, is Accompanying the launch, created in collaboration with Xbox. The film offers a moving insight into the team’s resilience during the ongoing conflict and is recommended viewing for players to fully appreciate the game’s context.
Launch Trailer: Watch here
Making Of Documentary: Watch here
With its release, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 reopens the Zone to players worldwide, offering an unforgettable journey that blends survival, mystery, and a celebration of Ukrainian culture.