S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl will be released on September 5:

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Official Release Date Announcement Trailer

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Couchpotato spotted a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 preview at PCWorld:

STALKER 2 preview: A cult classic meets Unreal Engine 5

Tough like Dark Souls, apocalyptic like the Fallout series. Could Stalker 2 be the atmospheric hit of 2024?

We wake up in a daze, the sky above us turning an ominous red color. We hear a loud growl, which gets louder in the first few minutes of Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl. A mutated dog is nibbling on our leg; it has probably chosen it as its lunch. Its eyes are glowing red, its fur is rotting, its flesh is rotting. Never mind, get rid of it – one kick later, the mutant dog flies into an anomaly and shreds in a violent blood blister.

It’s like throwing a tomato into a blender, but there are no tomatoes here. Instead, there’s plenty of eye-candy thanks to Unreal Engine 5: abandoned buildings flooded with deep, wintry light; threadbare forests punctuated by oily, shimmering bubbles of distorted reality; patches of quiet humanity sprawling across the wilderness.

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IGN published a new story trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Official Strider Story Trailer

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IGN interviewed game director Evgeniy Grygorovych about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:

STALKER 2: The Importance of Chornobyl's Realism | gamescom 2023

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IGN presents the Offical Trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Official Trailer

PCGamer has discovered that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 had been delayed to 2023:

Stalker 2 delayed until 2023

Development on Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl recently resumed, after being paused in February following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Studio GSC Game World was based in Kyiv but has had to help its staff and their families relocate, during which period it also changed the game's name: hit's now Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, reflecting the Ukrainian spelling of the region.

The game was still scheduled for a December launch  though, given the circumstances, this seemed increasingly optimistic. At the Xbox and Bethesda showcase last night, a slide near the end of the presentation listing games coming out over the next 12 months showed Stalker 2 as now being down for a 2023 release.

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Thanks Redglyph!

@GamePressure Development on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has been resumed. It is still unknown when the game will be released.

Developers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl have announced on Discordthat the work on the game has been resumed. However, they did not give a new release date (before the war in Ukraine, which caused the interruption, it was set for December 8, 2022). It is possible that we will learn it during the upcoming Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, scheduled for June 12.

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Wccf Tech reports that STALKER 2 was delayed.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl Has Been Officially Delayed to December 2022

STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl has been officially delayed to December 2022, developer GSC Game World confirmed today.

In a new letter shared on Twitter, the developer revealed that their game will launch on December 8th, 2022, instead of April 28th as previously announced. The additional seven months of development will be needed for the team to fulfill their vision of their game.

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Wccf Tech reports that GSC Game World backed down after the bad reception of their announcement about NFTs in STALKER 2.

STALKER 2 Won’t Have Blockchain/NFTs Anymore After Massive Backlash

TALKER 2 developer GSC Game World quickly backtracked on its plans to create a STALKER Metaverse where users would purchase rights to unique items in the game as part of blockchain/NFT transactions. Those items would then be tradeable on DMarket's platform.

The news came only two days ago, but the massive backlash from the whole gaming community already forced the Ukrainian studio to reconsider. A few hours ago, the official STALKER 2 Twitter account posted the following brief message:

Dear stalkers, we hear you.

Based on the feedback we received, we've made a decision to cancel anything NFT-related in STALKER 2.

The interests of our fans and players are the top priority for the team. We're making this game for you to enjoy - whatever the cost is. If you care, we care too.

With love, GSC Game World team.

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Wccf Tech reports new screenshots and concept art shown on GSC's Discord channel, and bits of information revealed in a magazine (follow the link for the images).

STALKER 2 Gets Five Gorgeous New Screens and Info on Survival Elements, Longevity, New Factions and Enemies

STALKER 2 is finally approaching its April 28th, 2022 release date, scheduled for almost four years after the game's re-announcement.

As such, the developers at GSC Game World have shared five gorgeous new screenshots and one brand new concept art for the game via the official Discord channel. Additionally, new information emerged in the latest PC Gamer magazine issue, with Russian fans all too eager to disseminate it.

STALKER 2 will reportedly feature significant survival elements. The main character will need to be fed well, otherwise, hunger may reduce abilities and cause a rapid loss of stamina. On the other hand, once you've eaten properly, you'll be able to cover long distances more quickly.

Likewise, sleeping will be a requirement. Spend over a day without any shuteye and your character's eyesight will begin deteriorating, along with stamina loss (again) and possibly even hallucinations, eventually. There are some quick remedies like consuming an energy drink, but they can only work for so long.

According to GSC Game World, over thirty quest designers have been working on the plot of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl. The estimated length (likely including side content) is around a hundred hours and non-linearity will be a key factor as players progress through the game.

Beyond regular stalkers and bandits, the Exclusion Zone will also feature the Warta faction, the equivalent of an unofficial police force. The faction leader, Colonel Alexander Korshunov, is described as a man who doesn't tolerate any kind of disloyalty from his subordinates. The faction as a whole supposedly wants to harness scientific discoveries made within the Zone for the betterment of humanity.

The developers hinted that picking Warta or another of the factions available in STALKER 2 will be a major plot point in the game. That said, each faction includes characters with different ideologies.

Mutated deers can apparently be a meaningful threat to the player character in STALKER 2. The mutation added a sort of armor frame to the animal, making it hard to find a weak spot vulnerable to damage. The mutated deer can be dangerous both with physical attacks and even psychic attacks, which are another nasty side effect of the radiation. These deers can summon other mutants and even conjure fake copies of themselves through illusion.

STALKER 2 will be released for PC and Xbox Series S|X, with Microsoft grabbing a three-month console exclusivity. It's also going to be the first proper Unreal Engine 5 game (unless you count Fortnite Chapter 3).

DSOGaming reports that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is using Unreal Engine 5.

GSC GameWorld has announced that STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl will be using Unreal Engine 5 and not Unreal Engine 4. The game will release in April 2021 and from the looks of it, it will be one of the first that will be using UE5.

STALKER 2 aims to feature an epic, non-linear story. Furthermore, your choices will influence both short-term consequences and global outcomes. The game will take place inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone, and it will have new locations along with the old ones.

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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has a new gameplay trailer.

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From epic cutscenes and underground labs to open-world fields, here is the first look at the gameplay of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl.

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The developers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 were interviewed by Gamingbolt about the open world, branching story, atmosphere, and more.

Atmosphere and horror are clearly a big emphasis in this game, which is something that series fans will undoubtedly be glad about. Both of those can be very subjective things though, so how do you as developers ensure that you’re hitting the mark in those areas on a consistent level?

With three games in the series, we think we have a strong vision of what players like and expect.

Also, the core team is located in Kyiv, Ukraine, and we visit the Exclusion Zone every couple of months — for the purpose of both work (photogrammetry) and inspiration.

So we can say it’s a mix of existing experience and translating the cultural code. The whole thing is so powerful yet so subtle it’s really hard to describe in words. You can be sure it’s different for pretty much everyone. But probably it is the “atmosphere” people are talking about.

You’re promising a massive open world with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2– just what should players expect in this area where things such as size, design, and variety are concerned? Do you think it becomes harder to maintain a consistent level of horror and atmosphere when a game is set in a large open world environment?

Yes, maintaining the interest of the player is a challenge for every open-world game.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is mostly about the new story, and we can’t tell it without the open world. The player needs to feel the scale and the outcomes of his decisions. It is a long way so it can land an impact. A big journey with its own pace and outcomes.

Also, it’s about seeing the Zone in her renewed beauty. The seamless open world is a thing the series always aimed for. Hopefully, the players will enjoy both the story and the world we’re crafting. They are highly special for us.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

A new dev diary video for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

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Here is a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 dev diary dedicated to the 14th anniversary of the first game in the series — S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. 
Have a first look at the updated costumes, several guns and unique custom teeth tool. 
The game is next-gen only (PC, Xbox Series X/S) and will be available on Xbox Game Pass day one.

Gamepressure reports that Zakhar Bocharov - PR Manager of GSC Game World - talked about several different aspects of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in a recent Russian podcast.

In the conversation there was also some information about the technology used by the devs. For example, they initially planned to create a new version of their in-house graphics engine X-Ray, but it was considered too outdated, so it was decided to use the Unreal Engine technology. Zakhar Bocharov also assured that on the day of release the game will be much more stable than previous installments.

As for the gameplay in STALKER 2, we can expect the evolution of the life-simulation system called A-Life, about which we wrote earlier - thanks to the 2.0 version of this technology, the inhabitants of the world (we're talking about various factions, but also monsters) will take actions regardless of whether they are observed by the player character at any given moment.

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A S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development update from GSC Game World shows off a new hero.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Development Update: a Gameplay Teaser and a New Hero

by Zakhar Bocharov, PR Specialist at GSC Game World • Jan 15, 2021 @ 10:00am

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Hi everyone!

GSC Game World here.

The debut S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase was all about the atmosphere. We have made quite a bit of progress since July, and we decided to go forward, sharing an in-engine gameplay teaser. That seems like a neat way to kickstart a new year, right?

Just imagine.

A long and tedious road.

The hostile and treacherous Zone.

Unbelievable treasures that might cost you everything. A blood trial, separating your old life from a new one…

It’s time for a taste of how the game actually feels. Fast-paced changes of scenery, ominous landscapes and the ever-present feeling of an inevitable danger.

You’re seeing this world through the eyes of a stalker named Skif— remember the codename, you will hear it a lot. Following the steps of its predecessors, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 introduces a completely new main protagonist. His actions will shape the new grand chapter in the history of the Zone.

The short scene takes place in the ruined school on the outskirts of the dead town of Pripyat. That’s an extremely dangerous place, and nobody would like to be here on their will. Still, the place doesn’t seem completely abandoned: there is a freshly started fire with a guitar nearby. However, Skif hardly has time to acknowledge that: he seems in a hurry. It looks like an inevitable danger is following him.

And here it is: an emission. A signature part of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, a powerful release of the anomalous energy from the center of the Zone. Emission happens from time to time and it’s extremely dangerous: it can kill you in the blink of an eye. When a stalker notices a start of emission, they should hide immediately and wait for the end of it, hoping they can get through. So that’s why Skif is in a hurry: he is certainly looking for cover in the nearby building.

The situation is far from safe, though: the building is half-ruined, and the PDA doesn’t seem to work: the signal is lost. All things considered, it’s easy not to notice someone hiding in the shadows. He does look familiar, though…

Some of our fans may recognize the hardly-distinguishable guitar motive. If this tune evokes your nostalgia feelings, that’s because it’s taken from a “Life Line” song by famous Russian rock band Splean We found it to fit just perfectly in the scene we created. If you are hearing this tune for the first time, we recommend listening to the full version — it’s sad and moving at the same time. And extremely catchy, if you ask us.

Finally, we would like to finish this update with a development status. We’re progressing smoothly, including Xbox Series X/S versions as well. The aim is to deliver the product of the highest quality possible on every platform it’s announced for. With fast SSD, RTX support (both Series X and S) and 4K-resolution (Series X), we’re pleased to see how S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is shaping up to be the ultimate experience we’ve initially promised.

The exact release date of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is yet to be announced by GSC Game World. But you can be confident the game will come to Xbox Game Pass on day one. We’re more than excited for all the new Xbox fans to experience S.T.A.L.K.E.R. for the first time.

Thanks for your attention and have and have a truly great year! You’ve deserved it.

A brief teaser video for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

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Get your first in-engine look at the first-person sequel S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and its Zone through the eyes of its main protagonist, Skif. As developer GSC Game World puts it, this teaser represents "how the game actually feels: fast-paced change of scenery, ominous landscapes and the ever-present feeling of an inevitable danger accompanied by a barely-distinguishable guitar soundtrack." S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is due for release at some point in 2021 on Xbox Series X|S (day one on Xbox Game Pass) and PC.

A new official trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

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The award-winning PC franchise loved by millions of players is making a true next-gen console debut with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.  
Learn more: https://www.xbox.com/games/stalker-2  

Experience one of the biggest open-worlds to date, filled with radiation, mutants, and anomalies.

PC Gamer reports that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is being made with the Unreal Engine and will support modding.

Today we got another reason to be hopeful—maybe even cautiously optimistic—as the official Stalker 2 Twitter feed revealed that the new game will use the Unreal Engine. 

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"User modifications help the world of the Zone to live on while we are busy with making a sequel, and we can't be more grateful for that," GSC Game World said in the announcement.

As for whether Stalker 2 could end up as an Epic Games Store exclusive (Epic also makes the Unreal Engine), the studio said only that it "will talk about this later."

DSOGaming reports that some new art and a music track have appeared at the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 website.

GSC GameWorld has released the first official artwork and a music track for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. From what we’ve heard so far, the game is in a really early development stage and targets a 2021 release.

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