STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl release date, pre-order, gameplay & trailer

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that STALKER 2 has certainly piqued my interest. Having grown up with the original, it’s heartening to see its spiritual successor finally making its way onto our screens.

As the launch date for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl approaches, it’s been a long time since the last game in the series, which was released in 2009, making us almost there!

As a devoted fan of the Stalker series, I must admit it’s been quite some time since the captivating world of Call of Pripyat graced our screens – luckily, this critically acclaimed gem is now accessible on PS4 and Xbox One. Over the past fifteen years, gaming has undeniably advanced, but nothing quite compares to the immersive experience that Stalker offers.

Along the journey, there have been numerous setbacks, yet it appears that the much anticipated follow-up is nearly upon us.

So, when can we get our hands on it? And what else do we know about the game?

Let’s take a closer look at STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

When is the STALKER 2 release date?

STALKER 2 will release on 20th November 2024.

Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the release of the game has had to be postponed on several occasions. This situation led GSC Game World to move their operations to Prague, Czech Republic.

The fire in our recently opened office didn’t make things any better, but it’s fantastic news that the long-anticipated follow-up to the legendary series has finally been given a definite launch date. For more details, you can check out the official STALKER 2 account (previously X) on Twitter.

It’s fortunate that we continue to see exceptional modifications for the original games being released, along with numerous new games scheduled for 2024, ensuring there will always be something entertaining to keep us engaged.

Can I pre-order STALKER 2?

Yes, you can order STALKER 2 now.

The game’s product pages can be found on its official site, Steam, the Epic Games Store, the Xbox Store, and online retailers such as CD Keys, among others.

If you want a physical copy, you can either pre-order it directly from the developers or at GAME.

Furthermore, feel free to choose where you’d like to buy and secure your copy of STALKER 2, whether it be through your preferred platform or store.

What is the STALKER 2 Pre-Order Bonus?

Regardless of which edition of STALKER 2 you decide to purchase (we’ll discuss the four options momentarily), placing your pre-order prior to the game’s release date on September 5, 2024 will also secure you these bonus items as part of your pre-order package.

Extended campfire content
Exclusive weapon skin
Exclusive armour skin
‘Early bird’ multiplayer badge

How much will STALKER 2 cost?

The STALKER 2 price has now been confirmed, and there are four different versions (each with a different price point) for you to consider splashing the cash on.

In simpler terms, the Standard Version of STALKER 2 usually retails for £49.99 in British Pounds, but right now, you can get it for only £29.99 on CD Keys due to an ongoing deal.

In the case of STALKER 2, the Deluxe Version retails at an original price of £64.99. However, CD Keys offers a discount of one pound, bringing down the price. Included in this Deluxe Edition are the following additional contents:

Special Extra Quest
Digital Artbook
Official Soundtrack
One costume and three weapon skins for the single-player campaign
Two costumes and three weapon skins for the multiplayer experience

The top-tier version of STALKER 2, known as the “Ultimate Edition,” retails for £94.99 GBP, but you can get it for a penny less at CD Keys. This edition includes everything mentioned earlier, along with some additional perks:

Four further weapon skins for the multiplayer experience
Two story expansions
Season Pass

There are also the physical editions of the game, which come with even more goodies.

The Standard Edition contains the following:

Steel book
Letter from developers
Souvenir zone permit
Sticker pack

The Limited Edition elevates the experience with all features from the Standard Edition, plus these additional elements:

Zone map
Poster
Faction patches
Military token
Keychain (multi-tool) with fire starter

Instead of “The Collectors Edition veers into extravagant price range ($179.99), you’ll find an abundance of items, such as all previously mentioned items plus the additional ones listed below:

Art book
Stalker figurine

Additionally, there’s an exquisite Retail Ultimate Edition available, as shown, priced at $379.99. This high-end, physical edition of the game comes with all the features from the Ultimate Edition, plus some additional perks.

Artefact container lamp
STALKER backpack

Is STALKER 2 coming to Game Pass?

Yes, Stalker 2 will be coming to Xbox Game Pass when it releases on 5th September 2024.

This is due to it being an Xbox exclusive, which seems befitting of such a PC-centric title.

It’s possible that at some point in the future, The Zone may make its way onto the PlayStation, however, as of now, it appears that GSC Game World is sending a message to Sony saying something along the lines of: “It’s not happening yet.

Is STALKER 2 a remake?

Given that STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the fourth installment in this series, with Shadow of Chornobyl (2007), Clear Sky (2008), and Call of Pripyat (2009) preceding it, you might be questioning whether STALKer 2 is a remake.

It’s been verified that STALKER 2 isn’t a remake, but rather, as described on its official website, it’s a cutting-edge sequel to the acclaimed PC game series developed by GSC Game World.

In other words, since it’s a follow-up to all the earlier games, the number in the title seems a bit perplexing due to its placement.

Do you need to play STALKER 1 to play STALKER 2?

Given that there have been three STALKER games preceding the current one, as detailed earlier, you may find yourself questioning whether it’s necessary to play STALKER 1 or any other game prior to diving into STALKER 2.

GSC has stated on their website that ‘STALKER 2’ is a self-contained game, which means it can be appreciated individually.

In addition, they suggest playing through the earlier games first for the most engaging and immersive experience.

Essentially, it’s your choice whether you decide to experience the earlier STALKER games before diving into STALKER 2. If your schedule allows for it, I recommend giving those timeless classics a try.

Which consoles and platforms can play STALKER 2?

The game “STALKER 2” is set to debut on PC, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, as confirmed by its creators. Notably, the PC version will be available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.

It seems some players might wonder if STALKER 2 will be available on PS5. However, based on the information provided by the game’s official site, it appears that the game is not currently planned for PlayStation consoles at this moment in time.

What is the STALKER 2 gameplay?

Initially, the gameplay for STALKER 2 will feature a solo player mode upon its debut. A multiplayer aspect, however, is promised to arrive shortly following the initial release, available as a complimentary update.

In STALKER 2, players will once more find themselves immersed in the action through a first-person point of view. The game emphasizes survival horror and intense gunfights, creating an overall chilling and adrenaline-pumping gaming experience.

Prepare to traverse perilous landscapes teeming with unusual phenomena and potent relics, along with adversaries who wouldn’t hesitate to stab you in the back over a can of radioactive food, all while different warring groups are vying for possession.

To see the game being played live, have a peek at the most recent Stalker 2 gameplay trailer from Gamescom here:

STALKER 2 PC requirements

The necessary and suggested PC requirements for running STALKER 2 have been disclosed early on, and the developers suggest that the following be considered as the minimum:

OS Version: Windows 10/Windows 11
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X/Intel Core i5-7600K
Memory: 8GB
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
Disc space: 150GB SSD

The recommended PC build for STALKER 2 looks like this:

OS Version: Windows 10/Windows 11
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X/Intel Core i7-9700K
Memory: 16GB
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB/NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB
Disc space: 150GB SSD

Given that the game is being developed with an upgrade to Unreal Engine 5, it’s likely that the system requirements could increase slightly. However, supporting the Xbox Series S will aid in accommodating lower-end hardware.

STALKER 2 NFT explained

Due to an unfavorable reaction from the gaming community, the proposal for NFT integration in STALKER 2 has been abandoned. To put it gently, the community’s response was far from positive.

Game developers at GSC Game World were intending to collaborate with NFT experts from DMarket in order to incorporate various NFT elements within STALKER 2, as was earlier confirmed in an official announcement blog post.

The purpose of this collaboration was to establish “the development of STALKER 2’s Metaverse, allowing players to acquire unique parts of the game.” In other words, it enabled players to purchase and possess extremely rare digital assets within the game.

This declaration revealed that the project aims to incorporate blockchain technology, allowing the community to own a segment of the game. The teams behind GSC and DMarket are working towards establishing an unprecedented scenario where specific unique items within the AAA video game will be player-owned for the first time.

In the scope of this project, it was planned that an auction would take place in January 2022. This auction would offer participants an opportunity to bid and potentially be the pioneer referred to as “the first-ever metahuman”.

In simple terms, once the highest bidder was confirmed, their digital representation would be unveiled to over 100 million global gamers. This virtual character wouldn’t be playable but could be found within the game as a Non-Player Character (NPC).

As a passionate moviegoer, I was intrigued by the path they were taking with STALKER 2, but alas, their plan for Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) has been scrapped. The developers themselves announced on Twitter, “Due to the feedback we received, we’ve decided to abandon all NFT-related aspects in STALKER 2.” And that was the final chapter on that matter.

STALKER 2 trailer

At this stage, numerous trailers for STALKER 2 have been released, generating millions of views on YouTube due to growing interest in the game. Here’s a link to the most recent STALKER trailer, which provides further insight into the narrative and game environment: [Trailer Link]

2024-11-11 19:34