As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say, the anticipation for STALKER 2 is palpable. Having played the first game way back when, and dabbling in soulslikes since then, I was initially skeptical about this game. But boy, did it manage to change my mind!
Lately, I’ve been fortunate enough to give a spin to an upcoming game that’s making waves, which you might recognize.
As an analyst, I find myself deeply intrigued by the impending release of Stalker 2, a game that transcends the boundaries of traditional open-world shooters. This franchise encapsulates layers upon layers of depth and complexity, making it resonate profoundly, especially in today’s context.
Originating mainly in Ukraine and boasting a sister studio in Czechia, Stalker was born out of a fascination that gripped an entire region, haunted by the grim reality and folklore surrounding Chernobyl and its catastrophic nuclear disaster, which indelibly altered Europe and the globe. Situated just 100 kilometers from Kyiv stands the remnants of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, infamous for its core meltdown that claimed countless lives. To this day, the towns surrounding Chernobyl and Pripyat continue to be contaminated. The official Chernobyl nuclear exclusion zone, or “The Zone” as it’s commonly called, has been gradually opening up to “disaster tourists” as radiation levels on the outskirts have become relatively safer. However, it was once again closed due to hostilities from the Russian regime under Putin, whose unsuccessful Kyiv offensive sliced through the most irradiated sections of the region.
Amidst this haunting scene of meaningless, destructive warfare, Stalker 2 completed its latter stages of production. Unfortunately, a significant portion of GSC’s team were drawn into the conflict, fighting against the seemingly boundless wickedness of Putin and his unhinged associates, under circumstances that are difficult for us to comprehend.
In this context, “Stalker 2” symbolizes the unyielding resilience and spirit of a nation and surrounding area that has been haunted by shadows from the past and the specter of fascism in close proximity. Despite the desolate, mutant-filled environments depicted in “Stalker 2”, there remains an undertone of hope permeating through the gloom. The very existence of “Stalker 2” at such a high level of quality speaks volumes about the dedication and talent of the team behind it.
Without a doubt, Stalker 2 is shaping up to be a strong candidate for Game of the Year. I’m incredibly fortunate to share with you a sneak peek at a game that promises not only to honor its esteemed predecessor but also elevate the franchise to unprecedented levels.
As I look ahead, the long-anticipated dawn breaks over the horizon of Stalker 2, slated to debut on November 20, 2024. This grand unveiling will grace Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Windows PC platforms.
What is Stalker 2?
Initially released in 2007, Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl has since been adapted for contemporary platforms like the Xbox Series X|S. Additionally, it boasts numerous update modifications on its Windows versions available on Steam and similar platforms.
Drawing partial influence from the 1970s sci-fi novella Roadside Picnic, the film Stalker intertwines ideas from the book with a fabricated second Chernobyl nuclear incident. This catastrophe unleashed another layer of radioactive danger upon the exclusion zone. Over time, “The Zone” was also corrupted by distorted physics aberrations, mutated native wildlife, and enigmatic entities of unknown origin. Stalker gave rise to a prequel titled Stalker: Clear Sky and a sequel known as Stalker: Call of Pripyat.
As an analyst, I’d describe the Stalker games as uniquely blending intense first-person shooter (FPS) realism with immersive role-playing game (RPG) mechanics that one might not anticipate in a tactical shooter. In these games, gunshot wounds cause bleeding, hunger depletes your stamina, and death is always a looming threat, making every corner potentially dangerous.
Engaging combat situations like you’re playing Call of Duty with a run-and-gun mentality is a foolproof method to meet an untimely end, as my 3-hour preview of the latest game build demonstrated. However, the game offers numerous tactics to gain an edge, drawing inspiration from the immersive sim genre. Bizarre space-time distortions, radioactive weather conditions, mutated creatures, deranged mercenaries, and overly aggressive military personnel will make your time in The Zone a nightmare – but you’ll also forge alliances throughout your journey.
Fifteen years have passed since the original release of Stalker, and almost as long since its initial announcement. Over this period, the game’s developer, GSC Game World, has gone through cycles of developing, abandoning, and reviving the project for Stalker 2. Amidst these changes, they also faced the challenge of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. After more than a decade, Stalker 2 is almost prepared to step into the limelight once again.
The following interview was conducted with GSC Game World, with some answers edited for clarity and brevity.
On STALKER 2 difficulty, immersion, map size, and future DLC expansions
In my initial remarks, I mentioned that Stalker 2 falls under the category of a hardcore first-person shooter (FPS). However, I must admit that I wasn’t fully aware of the full depth of what being “hardcore” truly entails.
In Stalker 2, our protagonist and an ally stealthily enter “The Zone” which surrounds the remnants of the Chernobyl plant. This area, once a 30~ kilometer exclusion zone, is now heavily guarded with checkpoints and constant helicopter patrols, restricting entry or exit from its entire boundary. Despite this, individuals known as mercenaries, or “Stalkers,” manage to infiltrate the zone for various purposes. An underground economy has arisen, trading energies and artifacts from the anomalous terrain, whose unusual properties can command a high value among certain shady figures or groups. It appears that our task is to assist one such figure by undertaking a perilous mission to capture physics-bending emissions and transfer them into a peculiar device.
Considering the time elapsed between the original Stalker and today, I found myself pondering if the contemporary open-world shooter genre had left any impact on the design process for Stalker 2 by GSC. For the most part, it appears that Stalker 2 is forging its own unique path.
From a clear vision of what Stalker should embody, we started shaping its form. Certain elements may bear resemblance to another game, but this isn’t due to imitation. Instead, we construct features that align with Stalker’s identity. In essence, our approach is primarily about creating the game authentically, rather than basing it on something else.
In developing our game, we didn’t base our decisions on what other games were doing by thinking we needed a larger world. Instead, we aimed to create an immersive environment that feels alive, teeming with unique content. This content should never be repetitive, but rather varied and distinct. Unlike many open-world games that offer faster traversal options like cars, fast travel, or horses, our game, Stalker, only provides foot travel. By focusing on this method of movement, we can make the map appear larger by magnifying its details.
It’s surprising how expansive the map in Stalker 2 appears from the PDA interface. However, modern games like Starfield and Far Cry have faced criticism due to maps being large just for the sake of being large. The original Stalker games had similarly vast maps but focused on carefully designed points of interest. Similarly, Stalker 2 seems to follow this pattern by meticulously designing its areas of interest.
Rather than using automated processes for creation, we’re manually designing every aspect of our game. We do utilize pre-made building templates, or ‘prefabs’, but we give them distinct stories and content to make them unique. Nearly all the work put into this project is done by hand, and that attention to detail really shines through.
Over the past ten years, I’ve been in a ton of preview events for games of all shapes and sizes. Stalker 2 is one of the few I can remember where three hours felt more like three minutes, time giving way to pure enjoyment. I was so utterly transfixed by the world GSC has put together here, backed by a stunning soundtrack of muted post-rock ambiance. Stalker represents an oddly captivating mix of horror and apocalyptic tranquility. A chorus of haunted, unnatural cries will cut through the ghostly nuclear mist, casting apparitions of ray-traced figures from the zone’s hulking, irradiated creatures.
In simpler terms, Stalker 2 doesn’t hide its challenging gameplay, a trait that veteran fans are accustomed to. During the preview event, journalists were only allowed to play on the normal setting, which developer GSC refers to as “very difficult.
Upon launch, our game will present three levels of challenge initially, however, it’s been designed such that the default or “normal” setting is quite challenging. For those looking for a tougher experience, we offer an increased difficulty mode, which not only amplifies the gameplay but also reduces visible elements like HUD and UI to create a more immersive experience.
As a devoted admirer, I had to recalibrate my anticipations following a few early demises in Stalker 2, yet once I found my rhythm, it turned out to be remarkably gratifying. The pulse-pounding confrontations and authentic vulnerability only amplify the engrossing ambiance of Stalker 2’s design landscape. For those who aren’t chasing the challenge, there will be a story mode difficulty available.
Experiencing Stalker 2 feels like stepping into a strikingly realistic open-world environment. Scavenging for essentials such as food, bandages, and ammunition becomes crucial to survival, with intelligence being my most potent tool. Frequently, it’s smarter to negotiate or evade confrontations rather than engage in them directly. Unlike many games, Stalker 2 doesn’t require level grinding; instead, gear statistics and role-playing game exploration drive character growth.
“I personally like to play Stalker 2 without the HUD. You start feeling yourself in the game. If you entered a firefight without the HUD and didn’t properly check your ammo, and realize you only have three bullets left in the magazine, it can be a very cool experience. You can also optionally turn off the HUD on the lowest difficulty, though. The lowest difficulty is more like a story mode because we know a lot of players aren’t “hardcore” who are fans too, because of the atmosphere of the Chornobyl exclusion zone, and how it’s known around the world.”
In this game, there’s a special quality – the solitude and fragments of stories from individuals who populate this world. This aspect is distinctive, allowing players to engage in lengthy conversations with various characters about a wide range of topics, not tied to the main plot. These characters will share insights about the game’s setting and their own lives. I appreciate what we’ve achieved, even with the generic non-player characters in Stalker.
As I ventured into this forsaken land during my research, I discovered that the NPCs here were renowned in their time, exuding a peculiar optimism amidst the desolation. A complex underground economy has thrived around the hunt for this place’s enigmatic artifacts. Building alliances with the various factions within the game will undoubtedly aid you significantly.
According to GSC’s announcement, not one but two extensions are in the works for Stalker 2. Some team members have already started developing the initial expansion, as work on the main game nears completion. Furthermore, GSC intends to provide a series of free updates following the game’s launch, which will be delivered through patches. These post-launch updates may include new story expansions that necessitate additional features in the base game.
On GSC’s partnership with Xbox, Game Pass, and Xbox Series S optimizations
As a researcher, I’ve noticed that Xbox isn’t commonly associated with timed exclusives these days, so I found myself intrigued about how their collaboration with GSC on Stalker 2 came to be. To my surprise, this highly anticipated game is launching as an exclusive for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, at least initially. It seems that the partnership was forged through a casual Google search and a cold email directed to Phil Spencer, the CEO of Xbox.
Initially, we had no connections within Microsoft. In our search for an email address belonging to Phil Spencer, we unexpectedly found it on a Reddit post. The message was essentially: “We are GSC Game World, we’re keen on bringing Stalker to console players.” We received a swift reply and were connected to the appropriate team. Since then, we’ve been collaborating with the Xbox team, who we admire for their efficiency and empathy.
Stalker 2, alongside games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones, and The Great Circle, will simultaneously debut on Xbox Game Pass for both consoles and PC. Some publishers have voiced concerns about this, but GSC remains unfazed.
“We don’t think about Stalker as being just successful in Ukraine, it’s successful all over the world too. With Stalker 2, we’re hoping to find fans in all new countries, too. It’s not just a local story for us, especially if we’re talking about global sales. On Xbox Game Pass, we can only talk for ourselves, but we believe that it’s helping us a lot. Stalker is new to consoles, so going through Game Pass will help us reach a new audience. If you’re unfamiliar, you might not buy “Stalker” if you see it next to a $60 icon, but you can give it a try with Xbox Game Pass, and perhaps become a fan of the franchise.
In the days to come, it’s possible that individual may be familiar with our upcoming games, expressing sentiments like ‘I recognize these developers’ or ‘I know what kind of adventure I can expect.’ Consequently, whether it’s beneficial for us, in this case Stalker 2, to collaborate with Game Pass will depend on the specific project and company. However, for us, partnering with Game Pass has proven to be a smart move.
Moving forward in our discussion about debated topics, I couldn’t help but wonder about Microsoft’s Xbox Series S. The Xbox Series X|S lineup, which competes with the PS5, has a less powerful “S” version that sports lower specifications. Some developers have expressed challenges when adapting games for the Xbox Series S due to its limited RAM and stricter GPU requirements. Initially, GSC found working with the Xbox Series S to be “impossible,” but now they believe that with appropriate optimizations, even contemporary games could run on the Xbox Series S.
Initially, the idea of running Stalker 2 on the Xbox Series S seemed implausible given the game’s vast mechanics and extensive content. It appeared as though this was an insurmountable task. However, through optimization and incorporating new streaming information features, we were able to utilize the powerful capabilities of Unreal Engine to maximize every megabyte of system content. As a result, we have successfully made it possible to run Stalker 2 on the Xbox Series S.
Following this encounter, I’m convinced that any game could potentially surpass the memory capabilities of the Xbox Series S. It’s essential to note that not all developers and studios possess the chance or extra time to optimize their games for the Xbox Series S. In our case, we had to enhance our optimization skills which in turn improved the performance on the PC build as well. We have set quite modest minimum PC requirements for a contemporary game.
On Xbox Series X, the game operates at approximately 60 frames per second, though it may occasionally drop to around 55. We’re hoping to fine-tune the performance even more before or after launch. During narrative cutscenes, which are rich in complexity, visual effects, and similar elements, we permit larger frame rate drops because these fluctuations won’t interfere with the player’s gameplay experience.
For the Xbox Series S, we primarily maintain a frame rate of 30 frames per second (FPS). Nevertheless, we often achieve 60 FPS, but it isn’t as steady as the Series X. However, we are working on introducing a performance mode for the Xbox Series S to ensure a smooth 60 FPS experience. We believe this goal is achievable.
STALKER 2 has the makings of a game of the year contender
Initially, I was hesitant when offered to play Stalker 2. As a passionate Unreal Tournament enthusiast in my younger days, I didn’t fully understand the original game. However, my recent fascination with soulslikes games has reminded me of the thrill of tough gameplay. Yet, nothing could truly prepare me for the harsh, unforgiving landscape that is The Zone.
Despite the ongoing presence of guards and barriers, life persists in this area. Travelers establish posts, make camp, and even strum guitars. The peculiar science of The Zone yields artifacts with immense potential for human advancement, yet they could also lead to our enslavement. In spite of nations’ attempts to halt exploration into The Zone, such expeditions continue. The intriguing secrets of Stalker 2 captivate you from the start and are hard to shake off.
These days, there seems to be a lot of skepticism about gaming on social media. It might just be my algorithm showing me more negative content, but every so often, a game like Stalker 2 emerges and shines through the darkness. As a lover of immersive games, complex gameplay, post-apocalyptic themes, and imaginative science fiction, this game resonated deeply with me. My brief encounter with Stalker 2 brought back memories of what video games can truly be at their finest – the perfect blend of art, music, technology, and engaging storytelling – a combination that no other medium quite captures. I had an incredible experience with the little bit I played, and I believe fans will be satisfied if it manages to deliver on its full potential.
If the complete version even slightly resembles what I played, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl would undoubtedly be a strong candidate for Game of the Year. With numerous impressive games already out this year, I can hardly wait until November 20th to find out.
On November 20, 2024, the game “Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl” is set to release for both Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC platforms. Remarkably, it will be accessible right away through Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass subscriptions.
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2024-10-16 16:10