It's been over fourteen years since the original STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl was released. With plans for a sequel being constantly pushed back by poor finances, the post-apocalyptic survival shooter was, for many, a piece of gaming history that wouldn't be getting any kind of new entry. After many of the developers also went to work on the Metro game series, fans believed that STALKER 2 was unlikely to be arriving at all. Yet, at E3 2021, Microsoft announced STALKER 2 would be an Xbox exclusive, along with some exciting gameplay footage and screenshots of the next-gen STALKER 2.
The STALKER series takes players to an alternative history version of Chernobyl, where in 2006 a catastrophe occurred causing plants and animals to be changed into the strange monsters players must fight to survive. STALKER 2 in both screenshots and gameplay appears to be treating fans to more of the same survival action they would expect, but with a next-gen coat of paint allowing for enhanced graphics and more. Undoubtedly fans were excited for the anticipated sequel, though rumors are now indicating that those fans will have to wait a little longer.
According to a Ukranian YouTuber by the name of OLDboi, STALKER 2 has been delayed from an April 2022 release window to Fall of 2022. OLDboi has previously leaked some correct development information from STALKER 2 developer GSC Game World and other studios, so members of the online community are already treating this news as official even though it isn't. This also brings in the question of when the PS5 version of the game will now launch. As STALKER 2 was not expected to be an Xbox exclusive for long, fans expected the game to drop for PlayStation in late 2022 or early 2023, though now it appears that may change.
The STALKER 2 trailers and footage, which had been showing serious Metro Exodus vibes, had many fans hyped for the game's release. With this rumored delay though, it seems that STALKER players are having their fourteen year wait extended yet again. Once the game does release though, there will again be a lot of expectations riding on the sequel that has taken so long to make.
Besides the hype, STALKER 2 has also run into its fair share of controversy following the announcement that the game would include NFTs. As NFTs are slowly becoming more integrated into the gaming world, there has been a lot of push-back by gamers against them. This led to STALKER 2 developers cancelling the NFT plans for the game.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl will allegedly release on PC and Xbox Series X/S on April 28th 2022. The game is planned to be a three-month Xbox console timed exclusive.