Developer GSC Game World announced that STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl will launch for Xbox Series and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG on September 5, pushing back its previously planned release date to Q1 2024. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.
In a statement, GSC Game World explained the reasons behind the delay: “While there’s no way to make another delay sound any less bleak, we decided to be clear about our reasons for postponing the game for the sake of another wave of polish. During Gamescom 2023, GSC Game World decided to show a small part of STALKER 2 to players publicly for the first time. This unique initiative was then transformed into a tour from one event to another in Poland, France, Brazil, Singapore and other countries. Thousands of players were able to play the game and provide the necessary direct feedback afterwards.”
During this exhibition, two key points emerged. Firstly, players felt that the game truly captured the essence of a STALKER game, reflecting the key intention and main inspiration of the project from the beginning. Secondly, from a technical point of view, it became clear that the game needed more time in development.
Despite the dedication to launch the game in the first quarter of 2024, certain technical imperfections persisted earlier this year, leading GSC to make the decision to delay the launch until September 5. This additional time will be used to polish the game and meet fans’ final expectations. Additionally, more game content is promised to be shared later this year leading up to the extended release.
Fountain: Gematsu
