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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl arrives for Xbox and PC

The Exclusion Zone is finally open for action, as the long-awaited S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has launched.

Apocalyptic

No, it’s not a dream, not a fantasy, or even an imaginary tale. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally here. The first-person action title has been years (and years) in the making from developer GSC Game World, which included not only the pandemic, but the fact that the team members have been developing the game in the middle of a war zone.

For those who don’t know, GSC is a Ukrainian company. So with all of that, you might expect a delay or two. As mentioned though, the game is here, and it’s quite frankly looking spectacular. Cast as Skif, one of the so-called Stalkers who regularly plumb the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, players will find themselves in the middle of a power-battle between armed factions.

Of course, deadly paramilitary foes aren’t the only things out there in the mysterious Zone. A second explosion at the reactor in 2006 has led to mutants and even weirder, “anomalous energy”. What’s the truth? Well, that’s up to you to discover.

“It feels utterly surreal to say that, but after more than 7 years in the making, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is now released. That’s totally wild. So was the whole development story.


What started as the most ambitious game by GSC eventually turned out to be an ultimate personal challenge. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was always supposed to be a truly Ukrainian product, showing our culture to the world in the ongoing effort of the nation to be recognized. I truly believe the team we have consists of exceptional people, but I never actually thought they would be finishing the game under the circumstances like these. 

Despite all the odds, it’s there. Our biggest game, our own story, our love letter to Ukraine. All the time, effort and passion we put into this is about to be witnessed by the players from all around the globe. After 15 years, the doors to the Zone will be opened once again”, – says Ievgen Grygorovych, CEO and Game Director.

GSC Game World press release

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is out now for the Xbox Series X|S and PC, and is also available via Xbox Game Pass.

About Jason Micciche

Jason's been knee deep in videogames since he was but a lad. Cutting his teeth on the pixely glory that was the Atari 2600, he's been hack'n'slashing and shoot'em'uping ever since. Mainly an FPS and action guy, Jason enjoys the occasional well crafted title from every genre.

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