Summary
- STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a highly anticipated release for Xbox Game Pass, with Phil Spencer declaring it a Game of the Year contender.
- After years of development setbacks, STALKER 2 has finally achieved gold status, with fans eager to experience its 15-year progression since Call of Pripyat.
- The game boasts a nonlinear story with immersive sim and survival horror gameplay and will face tough competition for Game of the Year against other titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Gaming giant Microsoft has several exciting titles coming to Xbox Game Pass in the coming year, and the company's gaming head Phil Spencer believes the anticipated STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a shoo-in for Game of the Year. Spencer has been talking at length about Xbox’s roadmap, which includes Microsoft’s plans for Play Anywhere, a plethora of expansions on the horizon, and the impressive line-up of holiday releases to keep Xbox gamers engaged this Christmas, including STALKER 2’s long-awaited debut.
Existing as the fourth game in the STALKER franchise, Heart of Chornobyl is the first entry in the series since Call of Pripyat 15 years ago. The independent sequel was originally planned to be released in 2012 but was canceled at the last minute. After resurfacing in 2018 with a new 2022 release date, the game’s development was further hindered due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ahead of its late November launch, STALKER 2 has provided the final PC system requirements that players should follow for the best experience, and fans can’t wait to lock in.
STALKER 2 Confirms Highly Requested Feature
Developer GSC Game World confirms that a fan-requested feature is coming to STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl on all available platforms.
In an interview with Game File, Spencer touched on STALKER 2’s long development history, calling it “remarkable” that the game is finally shipping. After over ten years in development, STALKER 2 finally went gold at the start of November, putting the game’s litany of delays in the rearview mirror, and the boss also noted how the shooter’s quality had progressed. “The quality has really come a long way, and I'm proud that we got to partner to get that game done,” Spencer shared, and he also gave a surprising prediction that hypes the sequel’s qualities and proves its popularity. “I think it's going to be on some people's lists of their favorite game of the year,” Spencer teased.
Phil Spencer Names STALKER 2 as a Shoo-in for Game of the Year
Gamescom was held back in August, where Spencer got a hands-on preview of the title himself and was clearly impressed by the gameplay. With three months in between Gamescom and STALKER 2’s release, the developer has likely added several polishing touches, which should fortify its day-one quality. STALKER 2 has a handful of intriguing features that loyal fans will dive into at launch, including a non-linear story, a blend of immersive sim and survival horror genres, and a possible post-launch multiplayer mode that players anticipate.
STALKER 2 joins a healthy list of varied titles arriving on Xbox Game Pass in November, including Goat Simulator: Remastered, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and Nine Sols. As for its Game of the Year hype, the shooter will be competing against some heavy contenders, including Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Silent Hill 2.
- Released
- 2024
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- GSC Game World
- Publisher(s)
- GSC Game World
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
Chornobyl Exclusion Zone has changed dramatically after the second massive explosion in year 2006. Violent mutants, deadly anomalies, warring factions have made the Zone a very tough place to survive. Nevertheless, artifacts of unbelievable value attracted many people called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who entered the Zone for their own risk striving to make a fortune out of it or even to find the Truth concealed in the Heart of Chornobyl.
EPIC NONLINEAR STORY IN SEAMLESS OPEN WORLD
Take over a role of the lone stalker and explore photorealistic seamless open world in a 64-km² radioactive zone with a variety of environments that reveal post-apocalyptic atmosphere from different angles. Make your way through the Zone to define your destiny as you choose your paths within highly branching epic story.
VARIETY OF ENEMIES AND HUNDREDS OF WEAPON COMBINATIONS
Meet members of different factions deciding who of them worth your friendship and who deserve a bullet. Engage intense gunfights with a variety of enemies that follow different tactics trying to outsmart you. Choose your preferable firearms from 30+ types of weapons with numerous modifications that allow creating hundreds of distinctive lethal combinations.
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival Horror
