S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl: Release Date, Gameplay, Trailers, And More
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is one of the most iconic cult RPG franchises in gaming, and the upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl is set to bring it back after ten years. It was announced out of nowhere back in 2018, and we've had small teases of information along with a trailer since then, but fans are still waiting on a comprehensive gameplay demonstration. Its emergent gameplay and atmosphere are what made the series stand out initially, and after years of gaming evolution, the next entry should only benefit in these departments. So, if you need a rundown of all the information we know about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl, including the release date, gameplay, and more, we've got you covered.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl: Release Date
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl was first announced back in May 2018, and we didn't get an official release date until June 2021, which locked in the date of April 28, 2022. However, just recently on January 12, GSC Game World announced they had delayed the title until December 8, 2022. They also posted a Tweet talking about the delay, and claimed S.T.A.L.K.E.R. required more polishing and testing. Hopefully with this extra development time, they can hit the newest release date.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl: Trailers
There have been a few trailers so far, with one announcement trailer that displayed various scenes and locales in the game, along with two gameplay teasers which take place from a first-person perspective.
This first trailer was released in July 2020, and just shows some in-engine scenes, with one showing the famous Chernobyl Big wheel. It also displays some spooky scenes, highlighting the anomalies and paranormal aspects of the series. The next trailer to release was in January 2021, which teased some gameplay, with scenes of a character running through some ruins before suddenly being attacked by a chair.
The most comprehensive showing we'd had thus far, was the full gameplay trailer shown during E3 2021. It cuts between a conversation with some S.T.A.L.K.E.R.S. and shows various gameplay sections, with some combat, exploration, and scavenging thrown in. It put to rest some worries from fans of the series, as it showcased an unmistakable S.T.A.L.K.E.R. identity. We're yet to see any more, but we can assume that GSC Game World will throw us some more trailers soon.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl: Gameplay And Story
Click to enlargePrevious S.T.A.L.K.E.R. titles were first-person survival RPGs, with a focus on hardcore gunplay, bleak atmosphere, scary monsters, and paranormal artefacts that can manipulate the world around them. The general premise of the series, sees groups of mercenaries and bounty hunters delving into the Zone (the area around radiated Chernobyl) and hunting for treasures and otherworldly mysteries. The trailers have shown that the game still retains many of these features, and will likely feature warring factions and quests which can tip the scales of power in the zone, like the previous entries.
With ten years and multiple generations between the last title and the upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl, the developers should have the means to expand the systems and concepts from the original games. They’ve confirmed this somewhat with the announcement that the game will have a true open-world, something which the others lacked. GSC also spoke about the A-Life system, which simulated the world and inhabitants of past games, and A-Life 2.0 seeks to the same but with more detail and potential.
The story details are sparse currently, but GSC have confirmed it will be non-linear, along with stating, "your choices will influence both short-term consequences and global outcomes." The first game in the series saw you hunting a specific S.T.A.L.K.E.R. who was inside the Zone, and following a similar narrative would help introduce the world to the new players likely to hop on board.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl: Platforms
Currently, the game is planned to release on the Xbox Series X|S, and select PC storefronts at launch. The Xbox exclusivity deal is only temporary, so the game could very well release on the PlayStation 5 a year after its initial launch.
