STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been delayed yet again. The long-awaited post-apocalyptic shooter was originally scheduled to launch on September 5, but will now launch on November 20 to give developer GSC Game World more time to work out technical issues.
The studio also announced that it will be releasing its first-ever Developer Deep Dive video, which will give a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the game. The video will feature new gameplay footage, an overview of the world and locations, a full walkthrough of the story quests, and developer interviews. It is being produced in partnership with Xbox and will premiere on August 12.
The delay marks another setback for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Officially revealed in 2020 after years of teasers at the Xbox Games Showcase, the game has hit a bump in the road along the way, including backlash over its now-canceled plans to implement NFTs. The biggest disruption was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where GSC Game World is based. This upended development and forced the team to relocate to Prague, Czech Republic (some team members actively fought and, sadly, died in the war). Despite all this, the game was completed and was even playable at this year’s Summer Game Fest.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl launches on Xbox Series X/S and PC on November 20. It will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass. If nothing else, this delay will give players more time to catch up with the Xbox re-release of the original game that came out earlier this year.
