STALKER 2: Everything we know so far

STALKER 2 transports players back into the radioactive wasteland of the Zone, so here’s what we know about the upcoming game, including release date, platforms, and trailers.

For those who haven’t heard of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series, the game‘s plot involves the infamous Chornobyl Disaster of 1986, where on April 26, the nuclear reactor near Pripyat, Ukraine melted down, resulting in one of the worst nuclear disasters in human history.

In the alternate timeline of S.T.A.L.K.E.R, the exclusion zone around Chornobyl, commonly known as “The Zone,” experienced another explosion 20 years later in 2006. This was after scientists set up shop to study the anomalies and other phenomena happening within the disaster’s radius.

This not-so-deserted nuclear wasteland left in the wake of these events sets the stage for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. The Zone is looking more beautiful, deadly, and desolate than ever before in the sequel, and here’s all the details we’ve got about it so far.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 release date

STALKER 2 will be released on November 20, 2024. 

The game was previously set to launch on September 5, 2024, but a delay was announced on July 25, 2024. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the developers shared that the additional two months will give them ‘the chance to fix more “unexpected anomalies” (or simply “bugs”.)’

Prior to this, STALKER 2 was originally meant to launch on April 28, 2022, but was delayed soon after until December 8, 2022. However, it was then postponed indefinitely after the Ukraine conflict, where the developer is based.

The developers confirmed the news on Twitter, explaining that the game needs more time for it to be up to standard.

In March 2022, GSC Game World, the game’s Kyiv-based developers, said that work on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 had “shifted to the sidelines” due to world events. However, in a Discord chat from May 2022, the team confirmed that work on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 now “continues” when responding to a question from a fan.

The next update came from an official fact sheet that went live during Gamescom 2023. According to the sheet in question, the sequel would hit PC and Xbox platforms in Q1 2024. It was then revealed that a September release date had been settled on.

Platforms

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will be available on PC through Steam, the Epic Games store, and the Xbox Series X|S where it will launch as a Day One Game Pass title.

Unfortunately for PlayStation players, the title will not be out on Playstation 5 at release, and there’s no indication of when (or if) it will be coming out on Sony’s platform.

Trailers

Gameplay showcase

E3 2021 gameplay trailer

During E3 2021’s Xbox presentation, we got our first good look at S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. The trailer opens the only way it should: with us sitting around the campfire, swapping stories with our fellow stalkers after another hard day in the Zone.

Through these flashbacks, we see the combat system, some loot, and even a few of the characters we’ll be running into during the game. It wouldn’t be a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game without mutants, though, and we won’t directly spoil anything, but be ready for a peek at these monstrosities.

Xbox Games Showcase 2024 gameplay trailer

This was followed up in June 2024 with a longer trailer that came as part of another Xbox Showcase at Summer Game Fest.

It offered a much more substantial look at the bleak world the game brings to life and gunplay across a vast array of weapon types.

Gameplay showcase

On August 13, 2024, a Stalker 2 Developer Deep Dive was shared on YouTube.

The 35-minute video features members of the creative team discussing the different aspects of the sequel, including its seamless open world which will feature 20 different regions. The amount of freedom in the game was also emphasized, as was the importance of player choice.

According to creative director, Mariia Grygorovych, you won’t be able to see all the game’s content in a single playthrough as the decisions you make will impact the story, quests, and people you can meet.

The majority of the footage took place in The Swamp environment where protagonist, Skif, embarked on a quest to reach the Clear Sky base which is home to one of the in-game factions.

You can check out the full showcase below:

What is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 about?

The game looks to have taken everything about the original release and made it bigger. The story is non-linear, with players able to decide the fate of The Zone via their actions in-game. The sequel takes place twenty years after the Chornobyl disaster, as activity in the area seems to be worsening.

Players take control of the enigmatic Stalker Skif, with many factions likely to return this time around. Duty, Clear Sky, Freedom, and The Bandits are all set to make their return, though how significant their roles will be is unclear.

More details on the story of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 are sure to come out as we get closer to its release, so be sure to check back here for all the latest information. In the meantime, we’ve also got hubs for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, GTA 6, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, Silent Hill 2, and Assasin’s Creed Shadows.