Stalker 2 Possibly Delayed To A 2024-2025 Release Window

Stalker 2 has experienced a lot of delays in its development, like the previous installments. The Russian-Ukraine war has also contributed to the longevity of development recently. The game was initially slated for the first half of 2023, but it appears to have been delayed once again.

Major Takeaway:

• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl appears to have been delayed to a 2024-2025 release window.
• The halt in the release has to do with the majority of GSC Game World studio employees quitting.
• The official release date is still set for 2023 thus far.

The new rumor suggests Stalker 2 has been pushed farther than 2023. The fable was brought by the editor-in-chief of iXBT Games, Vitaly Kazunov, noting his sources. Initially covered by Cybersport, Stalker 2 has been propelled to a 2024-2025 release window.

According to the insider, GSC Game World studio still does not have a working game. The project is apparently in a dire state; it is in the process of “permanent repairs” due to various significant developers quitting the company. The employees that worked on Stalker 2 since the beginning left the studio without any documents to assist the new developers.

Details like how particular locations should look in Stalker 2 are in the air. This has caused a massive disruption in development, leading to developers redoing the work or making prominent alterations, as cited by the insider. GSC Game World studio is also suffering from a high turnover of staff, which amplifies the situation even more.

The rumor also has many missing links in it; it would be improbable for Stalker 2 to be up for pre-order if it was still in the early phases of development. However, the pre-orders were unexpectedly canceled on September 7th without any explanation.

GSC Game World studio had also iterated in the past that Stalker 2 is planned for 2023, and an official announcement would have followed if it was delayed. Xbox also included a trailer for Stalker 2 in the Xbox summer showcase, which is unlikely if the game was still in skeletal stages.

All in all, we suggest taking this rumor with a grain of salt. It is not new for the Stalker franchise to experience a myriad of delays, especially knowing the current world circumstances. The developers of the fourth installment have not yet elaborated on the rumor; the title still officially aims for the first half of the 2023 release window.

The survival horror takes place in an alternate world where an unforeseen anomaly haunts Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. All the physical, biological, and chemical laws are impacted in that territory. Stalker 2 scours the non-linear story with many routes to select from, leading to numerous endings.

Stalker 2 incorporates mechanics like hunger, sleeping, bleeding, and radiation effects that will bump up the constant struggle to survive. The highly-end artificial intelligence will produce a formidable narrative. Moreover, Stalker 2 will also focus on its mod-support that will keep the community engaged for years.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is being brewed in Unreal Engine 5, and the first-person horror survival shooter is only slated for next-generation Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S consoles, and PC. The game will also evidently come out on the Xbox Game Pass.

What are your thoughts about Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl being delayed once again? Do let us know your opinions in the comments below.

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