Summary
Fans patiently waiting for the release ofSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylwon’t have to wait much longer, as the game has finally gone gold, signaling the final stretch before its release. The July 18, 2025 release date ofSTALKER 2will mark the end of a lengthy development saga for the game, marked by multiple delays.
The originalSTALKER: Shadow of Chernobylgame from 2007 took inspiration from classic Soviet-era science fiction stories, setting the game in the “Exclusion Zone” surrounding the Ukrainian city of Chernobyl, which was depopulated by a nuclear reactor meltdown in 1986. Featuring realistic gunplay, challenging survival mechanics, and a tense, apocalyptic atmosphere,STALKERbecame a beloved classic among shooter fans, and arguably one of the earliest modern open-world survival games. Unfortunately for fans eager to see a sequel,STALKER 2’s development path has been a long, bumpy road, marked by delays, the dissolution and reformation of developer GSC Game World itself, and the outbreak of war between Ukraine and Russia. The saga was even the subject ofa documentary film calledWar Game: The Making of STALKER 2, focused on the series' history and the effects of the war on staff at GSC Game World.
That road, however, has reached a turning point. GSC Game World announced via the game’s official channels thatSTALKER 2has “gone gold.” The term “gone gold” is game industry parlance for when a game in development is officially considered ready for release, with gold-colored physical “master discs” printed and sent to distributors for duplication and delivery to stores. Thus, players can expect to see a release-ready game on PC and Xbox Series consoles on May 29, 2025, nearly 15 years afterthe very first announcement of aSTALKERsequel in 2010. The announcement also included a brief new trailer for the game.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Goes Gold, Details Pre-Order Bonuses
The trailer itself mainly consists of brief snippets of footage fromSTALKER 2emphasizing the game’s tense atmosphere, set against a slowly rising heartbeat. Between this and other released bits of info aboutSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylfeatures, it’s fairly clear that GSC Game World is looking to emphasize the sense of realism and immersion that drew players to the original series. GSC Game World also confirmed that players who pre-order the game will receive some bonus items for use in-game.
TheSTALKER 2pre-order bonuses seem to have some utility for players early in their Zone adventure. The “Veteran” rifle will have customized attachments and a built-in radiation meter, while the “Tourist” suit has optimized storage for items. Some bonuses contribute to the atmosphere ofa game set in Chernobyl, like the “Stalker” backpack with a special “Early Bird” squad patch, or the unlocking of additional guitar tunes and stories to listen to when resting at a campfire.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
WHERE TO PLAY
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a sequel to the award-winning game franchise developed by GSC Game World. Experience one-of-a-kind gameplay, featuring the elements of a first-person shooter, immersive sim, and horror. The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is a unique, dangerous and ever-changing environment. It promises a lot — the artifacts of unbelievable value can be yours if you dare to claim them. The price you may pay, on the other hand, is no less than your own life. One of the biggest open-worlds to date, filled with radiation, mutants and anomalies, is yours to explore. All the choices across the way not only define your own epic story, but influence the future itself. Be mindful about what you see, do and plan, as you will have to find your way through the Zone or be forever lost to it.
