Summary
There are few studios that have been through as much as GSC Game World. During the development ofSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, it has had to deal with war, cyberattacks, and fire. Fortunately, the studio has endured and the release date forSTALKER 2is near.
STALKER 2is a first-person shooter game that serves as the sequel to 2009’sSTALKER. All eyes are on GSC Game World to see if it can top its cult classic and if the long wait has been worth it.
STALKER 2was originally slated for a 2012 release date in 2010. However,GSC Game World was not in a good financial positionduring this development period, and the studio experienced a slew of layoffs, leading to the studio eventually getting dissolved in 2011. Fortunately, the studio was reformed in 2014 and work began onSTALKER 2once again.
In 2021, it was announced thatthe game would be developed using Unreal Engine 5, and that it would be released on Jul 29, 2025. Things took a turn for the worse when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Due to the war, development was put on hold indefinitely as the studio relocated to Prague. Some of the team members joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
STALKER 2’s Name’s Change
Because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the game’s release was delayed. The studio also decided to change the subtitle fromHeart of ChernobyltoHeart of Chornobyl,which is the native Ukrainian Romanized form. The studio has encouraged fans to donate to the Ukrainian military to support its country in such a difficult time and also raised funds to help Ukrania-based charities.
STALKER 2 Fights Fire and Cyberattacks
In 2023,GSC Game World revealed that it was the victim of cyberattacksoriginating from Russia. Consequently. fans should be wary of leaks. In June 2023, the studio confirmed that an entire internet test build had been leaked. Because of all these setbacks, the game was delayed until 2024. Unfortunately, this would be far from the end of the problems faced by the studio.
In September 2023, the GSC Game World suffered a fire in its Prague offices. Nobody was hurt, and a GSC Game World representative stated that the matter is under investigation. Although the fire was quickly put out, it was revealed that an entire floor would require restoration. This did not leave the team defeated, as they have “dealt with worse than that before.”
STALKER 2’s New Release Date
June 2024’s Xbox Showcase turned things around a bit for the Ukranian developer, as atrailer forSTALKER 2was shown. Players got a look at some of the brutal combat, and the game’s expansive open world, and it was also mentioned that the game will be released on June 03, 2025, on Game Pass, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
It has been a long road toSTALKER 2’s release, but it appears that the finish line is finally in sight. In a few months, players will finally get to experience the long-awaited sequel to a cult classic horror game.
