Summary
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobylis set to launch on November 20, coming toXbox Series X/SandPC. However, this is far from the first time it’s had a release date, as the game has now beendelayed five timesover the course of its lengthy development cycle.
This is incredibly understandable. Developer GSC Game Word is Ukranian, so development was interrupted by the Russian invasion in 2022. Despite this, Stalker 2 stayed in development, something that the devs say was possible because ofXbox’s unexpected support.
Stalker 2 Devs Say Xbox’s Support Has Been “Spectacular”
Speaking with us at Gamescom, GSC Game World’s PR manager Zakhar Bocharov is full of praise for Xbox.
“Personally, I never expected a corporation of this size to be so supportive,” Bocharovs says. “I can’t say the exact cases, but they helped in situations where they were not exactly supposed to. So they could easily [have said], ‘No, that’s not on us. That’s with you guys. Good luck. Figure it out’.
“I never expected a corporation to be this close to the developers who are in a bad situation,” he continues. “It was spectacular. That’s the professional connection we value a lot, because it would have been much different without them.”
More specifically, lead producer Slava Lukyanenka tells me that Xbox is currently helping the team optimise Stalker 2, particularly forXbox Series S.
On top of this, Bocharovs adds that Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond have been especially supportive, with Bond being a fan of the game.
Of course, Xbox’s management isn’t always being praised like this. This console generation has seen its judgement questioned heavily as, much like other industry giants, the company has carried out mass layoffs.
Xbox alsoshuttered four Bethesda studios earlier this year, including Tango Gameworks, who made the critically acclaimedHi-Fi Rush. Another studio that was closed down, Arkane Austin, madeRedfall, which was a failure for the company. However, the fact that Redfall launched in the state that it did in the first place led many to question Xbox’s leadership.
Yet in the case of Stalker 2, things appear to be faring much better. The team tell me that Xbox has never enforced a release date, despite the fact that it has a deal to bring Stalker 2 to Game Pass on day one. With any luck, this means that Stalker 2 will be with us when it’s ready.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the long-awaited follow-up to the apocalyptic first-person shooter. As a Stalker, you must venture into the deadly Exclusion Zone, contending with mutants and warring factions alike, in search of valuable artifacts.
