After a challenging development cycle, Ukraine-based developers GSC GameWorld have announced the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl on PC and Xbox Series X/S. Players will be heading once more into the exclusion zone, where mutated creatures, deadly radiation and strange energy readings threaten their lives. A new launch trailer can be seen below providing a peek into this highly dangerous region.
The fictional Chornobyl Exclusion Zone of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has changed a lot since the second explosion of the power plant in 2006. Violent mutants, warring factions and deadly anomalies plague the region but that hasn’t stopped the stalkers who enter the Zone to find their fortune or uncover the truth.
Taking the role of Skif – a lone stalker, who enters the Zone after a series of unforeseen events, players will be able to explore a photorealistic open world where they will encounter a number of different people that may or may not be friends. It will be up to players to decide who is worthy of friendship or a bullet. Players will experience a non-linear story where every decision made within the Exclusion Zone has an impact on the outcome.
A variety of horrifying mutated creatures will hunt the players down and will follow a different behaviour model, making their actions unpredictable. This will prove especially challenging in areas with lairs of multiple different mutants. Fortunately, players will have more than 30 different types of weapons with numerous modifications to make many lethal combinations.
Hidden in the most dangerous places are highly valuable artifacts that will help unlock the secrets of the Zone. Players will need to beware of the hazardous anomalies and unique devastating arch-anomalies. It takes a brave stalker to reveal the mysteries of the Zone that took the lives of many others before.
Featuring:
- Blend of horror, survival and FPS mechanics.
- A non-linear storyline with branching pathways to different endings.
- An advanced AI system.
- Immersive survival mechanics, including hunger, sleeping, bleeding, radiation effects.
- A dynamix day/night cycle and weather systems to add even more realism.
- Multiplayer mode to arrive after release.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is available now on Xbox Series X/S and Steam. Xbox Game Pass owners can also expect the game to arrive on Game Pass.
