If you’re here Stalker, then you probably want to know when is Stalker 2 coming out, correct? Wonderful! Just know that that news is going to cost you 100 Roubles… Just kidding. Stalker 2 is scheduled for release sometime in December 2023.
Of course, considering the current state of things, a delay isn’t out of the cards just yet. If anything, it’ll be more surprising if the game doesn’t get delayed into the future, but, we’ll just have to wait till December to find out.
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Key Takeaways for When is Stalker 2 Coming Out
- Stalker 2 is scheduled for release sometime in December 2023
- The game features improved graphics, a captivating atmosphere, and a non-linear story
- Because of the ongoing Ukraine War, it’s highly likely that the game will be delayed into 2024
What Kind of Game is Stalker 2 Going to Be Like?
The Stalker series of games is a unique take on the post-apocalyptic genre. Instead of having the hopeful chaos of the Fallout series, in Stalker, there is no such thing. The moment you step foot into the world you realize that it’s a dark, depressing, and unforgiving wasteland that you’re stepping into.
This is the exact reason why so many people have been drawn to it over the years. It’s also the reason why games like Stalcraft exist, as the love of the world has permeated outside of the series.
What’s new in Stalcraft 2 then? For starters, the graphics look amazing. Compared to the graphics of the older games, it’s a complete day and night difference. The atmosphere has also received a great improvement as well. You can’t have a Stalker game without having the Stalker atmosphere, as it’s a core part of the experience.
Finally, we have a new story. Compared to the previous points, we know very little about the story. You play the role of an unnamed Stalker going about in the Zone. During your adventures, you’ll come in contact with a multitude of factions and individuals. We can only presume that the choices you make will greatly impact how your story turns out.
The devs claim that Stalker 2 will have a non-linear story. Hopefully, this means that the game will have a lot of replayability to it. Another question that players often ask is if there will be modding in the game, as modding is a core part of the series.
As of right now, there is no news regarding modding. Though, considering its popularity in previous games, we can only assume that it will be present to some extent in Stalker 2 as well.
Why Has It Taken So Long For Stalker 2 to Be Released?
The last Stalker game, Call of Pripyat, came out in 2009. Since then, it took more than a decade for us to receive any sort of Stalker-related news. GSG planned on releasing a Stalker 2 as far back as 2010, but a series of layoffs and general attrition had shrunk the developer’s studio by 75%, which made development impossible.
It took years for GSG to finally get back on their feet, and it wasn’t until the success of Cossacks 3 that the studio finally felt that it was in the right position to begin development of the next entry in the Stalker series.
Stalker 2 was finally announced in 2018, even though the game was technically still in its conceptual phase. That move was made by GSG to gather hype and support for the project, with the intent that it would cause enough clamor to net them a publishing deal at E3 2018.
And as it turns out, their bid actually worked out in the end. We finally received some gameplay footage at E3 2021, as well as an initial release date on the 28th of April, 2022. But, as we know, the project got delayed since then.
Another major hiccup for the project was the start of the Ukraine War. For a few months, the project was even put on hiatus as a result. Although, on June 14th, 2022, GSG stated in a developer diary that the project was still being worked on, albeit slowly.
Another major problem is the fact that many GSG employees either fled the country or joined the armed forces, which has greatly depleted the studio. With all those factors combined, it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see Stalker 2 being released in 2023. Still, it’s good to be hopeful.
While waiting for Stalker 2 to release, why not try out some of the games being released in August? And if those aren’t to your taste, there’s always July. It sure beats being bored, that’s for sure.
