Developer GSC Game World has decided to delay STALKER 2 until later this year.STALKER 2’s new release date has been pushed back to December this year, as announced on Twitter.
— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) January 12, 2022
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl will now be released on December 8, 2022, according to a statement from the development team.
STALKER 2 is the greatest project in the history of GSC, and it demands thorough testing and polishing. We are confident that development should take as long as it takes in the case of such a huge project.”
STALKER 2’s delay will likely disappoint some fans, some of whom have been eagerly anticipating its release for decades. The development of STALKER 2 has been rather bizarre and tumultuous over the years, having originally been announced in 2010 only to then be cancelled a year later. During 2012, reports surfaced that the game was “currently under development” without a release date after news broke in 2018 that GSC was developing the sequel.
Additionally, GSC’s statement notes that the decision to delay the game “has not been easy” but that it will hopefully allow them to make a “game that can live up to the expectations.”. The statement ends by explaining to fans that more details, updates, and showcases will be coming soon and that they have an “exciting and important year ahead.”.
If you want to learn more about STALKER 2, visit this article describing how GSC Game World reversed a decision to include NFTs in the game after receiving significant backlash from fans.