S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is finally making its debut. Here’s what you need to know about the most anticipated Ukrainian game.
1What is the secret to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'s success?
This first-person shooter, featuring elements of survival horror and role-playing games, has become a source of pride for Ukrainian game development, gaining recognition beyond Ukraine.
The game immerses players in an alternate version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where scientists began conducting experiments after the disaster, leading to yet another catastrophe.
As a result, anomalies—dangerous phenomena that defy the laws of physics—emerged around the power plant. Flames, lightning strikes, and whirlwinds. Aggressive mutants also appeared within the Exclusion Zone, and throughout the territory, scattered artifacts—objects with unique properties—can be found.
In search of these items for personal gain, stalkers began to infiltrate the zone.
The name S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is an acronym that stands for Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers, Robbers. Translated, it means Scavengers, Offenders, Adventurers, Solitaires, Killers, Researchers, Thieves.
2Many stalkers explore the territory alone, while some have banded together into various factions, each with its own philosophy. Some stalkers wish to destroy the Zone, considering it the greatest threat to humanity, while others, conversely, want to open it up to everyone.
The game's creators, the Ukrainian studio GSC Game World—also known for the historical real-time strategy series "Cossacks"—were inspired by real events at Chernobyl, the novella "Roadside Picnic" by Soviet authors Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, and the film "Stalker" by Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky.
The game became iconic due to its dark, eerie atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic world, the detailed recreation of the Chernobyl zone, and existential storylines that provoke thought about human nature and the cost of progress.
3Why is it called S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 if this is already the fourth game in the series?
Between the first game in the series, "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl," released in 2007, and the current sequel, there were two more installments: "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky" and "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat," which followed the first game.
"Clear Sky" serves as a prequel to "Shadow of Chernobyl." The game tells the story of a secret faction called "Clear Sky," which investigates the Zone and seeks to understand its origins. Players can participate in faction wars.
Meanwhile, "Call of Pripyat" takes place shortly after the events of the original game. In the storyline, the government, having learned that the path to the center of the Zone is open, initiates a reconnaissance operation using helicopters, but they crash. To determine the cause of the disaster, a former stalker and SBU agent are sent in.
These two installments are considered expansions to "Shadow of Chernobyl," meant to provide more details about the universe of the original game.
In contrast, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 represents an attempt to start a new chapter in the series' history, which is why the developers emphasized this in the title.
4Why has it taken so long for the game to be released?
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was first announced back in 2010, but just a year later, GSC Game World effectively ceased operations. The closure was due to financial difficulties and management crises. Some former employees founded a new studio, 4A Games, which created another well-known series of shooters—Metro.
After its revival in 2014, GSC Game World focused on the third "Cossacks," as developing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 required significant investment, and finding a publisher for such an ambitious and complex project was challenging.
Furthermore, the studio's own game engine had become outdated. However, the developers aimed to realize a grand vision with an open world, nonlinear narrative, and realistic graphics. Therefore, the game was transitioned to the modern Unreal Engine 5 by the American company Epic Games.
Another reason for the delay was the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Some developers had to evacuate to the Czech Republic, while others enlisted in the army.
Open world and nonlinear narrative—what will S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 surprise us with?
The developers have not provided many details about the plot of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. It is known that the events will also take place in an alternate version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where, in addition to the 1986 disaster, another catastrophe occurred.
According to the story, a second mysterious explosion at the nuclear power plant occurred in 2006, altering the landscape of the Zone and causing new anomalies, artifacts, and mutant creatures to appear.
Players will control a completely new character—a stalker nicknamed Scyth. As before, players must learn to survive, seeking ammunition, food, artifacts, and navigating the conflicts between factions, which now include new ones. Players can join a faction or remain independent.
Representatives of GSC Game World have promised to maintain a nonlinear narrative. This means that the course of the game and its ending will depend on the player's choices and relationships with other characters.
For the first time, the game world will be entirely open. According to the developers, its area will cover about 60 km², making it one of the largest open game spaces in the post-apocalyptic genre. Players will return to familiar locations from previous installments, as well as discover new ones.
GSC Game World PR manager Zakhar Bocharov explained that although players will have access to the entire world almost immediately, long journeys will require resources and preparation that newcomers might not have.
“The map is indeed large, [but in the game] there is no transportation. Many things need to be traded for food. All fast travel is based on money, so it’s closer to cooperation, where you’ll need to pay someone to transport you to another part of the Zone,” — Bocharov stated.
The developers also noted that they have completely revamped the "life and environment simulation" system, A-Life, making the game space more realistic and equipping mutants with artificial intelligence.
It is expected that factions and mutants will migrate, capture new locations, and retreat to other areas in case of defeat. This should add dynamism to the game world. Additionally, gameplay will be influenced by changes in time of day and weather.
5On what platforms can you play?
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has become an exclusive for the Xbox Series X console and Windows PC. The developers have not yet confirmed a release on PlayStation, although GSC Game World has not ruled out the possibility of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 being released on other platforms.
It is likely that the exclusivity for Xbox and Windows is due to an agreement with Microsoft. Details of this agreement have never been disclosed, but media reports suggest that the PlayStation version may appear at least three months or a year after the initial release. However, all of this remains speculation.
Ultimately, Microsoft does not own GSC Game World or the rights to the game, so PlayStation owners should not lose hope.
It is worth recalling that the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy remained a PC exclusive for almost 15 years. The developers have not ceased attempts to adapt the series for other platforms. Finally, in March 2024, all three original parts of the series were released on consoles.
What are the system requirements?
Given the realistic level of graphics and the open world, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is expected to require a powerful computer, especially on maximum settings.
Minimum system requirements
Operating system: Windows 10; Windows 11
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X; Intel Core i5-7600K
RAM: 8 GB
Graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 580 8 GB; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB
Disk space: 150 GB (preferably SSD)
Recommended system requirements
Operating system: Windows 10, Windows 11
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X; Intel Core i7-9700K
RAM: 16 GB
Graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 5700 8 GB; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 TI 11 GB
Disk space: 150 GB (