Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl was set to bring the much anticipated sequel to platforms this April, but GSC Game World has issued a statement informing us of a delay. Now, Stalker 2 is targeting an end-of-year launch, specifically December 8th.
The news broke on the game’s official Twitter account, where the team behind the ambitious addition to the series shared the following reasoning:
Stalkers,
We have made a decision to postpone the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl to December 8th, 2022.
These additional seven months of development are needed to fulfill our vision and achieve the desired state of the game. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is the biggest project in the history of GSC, and it requires thorough testing and polishing. We are convinced that development should take as long as necessary, especially in the case of such a project.
This decision is not an easy one, but we are doing the best possible to deliver you a game that can live up to the expectations.
With more information, updates and showcases coming, we have an exciting and important year ahead. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
With love, GSC Game World team.
Needless to say, the news has disheartened eager fans, but it is undoubtedly the right move by the developer. Many likely vividly remember the rushed state of Cyberpunk 2077, a game still pending notable updates, and the lessons learned regarding the importance of ample development time. Furthermore, the industry has begun making moves to reduce controversial crunch time, which would be difficult to avoid with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s original release date it seems.
While the delay certainly stings, there are plenty of other titles with an impending release that should be on your radar.
