SUMMARY
- Stalker 2 is a highly anticipated title in the Stalker series, with the last game releasing in 2009.
- Fans have been awaiting the game ever since the trailer was dropped for the game last year.
Even in the absence of a release date, the hype around Stalker 2 seems to be high among the community. Recently unseen gameplay images of the anticipated game, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, have appeared. The images circulating on the Epic Games Store have sent a wave of speculation among fans.
Interestingly, the images had initially surfaced as leaks on a Reddit thread. However, they were no longer merely leaks when the images actually surfaced on the game’s official social media pages. The images on the Epic Games Store are also accompanied by the new “pre-order” images on the game’s social media pages such as Facebook.
HUD in Stalker 2
Unfortunately, not much could be gathered from the new images. However, one of the most notable things noticed is the new Heads-Up Display (HUD) in the game. The new HUD features a couple of new details like the red health bar, a larger ammo counter in the lower right corner, and a smaller radar at the top. Other than that, the other differences are insignificant. As per YouTuber ‘antitosolV’, the gameplay could be shown “any minute.”
The new updates and rumors emerging have forced some players to believe that the release date announcement could be made at the Xbox Developer Direct on January 18, 2023. Nevertheless, Xbox is yet to announce anything about the game and instead has only revealed 1st party games.
When is Stalker 2 releasing?
Earlier, it was already announced that Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will be released on the Xbox Game Pass service from day one. This has led many to believe that the brand could likely shadow-drop it anytime soon at the upcoming Xbox event.
Stalker 2 is said to be released in early 2024, probably the first half of the year. However, the developers are yet to confirm anything about the release date. The gameplay of Stalker 2 has been showcased at events like Gamescom, suggesting that the game could be released in its currently intended window.
Besides, eager fans have also spotted that the developers, GSC Game World, have changed their profile picture and cover picture on their official Facebook and X pages. This has also led to speculation that it could be a hint that an announcement is on its way.
The game has been in the making for several years now and has faced many difficulties. It was first announced in 2010, after which it was delayed multiple times for multiple reasons, the most recent being the Russia-Ukraine war. The developers, GSC Game World, are located in Ukraine. However, after the Russian invasion, the developers found the development of the game difficult.
