Stalker 2 Release Date and Platforms

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been in development for a long time, and that process will continue into 2023. Fans of the original post-nuclear-fallout survival-horror/shooter hybrid may be eagerly awaiting GSC Game World's gorgeous-looking sequel, especially given it was first announced (and even canceled) a decade ago. When is Stalker 2's release date? Which platforms will it be on? What are the system requirements and more, in our article.

When Is Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl's Release Date?

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl was previously set to launch in 2021, but that date obviously came and went. Stalker 2 was then dated for April 28, 2022, but that also passed.

Since then, the development team has been directly affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and while development is continuing, it's understandably moving slowly. As a result, the game currently has no release date. Given that it was once planned for 2021, it's possible the team isn't far from completion even in the middle of a turbulent situation like a real-life war.

After the war broke out, Xbox released a trailer to support the development teams working in Ukraine, sometimes literally on the front line. As you can see for yourself below, this video largely focused on the team at GSC Game World. As you may have noticed, the game's name was also slightly changed to reflect the Ukrainian spelling, "Chornobyl."

Which Platforms Will Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl Be On?

Stalker 2 will launch on PC and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one for both console and PC subscribers. Currently, a PlayStation launch hasn't been announced yet, but a leak seems to suggest the game will be timed-exclusive to Xbox consoles for three months. After that, we may see the game head to other console platforms, but a Switch version (unless it's a cloud version) doesn't seem very likely given the game's demanding specs and its being exclusive to the current generation.

What Are Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl's PC System Requirements?

GSC Game World hasn't yet revealed the specs required to play the game on PC. We know that the console version launching on Xbox Series X|S will be platform-specific and therefore won't run on Xbox One hardware.

Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl Pre-Order

Stalker 2 has been open for pre-order for a while now on both of its announced platforms, including Xbox and PC (via Steam). More recently, however, it was reported that Xbox is offering refunds and has closed pre-orders, likely due to the uncertain situation as the game continues to be worked on under dangerous conditions. Pre-orders on Steam were still available as of December 2022, so it's likely this comes down to how Xbox has chosen to operate differently from Valve when it comes to uncertain pre-orders.

This pause in Stalker 2 pre-orders is expected to be just that — a pause. The game's pre-order should become available again on Xbox in due time.