Stalker 2 pushed back to 2023 as studio reveals working conditions in Ukraine

GSC Game World, developers of Stalker 2: Hearts of Chornobyl, performed at the expanded Xbox Games Showcase. While the game itself is being pushed back to 2023, the studio assured players it’s still working on it amid the turmoil and war in its native Ukraine.

Xbox first accidentally revealed the game’s delay during its main showcase. It showed a list of games It was scheduled to be released on Xbox within the next 12 months, and Stalker 2 was on the list of games for 2023, as opposed to its then-projected release date of late 2022. GSC Game World confirmed this during the extended showcase – the new trailer just says “2023”.

GSC employees talked about the development in the middle of the Russo-Ukrainian war. They showed footage of their staff either evacuating or taking shelter during the first invasion. Several employees work in every safe house they can find and also help with the war effort. They all reiterate that despite the conflict surrounding them, they are absolutely keen to finish and release the game.

The new trailer is a film showing a truck seemingly entering the nuclear zone. It doesn’t reveal much about the game, but sets the atmosphere. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X and PC in 2023.