In 2007, Stalker, an open-world survival game set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone after the nuclear power plant disaster, was introduced to players for the first time. The game built a massive fan base throughout the years that eagerly anticipated the sequel, which, after a few delays, is finally just 3 months away from release. To keep the excitement going, developer GSC Game World has recently shared a deeper look into what we can expect to see in the Zone.

The map of Stalker 2 is 64 km², compared to 30 km² in the first game, which is more than double the size! It consists of twenty regions, most of which are based on real locations, offering an opportunity to experience the authentic atmosphere of Chernobyl. One of these locations is the city of Pripyat. The developers have recreated the area with such meticulous detail that exploring it feels like taking a tour of Pripyat, once vibrant and now a ghost town.

Each region comes with unique inhabitants, anomalies, buildings, nature, and underground world of catacombs, caves, and X-labs with valuable treasures and intel. Many locations that were locked for players in Stalker, such as Church cellar, are now accessible.

Some regions are uninhabited, while others are full of life that isn’t always friendly, so you must stay vigilant. Unlike the first game, Stalker 2 presents the daily routines of people with whom you can interact and learn from their stories.

You take on the role of a stalker named Skif, an ordinary person with the freedom to travel to any of the twenty regions with almost no limitations. You can ignore the story and simply explore the world, or follow the storyline and engage in quests. Based on your choices, you’ll receive different quests that will lead to distinct scenarios.

Your character will face hunger, require sleep, and medication when ill, making survival more realistic. If these needs are not met, your efficiency will decrease, so you must constantly monitor your stalker’s condition and manage a sufficient supply of resources. Additionally, the weight you can carry is limited, and your movement will be slowed when overloaded.

Stalker 2 doesn’t use a traditional leveling system; instead, a character’s progress is based on the player’s knowledge gained from exploring locations and learning how to overcome hazards. The better you know the area, the more effectively you can navigate and avoid threats. Similarly, the more experience you have with handling weapons, the quicker you can take down your enemies.

You will have to scavenge areas for weapons, attachments, and upgrades. The game allows you to modify and upgrade gear to better suit your playstyle. The game offers a wide variety of weapons, 35 in total, and most weapons are obtained through exploration rather than through the storyline. As you progress in the game, you will also need a respirator, detector, and armor.

Radiation, anomalies, and a diverse range of enemies make the world dangerous for a lone stalker. Some areas are infested with zombies that keep rising unless you shoot them in the head. A wide variety of mutants with unique skills will challenge you to fight them efficiently, especially since some can imitate stalker voices to lure you into traps. You’ll face Blind Dogs, Pseudodogs with phantoms, Controllers who raise psi-radiation levels, skilled killers, and more.

Artifacts found in the Zone might enhance a character’s physical abilities, provide protection against radiation, or offer other useful effects. Artifacts are precious and can be traded for valuable resources or sold to other characters within the game.

GSC Game World has announced that there will be no delays and that the release of Stalker 2 is coming on November 20, 2024.