Then there's an expedition into a bleak-looking swamp to find an artifact. We also see some on-the-fly weapon modding, some rather nice-looking explosions, and an encounter with a bloodsucker-a monster seasoned Stalker players are quite familiar with. It's a bit more Call of Duty than we'd expect from Stalker combat, which typically involves being real careful and not rushing headlong into a group of enemies. Then we get a look at some gunplay as a Stalker, named Skif, raids a camp. It begins, as everything Stalker-related should, with a group of mercenaries sitting around a fire while someone plays the guitar. The future is unknown, but we hope for the best, are ever sure of our armed forces and our belief in Ukraine."Ībove you can point your eager anomaly detectors (your eyes, I mean) at the Stalker 2 trailer shown at E3. When Russia declared war on February 24, it was one of the first game development studios to speak out, with a statement that read, in part: "Our country woke up with the sounds of explosions and weapons fire, but is ready to defend its freedom and independence, for it remains strong and ready for anything. GSC Game World is based in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine. How has Stalker 2 been affected by the war? Stalker 2's official site states the PC version will launch simultaneously with the Xbox version. It just means PlayStation owners will be out of luck. That's a confusing phrase, but it doesn't mean PC players will have to wait. Yes! The Stalker series has always been on PC, but Stalker 2 is also a "console launch exclusive" on Xbox. Though development has now resumed, it seems likely the release date will need to be pushed back again. However, that was before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which forced GSC Game World to suspend work. I'm sure it won't be at 4K and more like 1080p 120FPS for a game as good-looking as STALKER 2.The Stalker 2 release date is December 8, 2022, according to a statement from GSC Game World in January, which explained that it was being delayed from its previous April date so the developers could "fulfill our vision". STALKER 2 will be running at 4K with ray tracing on the Xbox Series X console, with "unparalleled loading times, visuals, responsiveness" and up to 120FPS support. Read more: STALKER 2: Xbox and PC exclusive for 3 months, sorry PS5 gamers.Read more: STALKER 2 has new protagonist, a stalker named Skif.Read more: This is our very first look at STALKER 2 - with in-game footage shown.just a really nice touch in an otherwise beautifully detailed (with amazing lighting and shadows) scene. Even when one of the characters walks across a plank of wood at the 2:20 mark or so, the plank is loose and so it moves as he steps over it. The graphics are mighty impressive, with some of the best lighting and shadows that I've seen in a game, and a huge upgrade to the facial animations. The new STALKER 2 gameplay footage teased everything we need to see: the graphics, the open-world, gameplay, the guns, enemies, and more. A brand new gameplay video was unleashed during the Xbox E3 2021 showcase, with STALKER 2 also renamed to STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl.