STALKER 2 is pushed back, again

Did last month’s fancy STALKER 2 trailer really make you want to play the game, too? Well, tough luck, because we’re getting one more pushback, as per the developer GSC Game World’s official announcement. The silver lining is that it’s not that big of a pushback, all things considered.

As of now, STALKER 2 is slated to release in late-ish November due to GSC Game World needing a few more months to polish up the “unexpected anomalies” that have cropped up along the way. It’s not an ideal situation by any stretch of the imagination, but it is what it is, and it’s a simple fact of the matter that the studio has been beset by problems for quite a long while now. Between wars and fire-related problems, it’s not like the previous pushbacks have been unwarranted.

STALKER 2 is now due to launch on November 20

GSC Game World’s Game Director Yevhen Grygorovych didn’t mince any words in his recent email announcement: “We know you might be tired of waiting, and we truly appreciate your patience. These two additional months will give us the chance to fix more “unexpected anomalies” (or simply “bugs”, as you call them). We are always grateful for your ongoing support and understanding – it means the world to us. We’re just as eager as you are to finally release the game and for you to experience it for yourself,” he said. With the game now due to release late in November, it’s an understandable measure, albeit not one that’s going to be taken kindly by everyone in the community.

For context, STALKER 2 has been postponed a fair number of times, the latest having been given out early in 2023. This time around, GSC Game World has taken to joking on its own expense with the cheeky video featured above. It’s cute, for what it is, and it might make the news easier to digest for some fans.

Another tidbit that might make this whole ordeal a tiny bit better is the fact that we’re getting a load of new game information materials on August 12. As per GSC Game World’s announcement, we should expect:

• Interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of how the sausage is being made
• New in-game footage featuring “world overview[s], various locations, gameplay and cutscenes”
• And a full gameplay walkthrough of one of STALKER 2‘s quests

Not bad, right? And don’t forget: if it’s STALKER-style vibes you’re after, you can always try jumping into Escape From Tarkov‘s single-player mod, now with full Pokémon Trading Card Game (collectible) support.