GSC Game World has announced that STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has officially gone gold. This signifies the completion of the game's development, with the master copy sent for mass production. While this should put concerns about further delays to rest, the case of Cyberpunk 2077 serves as a reminder that even a gold master doesn't guarantee a smooth launch.
A Long and Difficult Journey
STALKER 2's development has been long and challenging. After the cancellation of the initial project in 2011, the resurrected GSC Game World announced the game's revival in 2018. The planned 2021 release was pushed back multiple times due to development challenges and the impact of the war in Ukraine.
After a playable demo at Gamescom 2023 and further refinement, the current release date is set for November 20th on PC and Xbox Series S|X. The "going gold" announcement brings a sense of relief to fans who have eagerly awaited the sequel for over fifteen years since S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.
