S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Reviews Embargo Lifts Two Hours Before Release

After years of anticipation, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally launching, and many are eager to see if GSC Game World has successfully captured the magic of the original. However, finding out will take a little longer than some might have hoped. According to Grant Taylor-Hill, senior editor at Insider Gaming, the review embargo for Heart of Chornobyl will lift at 5 PM Moscow time on November 20th—a mere two hours before the game's official release. This late embargo is unusual. Console versions are already in players' hands, and early impressions are circulating online. Some players have noted optimization issues on Xbox Series X. GSC Game World recently faced criticism over the game's system requirements, initially failing to clarify that the listed specifications relied on upscaling technologies. This omission led to some backlash from players.