Ukraine Crisis Causes Setback: Microsoft’s Highly Awaited Game Postponed

The war in Ukraine has impacted the world in many unexpected ways. Besides the devastating human toll it’s taking, it’s also having effects on various aspects of life, including the realm of video games. After all, video games are also developed in Ukraine. And while it might be easy to assume that a country at war abandons everything else, that’s not the case. People continue to live their lives and try to maintain some semblance of normalcy, even if it’s often not exactly feasible.

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That’s what happened with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The game by GSC Game World, a studio based in Ukraine known for developing the cult classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, has been heavily affected by the war in Ukraine. And that’s not over.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl—originally Heart of Chernobyl but later changed to match Ukrainian pronunciation instead of Russian—was announced on May 15, 2018, to be released in 2023 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. At the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, GSC Game World had to pause the game’s development. Although they resumed the game’s development in May 2022, with part of the team relocated to Prague, another part of the team remains in Ukraine. This has led to an official delay of the game, albeit not a significant one: its new release window is the first quarter of 2024.

The game will be a first-person shooter with survival mechanics and elements of immersive simulation and horror, just like the original game. Featuring a cinematic story, it will take us to explore the heart of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, known as the Zone, where anomalies are said to occur, hiding valuable secrets for those who can uncover them.

Despite the delay, a gameplay trailer of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been released, showcasing the game’s visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5 and its close connection to the original game. It’s a testament to the creative resilience of the brave individuals at GSC Game World, who haven’t let even the Russia-Ukraine conflict destroy their creative spirit. With its release still on the horizon, the game remains highly anticipated.

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