The crew at GSC Game World released an in-engine gameplay teaser for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, which is meant to depict "how the game actually feels." Though the studio originally announced the sequel back in 2018, it didn't resurface until earlier this year. During Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase over the summer, the shooter bubbled to the top once more, complete with news that it would launch in 2021 as a console exclusive on Xbox platforms.
Based on the 1979 sci-fi film Stalker, which itself loosely takes inspiration from the novel Roadside Picnic, STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl launched in 2007 as an open-world FPS title. In the decade-plus since its release, the shooter has gained somewhat of a cult status, as so many were fond of its bleak setting and gameplay design. Fortunately, the little that's known about STALKER 2 suggests GSC Game World won't stray far from what fans love about the property.
Today, the studio let loose a first look at in-engine gameplay footage for STALKER 2. The teaser trailer runs a hair over 50 seconds in length, letting viewers get a sneak peak at a few environments and the game world's ever-present danger. In a statement, the team told IGN the video was designed to convey "how the game actually feels: fast-paced change of scenery, ominous landscapes and the ever-present feeling of an inevitable danger accompanied by a barely-distinguishable guitar soundtrack."
As of now, full-on gameplay has yet to be shown off. Still, this quick teaser trailer appears to offer a good preview of the development team's overall vision. And it's neat to see just how the developer is putting the Unreal Engine to use with environments, lighting, and weather effects. Now, the question is when GSC Game World plans to showcase more of the long-awaited sequel in action. Because the title has a nebulous 2021 release window, additional details could surface at almost any given time - akin to today's surprise teaser footage.
When STALKER 2 does eventually launch, it will mark the first time console players have been able to experience the franchise's gritty, post-apocalyptic setting. Although, PlayStation and Xbox users have explored another series that harbors some of STALKER's DNA. The much-beloved Metro series, also based on Russian literature, comes from 4A Games whose founding members once worked on STALKER ahead of the first game's debut.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is scheduled to be released on PC and Xbox Series X|S on an unspecified date in 2021.
Source: IGN
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