S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl Leads Steam Sales Two Days Before Release

The popularity of "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl" reflects the high expectations of gamers worldwide. The limited physical editions and platform exclusivity further fuel the excitement, making it one of the most anticipated releases of 2024.

The project by GSC Game World, "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl," has become the most popular paid game on Steam. In the overall rankings, it trails only the free-to-play Counter-Strike 2, which has held the top spot for an impressive 640 weeks.

Leading Among Paid Games

For the second consecutive week, the Ukrainian-developed game has secured the number one spot among the best-selling paid titles. It has surpassed major hits like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the football simulator EA SPORTS FC. Remarkably, "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2" also outperformed several popular free-to-play games, including Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, and Dota 2.

Limited Editions and Release Date

The game is set to launch on November 20, following several reschedules. The physical edition quickly sold out, creating such demand that the developers announced an additional production run. However, buyers of this second batch won’t receive their physical copies until April 2024. Despite this, access to the digital version will be available on the release day.

The game will be exclusively available on Xbox Series X/S and Windows platforms, further fueling audience interest.

With the release just days away, you can explore all the game’s details. For those wondering whether their PC can handle S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Nvidia has released FPS benchmarks for its latest-generation graphics cards. The results show that a mid-range PC setup will be sufficient for a smooth gaming experience.

Conclusion

Interestingly, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series was almost unknown in the Western market until recently. However, Xbox's marketing efforts successfully intrigued and captured the attention of gamers worldwide. The project by the Ukrainian studio GSC Game World could have competed for the "Game of the Year" title, becoming a strong rival to the highly anticipated Black Myth: Wukong. However, due to its late release, it might not make it into the nominations. Still, in the hearts of fans, it could be an undisputed top 1!

Gamers won’t have to wait much longer—on November 20, they will finally have the chance to dive into the world of this long-awaited horror-shooter with its unique fantasy setting.