At the end of last month, developer GSC Game World announced that the release of the long-awaited S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl was postponed to November 20, 2024. Nevertheless, fans of the game were pleased with the news of the Developer Deep Dive on August 12, where detailed gameplay was demonstrated for the first time.

It was reported by GadgetNews.space.

Locations and atmosphere of the game

The developers describe the main elements on which the game’s atmosphere is built in five words: atmosphere, freedom, loneliness, sadness, and fear. They focused on preserving the main elements of the previous games in the series while creating something new and large-scale.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 offers a seamless and open world where the player has freedom of action and movement. The area where the game takes place is so huge that some of its locations could become independent games. In total, the game will have 20 locations. Some of them are based on real prototypes, while others are the result of the developers’ creative approach.

Gameplay features

The main character of the game is Scythian, a mysterious and silent man with a complex character. The first quest of the game offers players to play as him in search of artifacts, as well as customize weapons to access the Zone. Particular attention will have to be paid to the physical condition of the character — nutrition and rest are essential for effective combat against enemies.

One of the key features of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is that each passage will be different. This is made possible by the integration of artificial intelligence tools that evaluate the player’s actions, changing the attitude of the game’s characters towards him or her, and thus the course of the plot.

The game features 35 types of weapons that can be modified. There will also be new mechanics, such as the use of a “cushion” when falling, as well as limiting the weight of equipment, which will make players plan their actions more carefully.

An important innovation will be the introduction of group leaders, which will add a level of chaos and confusion similar to real life. The developers emphasize replayability, promising a variety of secondary tasks in the Zone.

Integration of artificial intelligence and cinematic approach

Each creature in the game has its own backstory, which adds a deeper level of immersion in the world. To achieve even greater realism, the developers used motion capture technology to add realistic animations and emphasize the emotions of the characters. Moreover, the game will have about three hours of cinematic scenes that will allow you to better understand the stories of the characters and the development of events.

After three years of active development, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl is called the most ambitious project of the Ukrainian gaming industry.