Later this year, another Xbox console exclusive is making its way to the PlayStation 5:STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. This will be the latest in a string of former Xbox-only console titles that includes other major releases likeIndiana Jones and the Great CircleandForza Horizon 5.
Developer and publisher GSC Game World has announced thatSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylwill release on the PS5 in late 2025, after its initial release on Xbox and PC in November 2024 (viaGame Rant). The game will take advantage of the DualSense controller’s special capabilities, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and will also see improvements on the PlayStation 5 Pro. Since GSC Game World is not a subsidiary of Microsoft, andSTALKER 2was not published by Xbox Game Studios, it appears there was a time exclusivity deal which also saw the open-world survival game come to Game Pass upon its initial release.
STALKER 2 Is A 2024 Xbox Hit Coming To PS5
A Standout From 2024
STALKER 2was the long-awaited sequel to the cult-classic trilogy released in the late 2000s, now available in theLegends of the Zonebundle. The troubled development saw multiple delays, most recently because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where GSC Game World’s primary office is located.STALKER 2’s release continued to see issues, with widespread performance problems on PC, and controversy surrounding its limited implementation ofSTALKER’s trademark A-Life simulation systems.
STALKER 2’s A-Life 2.0 system simulates the inhabitants of the Zone surrounding the player, giving the illusion that events are organically happening between competing factions.
Even with its shortcomings at launch,we lovedSTALKER 2here atScreen Rantfor its exceptional atmosphere and incredibly satisfying yet tense gameplay loop. It’s an open-world survival horror first-person shooter that borrows many elements of immersive sims andtakes place in the Zone, an anomalous area that defies human comprehension. Post-launch updates have addressed many performance concerns and furthered the extent of A-Life 2.0.
Xbox’s PS5 Ports Keep Being Winners
A New Era For Xbox
Despite the heartbreaking turmoil surroundingmass layoffs at Microsoft,Xbox’s new strategy has been wonderful for players. Delayed releases on PlayStation 5 has ensured a wider audience can enjoy a lineup of excellent games. It started rather inconspicuously withHi-Fi Rush,Grounded,Sea of Thieves, and the underappreciatedGame of the YearPentiment, but has really been ramping up to include many high-profile blockbusters.
We’re still waiting for the likes ofHaloandStarfield, but barriers have already been broken withForza Horizon 5and the upcomingGears of War: Reloaded. The decline of Xbox hardware sales seems to have struck right as the brand finally started pumping out a lot of incredible first-party titles, but the shift in publishing strategy has only been a winner for consumers.STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylwill simply continue that trend, giving PS5 players another compelling ex-exclusive to look forward to.
Source:Game Rant
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a survival horror FPS game that picks up in the world where the first game’s expansion, Call of Pripyat, left off. Players will head deep into the heart of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone as they meet new allies, foes, and terrifying mutated creatures carving out their tale in a world ravaged by nuclear disaster years prior.
