S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 release delayed to December 8th Rock Paper Shotgun Support us Join our newsletter Visit our store Sign in / Create account If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 delayed into December to try to "live up to the expectations" After a decade of waiting, sure, take your time News by Alice O'Connor Associate Editor Published on Jan. 12, 2022 19 comments Given that we've still only seen scraps of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 after years of development and with launch supposedly mere months away, I suppose it's not a surprise to hear the game is delayed. The developers, GSC Game World today announced that they've pushed the launch back by seven months, giving the first-person explore-o-shooter a new release date of the 8th of December. It's the usual perfectly sensible reason: they want it to be good, and they think it needs more time to be good. Watch on YouTube S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is the long-awaited sequel to GSC's trilogy of serious (and seriously splendid) shooters set in the irradiated Chernobyl exclusion zone, now swarming with scavengers, mutants, and science-defying anomalies. A great many words have been written on RPS about the wonders and importance of the series across the years. And given that we've waited over a decade for the full numbered sequel, with the company functionally dying in the middle, it doesn't matter so much that it's been delayed from April 28th. "These additional seven months of development are needed to fulfill our vision and achieve the desired state of the game," GSC Game World said in their statement today. "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is the biggest project in the history of GSC, and it requires thorough testing and polishing. We are convinced that development should take as long as necessary, especially in the case of such a project. "This decision is not an easy one to make, but we are doing the best possible to deliver you a game that can live up to the expectations." I don't know if it can live up to a decade of expectations, but I like that they're trying. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is now due to launch on December 8th, hitting Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Microsoft's Store, as well as Xbox. It'll cost £50, or alternatively be on Game Pass. Most importantly, a delay into December doesn't change its status as one of our most anticipated games of 2022. More News Jack King-Spooner's next handcrafted game has a teaser demo out Judero brings chat and action in the Scottish Borders Alice O'Connor 17 hours ago 1 If you were hoping for any Overwatch 2 balance changes then you'll have to wait until season two The next season begins in December CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 3 The Dead Space remake will chuck random Necromorphs at you as you wander the Ishimura In space, no one can hear you proper bricking it CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 8 Valve register mysterious new Neon Prime trademark in the US It doesn’t seem to be for a particularly colourful Steam Deck CJ Wheeler 20 hours ago 11 Latest Articles What are we all playing this weekend? Well? Alice O'Connor an hour ago 22 Past Wordle answers Here's an archive of previous Wordle words Ollie Toms 2 hours ago 1 Wordle answer today (Saturday 15 October) Hints and the answer to today's Wordle word Rebecca Jones 9 hours ago Overwatch 2 hero tier list Which are the best heroes in Overwatch 2? Ollie Toms 16 hours ago Supporters Only You're probably better than me at One Many Nobody You go on without… uh, you? Sin Vega 17 hours ago Supporter podcast - The Nate Files episode 13: dry bones Bad science is also FUN science! Alice Bell 18 hours ago Japanese dating show Love Wagon has surprising parallels with Yakuza and Persona My new obsession Ed Thorn 2 days ago If you're hankering after Bayonetta 3, Valkyrie Elysium might be a good substitute It's not out on PC until next month, but the console demo has been a surprise charmer Katharine Castle 1 week ago 4 We've been talking, and we think that you should wear clothes Total coincidence, but we sell some clothes Buy RPS stuff here