S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing six million players just over three months after its release. This success is particularly noteworthy given the game's tumultuous development, which was marked by numerous delays and challenges faced by Ukrainian developer GSC Game World.

The long-awaited sequel, released in November 2024, is the fourth mainline entry in the STALKER series, arriving 15 years after 2009's Call of Pripyat. Players once again step into the boots of “stalkers”, exploring the atmospheric post-apocalyptic exclusion zone surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Various updates have been released since the game launched, squashing thousands of bugs and improving AI, balancing, optimisation, and various systems.

GSC Game World expressed its gratitude to the community for its support. The game's development was fraught with difficulties, including conflict, cyberattacks, and a devastating fire, leading to multiple delays. This milestone is a testament to the team's resilience and the enduring passion of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fans.

Players have praised the game's immersive atmosphere and gameplay, with many commenting on the feeling of returning to Pripyat. The community has also expressed excitement for the game's upcoming DLC and provided valuable feedback, including requests for a New Game Plus mode. GSC Game World previously announced it would share a content roadmap for the game, but nothing has been shown yet. While some details are still pending, this roadmap was supposed to include post-launch content, including a free PvP multiplayer mode and at least two paid DLC expansions.

KitGuru says: Have you already tried S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2? Does it stand on par with its predecessors?