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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Ultimate Edition cover

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Ultimate Edition 2024

Shooter by GSC Game World, published by GSC Game World.

Xbox Series X|S PC (Microsoft Windows) PlayStation 5 Shooter Role-playing (RPG) Adventure ESRB: M
87
Critics
aggregate score
85
Players
IGDB rating
81%
Very Positive
109,065 Steam reviews
10,008 playing now
on Steam
37 h to beat
main story, 123 h for everything
0 awards won
4 nominations

About

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Ultimate Edition came out on November 20, 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, then for PlayStation 5 on November 20, 2025. On Steam, 81% of 109,065 player reviews are positive (Very Positive). 10,008 people are playing it on Steam right now, with a peak of 13,400 in the last 30 days. Valve rates it Unsupported on Steam Deck. The main story takes about 37 hours, doing everything about 123 hours. It was nominated for 4 awards.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Ultimate Edition Contains: P.H.Y.S.I.C.A.L. - Steel Book (Ultimate art) - Letter From Developers - Souvenir Zone Permit - Sticker Pack - Zone Map - Poster - Faction Patches - Military Token - Keychain (Multi-tool) with Fire Starter - Art Book - Stalker Figurine - Artefact Container Lamp - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Backpack (Pre-Order Bonus): - Extended campfire content - Exclusive weapon skin - Exclusive armor skin - 'Early bird' multiplayer badge D.I.G.I.T.A.L. - Special Extra Quest - Digital Artbook - Official Soundtrack - 2 Story Expansions - SEASON PASS (Single-Player Campaign) - 1 Costume, 3 Weapon skins (Multiplayer) - 3 Costumes, 7 Weapon skins (Steam Exclusive Content) - Dynamic Theme - Animated Avatar - Avatar Frame (Pre-order Bonus) - Extended campfire content - Exclusive weapon skin - Exclusive armor skin - 'Early bird' multiplayer badge

Story

One of the biggest open-worlds to date, filled with radiation, mutants and anomalies, is yours to explore. All the choices across the way not only define your own epic story, but influence the future itself. Be mindful about what you see, do and plan, as you will have to find your way through the Zone or be forever lost to it. Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has changed dramatically after the second massive explosion in year 2006. Violent mutants, deadly anomalies, warring factions have made the Zone a very tough place to survive. Nevertheless, artifacts of unbelievable value attracted many people called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who entered the Zone for their own risk striving to make a fortune out of it or even to find the Truth concealed in the Heart of Chernobyl. Take over a role of the lone stalker and explore photorealistic seamless open world in a 64-km² radioactive zone with a variety of environments that reveal post-apocalyptic atmosphere from different angles. Make your way through the Zone to define your destiny as you choose your paths within highly branching epic story.

What is happening now

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a first-person shooter-RPG set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, released in November 2024 across PC and current-generation consoles. The game's development was notably complicated, with its budget becoming a point of industry discussion following a Game Pass deal that reportedly exceeded production costs. Since launch, GSC Game World has maintained focus on the title through substantial updates. Update 2.0 marked a significant effort to re-engage players, while the studio prepared the expansion "Cost of Hope" for release in August. The coverage reflects both curiosity about the project's financial backing and recognition of the challenges the developer faced throughout production.

How long to beat S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Ultimate Edition

from 6 players
Main storyrushing through the story
37 h
Main + extrasstory plus side content
72 h
Completionisteverything the game has
123 h

More in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series

All 5 games in order
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope cover
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope
2026 · 6 stories
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat cover
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
2009
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky cover
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
2008
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl cover
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
2007

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Awards

0 won, 4 more nominations
British Academy Games Awards 2026
Nominated: Game Beyond Entertainment
Other awards 2024
Nominated: Steam Award for Game of the Year Nominated: Steam Award for Most Innovative Gameplay Nominated: Steam Award for Outstanding Story-Rich Game

Media

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Ultimate Edition screenshot
Watch trailer 1 Watch trailer 2 Watch trailer 3 Watch trailer 4

Releases

Platform
Date
November 20, 2024
November 20, 2024
November 20, 2025

Earliest full release on each platform; regional dates can differ.

PC and Steam Deck

Steam store page

Steam Deck: Unsupported Valve reports it does not run

Minimum
Recommended
OS
Windows 10 x64 / Windows 11 x64
Windows 10 x64 / Windows 11 x64
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
Intel Core i7-11700 / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Memory
16 GB RAM
32 GB RAM
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB / Intel Arc A750
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti / Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 / AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
Storage
160 GB available space
160 GB available space
Additional Notes
Graphics Preset: LOW / Resolution: 1080p / Target FPS: 30. 16 GB Dual Channel RAM. SSD required. The listed specifications were evaluated using TSR and comparable technologies.
Graphics Preset: HIGH / Resolution: 1440p / Target FPS: 60. 32 GB Dual Channel RAM. SSD required. The above specifications were tested with TSR, DLSS, FSR and XeSS.

Will it run on my PC?

Your numbers stay in this browser.

Requirements and Deck status as listed on Steam, checked Oct 28, 2026.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Ultimate Edition player count

concurrent players on Steam
10,008playing now31m ago
10,008peak today
13,40030-day peak
13,400highest we have seenOct 25, 2026
Oct 23: 10,323 Oct 24: 11,852 Oct 25: 13,400 Oct 26: 10,129 Oct 27: 10,715 Oct 28: 10,642 Oct 29: 10,084 Oct 30: 9,953 Oct 31: 11,454 Nov 1: 13,222 Nov 2: 10,008
Oct 23daily peak, last 11 daystoday

Players counted on Steam every one to six hours; the daily peak is the highest count of the day.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Ultimate Edition achievements

76 achievements on Steam

Rarest

Miracle hoarder Collect all artifacts. What about arch-artifacts?
1.5%
Bingo Experience the effects of bleeding, sleep, hunger, alcohol, radiation and psi. Doesn't sound pretty.
1.6%
Wardens drool
1.6%
Voices of the Zone
1.6%
Stalker's smarts
1.9%
Scanning complete
1.9%
All 76 achievements by how many players unlocked them
BOOM! 20 enemies killed by blowing up the surroundings. Save on hand grenades and enjoy the fireworks.
2%
Flash Royal Gather all armor and gear enhancement flash drives.
2%
The draw of the Flare
2.6%
Battle on – and win your battle!
2.8%
His last order
3%
In the heart of the enemy
3%
Today never ends
3.1%
Contra spem spero
3.1%
This is our Duty
3.2%
The times of Freedom
3.2%
The end of the Golden Era
3.3%
Freedom of Choice
3.4%
The four winds Unlock the whole map. Few folks know the Zone this well.
3.5%
Catching up Shoot an incoming grenade to make it explode. Nice view!
4.2%
Curiouser and curiouser! Collect all arch-artifacts. A priceless collection, arguably too weird, even by Zone standards.
5.1%
Kilometer Zero
5.2%
Goodnight Get 20 covert kills. The Zone likes it quiet.
5.3%
It's a no-brainer!
5.5%
Shadows of the idols
5.7%
Get your hands dirty
5.7%
Wiped out Kill a Rodent using a grenade launcher. A good wipe-out makes the Duty proud.
5.9%
Welcome back
5.9%
The territory of the future
6.4%
Between the lines
6.6%
Brave new world
7.3%
Loner shooter Shoot an enemy in the head from 75 meters. No scope-peeking!
7.7%
Casus Belli
7.9%
Tit for tat Sidorovich's worst nightmare: buy and sell goods for the exact same amount of coupons in one deal.
8.1%
Project Y
8.5%
One awkward step
9%
High voltage
9%
She will never be free
9.9%
On a leash
11.6%
Keeping your hands steady Shoot an enemy in the head, through an obstacle, having the intoxication effect.
12.7%
The good ol' days
12.9%
Merry-go-round Drop a corpse into the Whirlgig anomaly. A joy for someone who never got to ride the Ferris Wheel.
14.4%
Legends never die
14.7%
No obstacle too big… Kill 50 enemies through obstacles. No one in the Zone is really safe.
16.5%
Apple-shot
16.7%
All quiet in the Zone
16.7%
Can opener Use a knife to kill an enemy wearing an exoskeleton. Epic battle indeed.
17.3%
Alas poor Yorick
19.5%
Bouncy A successful jump from a 30-meter height. No parachute, though.
22.7%
The Prypiat guardian
23.5%
Zone's deadliest predator Kill a mutant of every kind. You'll need a bigger wall to fit all those trophies!
24.6%
Run, stalker, run! That Chimera made you run like an Olympic champion!
25.5%
Living legend
25.5%
Doctor's oath
26.3%
Baptism by fire
27.2%
I see you have many questions
28.5%
Coupons to burn Spend over 1,000,000 coupons. Myklukha and Sidorovich will fight hard over their favorite customer.
28.6%
Such is the will of the Monolith
28.9%
Monolith envoy
28.9%
Taking it for granted Gear broken beyond repair. Don't forget to pay regular visits to the technician.
35.8%
Peace and quiet Kill everyone in the camp before the alarm is set off. They couldn't see it coming!
35.9%
Personal approach One fight, four enemies, killed by different weapons. That trick would charm the hell out of Mavka!
36.1%
Your move!
38.3%
House of glass
38.9%
Eyes on the prize
41%
The good, the bad and the ugly 5 headshots in 10 seconds. Good eye.
42.3%
Would you like some toast?
51%
Pump it up Fully enhance any type of weapon. Somewhere out there, a Zone technician just shed a tear of pride..
53.6%
Clincher 100 enemies shot in the head. Not bad for a head start…
58%
On the go Bread and sausage — Zone's most popular sandwich recipe.
63.3%
Good hunting, stalker
63.6%
First touches First equipment enhancement. Never the last, for most Zone folks.
64.5%
Proxy Kill a squad that just finished off another squad and won the fight. Or so they thought…
64.8%
Lockpick Lure a mutant into an anomaly. Hardly a noble deed, but it gets the job done.
66.4%
Goss Join Stalkers for some campfire gossip.
66.8%
Welcome to the Zone Prologue complete, but this is so far from over.
85.9%

Share of Steam players who unlocked each achievement.

In the news

7 stories
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl 2.1 adds A-Life NPC visualisation distance options
1 outlet · Oct 26, 2026
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl version 2.1 update ‘The Zone Lookout’ now available
1 outlet · Oct 26, 2026
Free Play Days – ARC Raiders, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, Screamer, and More
1 outlet · Oct 8, 2026
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Update 2.0 – GSC May Have Finally Pulled It Off
1 outlet · Aug 21, 2026
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl expansion ‘Cost of Hope’ launches August 20
3 outlets · Jul 28, 2026
GSC Game World Debunks Founder’s Claim About S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl’s Budget
1 outlet · Jul 23, 2026
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl’s Game Pass Deal Was Bigger Than The Game’s Budget
1 outlet · Jul 22, 2026