GSC Game World is closing out the new year for its hit survival FPS, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, by teasing what is to come for the game in 2026.
Below, the developers released what seems to be just a somewhat empty video that could be used for a menu screen background, as nothing of significance happens across the six-minute runtime. Keen-eyed fans were able to translate the letters that sit to the right of the screen: ЧАЕС.
According to commenter @RafaelW8, “the letters spell ЧАЕС (ChAES), which stands for Чорнобильська атомна електростанція (Chornobylska atomna elektrostantsiia) – Which in short means Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant or CNPP for short.” The video ends in 2026, suggesting fans can expect the Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant DLC at some point next year.
Alongside the teaser, GSC Game World also released a message to its fans, thanking them for their “patience, passion, and support and that “it truly keeps them going.” Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl was originally announced in 2010, with a 2012 release date teased at the time.
After news of its possible cancellation circulated, GSC announced in 2018 that the game was back in development and hoped for a 2022 release. While the game was pushed back after Russia invaded Ukraine, where the developers are based, and then delayed a few more times, the title officially arrived on November 20, 2024.
Since its release, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has sold well, crossing the 1 million copies mark in just two days (excluding Game Pass). The developers have also released numerous free patches and extensive DLC, including major updates such as Night of the Hunter and Stories Untold, that add hours of gameplay and implement plenty of quality of life fixes.
is available now on Xbox Series X|S and PC (including Game Pass), starting at $59.99. The game was announced for PS5 a few months ago, but no exact release date or window has been provided. The original Stalker Trilogy is also set to get a next-gen update at some point, so be sure to keep your eye out for more news on that.
