S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Tops Steam Charts Days Before Launch

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has claimed the number one spot among paid games on Steam, just two days ahead of its much-anticipated release.

The game, developed by GSC Game World, trails only behind the free-to-play Counter-Strike 2 in the platform’s overall rankings.

The game has outperformed major titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the latest EA SPORTS FC (formerly FIFA)—despite a 50% discount—along with popular free-to-play hits such as Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, and Dota 2.

In Kyiv, anticipation is growing as the “Parus” skyscraper features a massive advertisement for the game. The building’s owner, Maksym Kryppa, is also the owner of GSC Game World. Built in 2006, the skyscraper held the title of Ukraine’s tallest building until the “Gulliver” business center surpassed it in 2008.

The development of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has officially reached the “gold” stage, signaling that production is complete. Physical copies are now being prepared for release.

The game is set to launch on November 20 for PC and Xbox Series platforms, with immediate availability on Xbox Game Pass.

Earlier, Russian authorities issued a warning regarding the potential legal repercussions of purchasing the upcoming video game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, developed by Ukrainian GSC Game World.