STALKER 2 Wins Xbox Excellence Award

GSC Game World’s STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl won the Xbox Excellence Award 2025. The Ukrainian studio announced the news with heartfelt gratitude, shouting out Xbox and the entire community for sticking with them through thick and thin.

From Cancellation to Comeback

Originally announced way back in 2010, STALKER 2 went through what can only be described as development purgatory. It faced multiple delays, reboots, and even total cancellation before rising from the ashes in 2018, when GSC Game World reopened its doors.

But the real test came in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced the studio, headquartered in Kyiv, to evacuate staff and relocate many of them to the Czech Republic.

A must-watch documentary titled War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 sheds light on this turbulent time. Some devs stayed behind. Some couldn’t leave. And somehow, through it all, STALKER 2 didn’t just survive—it launched to critical acclaim in November 2024.

In a social media post, GSC Game World said, “We are extremely grateful to Xbox and the entire gaming community for recognizing and supporting S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Your support and interest have been incredible from day one, and this award became possible thanks to you — the players who ventured into the search for Heart of Chornobyl.”

Microsoft has supported GSC Game World throughout this difficult journey, helping to produce the documentary about their struggles and giving the studio a platform during a 2022 Xbox showcase to share their story with players worldwide.

What’s Next for STALKER 2?

Post-launch support has been no joke. Each patch since release has packed in 1,000+ bug fixes and gameplay improvements. And there’s more coming. According to the studio’s 2025 roadmap, PvP multiplayer and Xbox mod support are expected to drop this summer.

Whether you already own the game or are just jumping in, STALKER 2 is available for $59.99. Of course, it’s also available through Xbox Game Pass, making it one of the best survival shooter deals on the platform.