Stalker 2 u-turns on the decision to include NFTs

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"If you care, we care too"

Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl
(Image credit: GSC Game World)

GSC Game World – developer of the upcoming Stalker sequel, Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl – has u-turned on a decision to introduce NFTs into the highly-anticipated game.

The announcement came less than a day after the team announced an NFT-powered "Stalker Metaverse" and despite insisting Stalker 2 was "not a blockchain-based game" and that NFTs would have "no influence on gameplay", the studio was forced to reverse the decision following a vocal backlash from fans unhappy at the choice to include them. 

"We hear you," the studio said in a brief statement on Twitter. "Based on the feedback we received, we've made a decision to cancel anything NFT-related in Stalker 2. 

"The interests of our fans and players are the top priority for the team. We're making this game for you to enjoy – whatever the cost is. If you care, we care too."

The in-game NFT would have let the buyer appear in the game as a "metahuman" NPC, complete with a trip to the studio to be fully scanned. 

ICYMI, according to a recent update on the Xbox store, Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl will take up 180GB on your Xbox console.

We may have been waiting a decade at this point, but Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl will finally release next year on April 28, 2022. It was first revealed in 2010, but slipped into development hell, leading to a 12-year production cycle that even saw the game briefly canceled in 2012. Pre-order goodies for those prepared to buy it in advance include extended campfire content, exclusive weapon skin, exclusive armor skin, and an "early bird" multiplayer badge, too.

Here are five ways Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl can improve upon GSC Game World's iconic trilogy of survival-horror shooters.

Don't forget to check out more titles to add to your mental calendar in our upcoming Xbox Series X games and upcoming Xbox One games lists.

Vikki Blake
Vikki Blake
Weekend Reporter, GamesRadar+

Vikki Blake is GamesRadar+'s Weekend Reporter. Vikki works tirelessly to ensure that you have something to read on the days of the week beginning with 'S', and can also be found contributing to outlets including the BBC, Eurogamer, and GameIndustry.biz. Vikki also runs a weekly games column at NME, and can be frequently found talking about Destiny 2 and Silent Hill on Twitter.