Story, factions, connections to the predecessor: We go on a hunt for clues for you and find tons of exciting info in the Stalker 2 trailer.

Stalker 2 could be one of the most exciting shooters of 2023. A new gameplay trailer for the long-awaited sequel to Shadow of Chernobyl and Call of Pripyat was recently released, causing a stir in the video game community: finally, there was more to see about the Unreal Engine 5 graphics and the game mechanics.

We have drawn seven particularly important conclusions from the video for you and put them into context in the following overview. Take a look at the latest trailer for Stalker 2 yourself before we get started:

Stalker 2 could be one of the most exciting shooters of 2023. A new gameplay trailer for the long-awaited sequel to Shadow of Chernobyl and Call of Pripyat was recently released, causing a stir in the video game community: Finally, there was more to see about the Unreal Engine 5 graphics and gameplay mechanics.

We have drawn seven particularly important conclusions from the video for you and put them into context in the following overview. Take a look at the latest trailer for Stalker 2 for yourself before we get started:

By the way,

Stalker 2 is currently being developed under anything but normal conditions. The Ukrainian developer studio GSC World Games is directly affected by the Russian invasion. You can find out more about this and also details on the story and development of Stalker 2 at the following link:

Stalker 2: Everything you need to know about Heart of Chernobyl (UPDATE)

7 important details from the Stalker 2 gameplay

Varta vs. Monolith

In the previous Stalker games there was already a whole range of different factions that sometimes got along with each other more, sometimes less. Stalker 2 throws a completely new group into the mix, about which concrete information is still scarce. But Varta (the faction, not the battery) has already made an appearance in previous trailers and teasers.

The latest gameplay trailer for Stalker 2 could now once again show Varta members that we as players will have to deal with. However, things don”t really go well for Varta in the gameplay scenes shown. In the trailer, a hooded figure, whose outfit is strongly reminiscent of that of the fanatical Monolith cult, wipes the floor with the Varta colleagues.

By the way, Varta can be translated into German as Guardian or Be worthy . So Varta could become one of the more virtuous factions of Stalker 2 – if that is even possible in the universe of the video game. One thing is definitely certain, however: Varta are not bandits – their leader Colonel Korshunov can possibly be seen at minute 01:33, the Monolith chief again at 02:16.

Good old Bloodsucker

In the latest gameplay trailer for Stalker 2, a rather ugly brat makes an appearance, but he is definitely no stranger: the Bloodsucker. The beau is more or less the figurehead of Stalker, or rather of the mutated horrors that emerge from the contaminated zone around Pripyat.

Not surprisingly, the Bloodsuckers of the Stalker universe are not easy to deal with and the mutants are out for the blood of the human mercenaries. Especially at the beginning of previous games, Bloodsuckers are a threat that should not be underestimated and eat careless beginners for breakfast. It would be a direct surprise if the Bloodsuckers of Stalker 2 were not at least as good at dealing and taking punishment.

Why are there screws being thrown

If you”ve never played a Stalker before, you might be wondering: Why the hell is the character throwing screws around in the new gameplay scenes?  There”s a pretty simple answer to that: the game world of Stalker is full of so-called anomalies, most of which turn out to be deadly or at least quite dangerous when touched – they can, for example, burn, electrocute or give careless stalkers a good smack.

By throwing screws around, these anomalies can be discovered and sometimes even activated on purpose, so that you can sneak past them at a safe distance. By the way, anomalies can also produce the extremely rare and valuable artefacts that stalkers lick their fingers for. After all, the parts can be made into expensive money or even bring certain playful advantages.

Other important details

For nostalgics and Stalker veterans, there is of course a lot to discover in the latest gameplay trailer for Part 2. Various details and touches that were already features of the previous Stalker games can be found again. The following features caught our eye:

• Familiar designs and features: With the weapon selection (such as sawed-off shotgun or AK-47), the design of the loot containers and even the player inventory, the developers of Stalker 2 have taken direct inspiration from the predecessors. In the Unreal Engine 5, of course, it all looks much sharper, but all the more familiar.
• Familiar areas: At minute 01:07 the area Garbage can be recognised for a moment, at minute 01:26 the area Outskirts. Of course, since Stalker 2 is set in the same area as its predecessors, it is unsurprising that we return to old familiar places.
• Does Sidovorich return? At minute 00:55 we can make out an NPC who certainly reminds us of the NPC Sidovorich from previous Stalker games. Sidorovich was one of the first people to enter the Zone and has been a trader there ever since. In Clear Sky and Shadow of Chernobyl Sidovorich already played an important role – in Call of Pripyat he was only mentioned.
• Does Doctor return? At minute 00:31 and 01:17, the NPC is also suspiciously reminiscent of an old acquaintance: Doctor, whom Stalker veterans will recognise from Shadow of Chernobyl. The visual parallels at least cannot be overlooked. Doctor himself was a member of a legendary stalker team called Strelok”s group

What else did you guys notice? What details did we miss or would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

The most important info on Stalker 2

Stalker 2 is scheduled for release sometime in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S. The Ukrainian studio GSC Game World has been directly affected by the Russian invasion – many of the developers have therefore left their homes, some remain on site or even joined the resistance against the invaders. GSC Game has already addressed the current situation in several video diaries – you can find out more here, for example: