Will Stalker 2 release on PS5? Explained

With Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl having been released on PC and Xbox Series X|S, PS5 owners are rather appositely, given the harsh setting for the post-apocalyptic shooter, left out in the cold. But while the November 20, 2024, release date came and went without a PS5 version, there’s potential for the game to arrive on Sony’s flagship console in the future. Xbox has signed an exclusivity deal with developer GSC Game Word, which implies an end date. Thanks to confidential documents released back in 2021, we have a pretty good idea of when that might be.

When is Stalker 2 coming to PS5?

GSC has yet to confirm that a PS5 version is in the works. As part of Epic Games and Apple’s protracted and well-publicised legal feud, we were made privy to some major insight into Microsoft’s plans courtesy of filed documents, which included mention of Stalker 2. More specifically, the game was listed as having a three-month exclusivity deal with Xbox, suggesting the door will be open for GSC to bring it to PS5 from late February 2025 onward.

Now, we wouldn’t expect the game to land on PS5 so quickly given that GSC will need time to tweak and port the game over to Sony’s console. That’s a time-consuming task in itself but also possibly hampered by restrictions on GSC developing for rival consoles until the deal expires.

Of course, this is by no means a guarantee that there are solid plans to release the game on PS5 at any point. We imagine critical and player reception following the PC and Xbox launch will factor into whether or not GSC invests the resources into a port. The document does date back to 2021, which in the world of video games is a lifetime, so there’s also the possibility that the details of the deal, namely the length of the exclusivity period, may have shifted in the interim. But, what’s clear is that the option is well and truly there.

As it stands, we wouldn’t recommend that PS5 owners hold their breath for fear of getting burnt. We’ll have to watch and see what happens, nursing a cautious amount of hope that a PS5 version might, maybe, possibly see the light of day at some point in the future.

Meanwhile, check out if you can play the game through Nvidia GeForce NOW. Or if you’re already exploring the zone, then read our useful beginner’s tips to get a head start in Stalker 2.