STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl will incorporate a ‘STALKER Metaverse’ featuring NFTs

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here

GSC Game World has announced that STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl will incorporate an NFT component through a newly-launched ‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Metaverse.’

According to the announcement, the studio has teamed up with DMarket, an NFT trading platform. It says it will “use blockchain technology to let the community own a piece of STALKER 2” by offering the rights to unique items in game. Players will be able to register for drops, with the first happening via an auction in January. The winning bid will have their face recreated using photogrammetry and become an in-game NPC as a ‘metahuman’.

CEO Evgeniy Grygorovych has attempted to justify the inclusion of the controversial technology. “Considering the global trends in gaming, we can do more than just offer an immersive game experience. Our players can get a deeper presence in the game, and we will give them this opportunity by presenting the first AAA game with a unique meta experience.”

🚀 Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25!

Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only!

*Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit.

The official Twitter account has since reassured fans that the game itself is “not a blockchain-based game”. The team also say that any STALKER 2 related drops won’t influence gameplay or offer advantages over other players.

The inclusion of NFTs in games is still a very thorny issue. Just last week, Ubisoft revealed it would be launching its own Quartz NFT platform for its games, starting with Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. However, the video heralding its arrival was subsequently disliked by 95% of its audience. (According to Video Games Chronicle.)


🎮 Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson 🎙️


STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl is currently set for a 28 April 2022 launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC.

About the Author

Ben Borthwick

Ben Borthwick is the News Editor for VideoGamer. He's a fan of action adventure games, music games and especially comedic games like the Monkey Island series.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

  • Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
  • Genre(s): Action, Adventure, RPG, Shooter, Survival Horror