STALKER 2 headlines big month for Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass is kicking off the holiday season a little early this year by adding STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl to its ever-expanding lineup on Nov. 20.

STALKER 2 is the long-awaited sequel to 2007’s STALKER: Shadow of Chornobyl, which was a surprise hit from what was a largely under-the-radar Ukrainian studio called GSC Game World. The original game combined immersive first-person shooting with survival horror and roleplaying elements. Set against the backdrop of a second Chernobyl disaster, the unforgiving debut and its spinoffs, Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat, were heavily inspired by the tone of Andrei Tarkovsky’s classic 1979 sci-fi film Stalker and the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

Polygon’s preview of the game describes STALKER 2 as “a merciless trip down memory lane” that modernizes the series while keeping its spirit intact. Unfortunately, subscribers to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass can’t preload the game before launch, so look forward to waiting for that massive 150 GB download to finish before you can play.

Also coming to Xbox Game Pass in November is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and unlike STALKER 2, it’s available now.

But of course, when Phil Spencer giveth, he also taketh away. Here’s a list of games leaving Xbox Game Pass this month:

For all those looking to step back into the Zone or explore its mysteries for the first time, I offer a most heartfelt, “Get out of here, Stalker.”