Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl marks the series' debut on console and is set to launch in April 2022, and it seems like the title will be taking up a lot of space — at least, on your Xbox. According to Microsoft Store, the post-apocalyptic shooter will use up 180GB, which is half of the Series S' free space.
Stalker 2's page on the Xbox Store is updated with a few extra details, including the approximate size of 180GB on Xbox Series X. Considering the "approximate" label at this point, the actual game's free space demand might be lower at launch. However, such a gigantic file size just for one game is still troubling, especially since you only have about 364GB of free space available on Xbox Series S.
Earlier, GSC Game World revealed Stalker 2's PC system requirements on Steam with 150GB storage listed as of now. Recently, the developers admitted these are the game's early specs and therefore are subject to change prior to launch.
Now, with new hints from Microsoft Store, we can assume Stalker 2 is indeed a chunky game, possibly due to the team using Unreal Engine 5 at its core. Some of the best-looking visuals in the industry and a seamless open-world surely come at a price. Here, the title's uncompressed textures and highly detailed models might force you to delete some of the older games from your Xbox library. Stalker 2 is also skipping out on Xbox One to take full advantage of the current-gen technology.
It's been a while since we saw Stalker 2 in action, so hopefully the team will deliver new footage in the near future. With only five months left to the game's launch, now is a perfect time to show how Chernobyl Zone has changed the decade since Call of Pripyat.
Stalker 2 will be available via Xbox Game Pass on day one, offering subscribers a chance to check out the title's fancy graphics at no extra cost. The game is expected to launch on April 28, 2022, as a timed exclusive on PC and Xbox Series X/S before arriving on other platforms.