The Steam charts have a new champion. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has knocked Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 off the top spot, a position it’s held firmly since launch. How long this reign will last remains to be seen, but for now, a new king sits atop the Steam throne.
This shift in the Steam rankings highlights the highly anticipated return of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise. Sitting comfortably at number one, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the fourth installment and the first in 15 years, is making waves. Other notable titles in the top 10 include indie RPG Atlyss at number six, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Farming Simulator 2024 in fifth and fourth place respectively, and the yet-to-be-released Path of Exile 2 in third. While free-to-play giants like Counter-Strike 2, Throne and Liberty, and Call of Duty: Warzone remain popular, they haven’t managed to surpass the popularity of either Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
The excitement surrounding S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is palpable, a testament to the dedicated fanbase that has patiently awaited this new release. This anticipation likely contributes to the game’s chart-topping success. Within its first 24 hours, the game sold an impressive one million copies across PC and Xbox Series X|S platforms. Furthermore, its peak concurrent player count on Steam has reached a remarkable 119,039.
Despite the widespread excitement and strong sales, the game’s reception hasn’t been entirely flawless. Currently holding a “Mostly Positive” rating on Steam, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has received positive reviews from 79 percent of its 25,249 user ratings. The negative reviews primarily focus on performance issues and technical glitches, aspects that are often addressable through patches and updates. Given this, it’s reasonable to expect the game’s rating to improve over time as these issues are resolved.
Players venturing into the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone should anticipate a substantial time commitment, with an estimated playtime of at least 40 hours to complete the game. As for Steam Deck compatibility, the game’s Steam page currently lists it as “Unsupported.”
The game’s official description paints a vivid picture of the post-apocalyptic landscape: “Chornobyl Exclusion Zone has changed dramatically after the second massive explosion in year 2006. Violent mutants, deadly anomalies, and warring factions have made the Zone a very tough place to survive. It turned out that the center of the Zone hides the source of incredible power. Nevertheless, artifacts of unbelievable value attracted many people called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who entered the Zone for their own risk striving to make a fortune out of it or even to find the Truth concealed in the Heart of Chornobyl.”
In conclusion, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s rise to the top of the Steam charts underscores the enduring power of a beloved franchise and the excitement surrounding a long-awaited sequel. While performance issues present a current challenge, the potential for improvement and the inherent appeal of the game’s premise suggest a promising future for this post-apocalyptic adventure.
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