New footage of Stalker 2 just closed out Microsoft's Extended Games Showcase, and its vast open world looks as atmospheric as ever. The trailer, which focused on driving around the game's nuclear exclusion zone, also confirmed a 2023 release date following a recent announcement.

This is the first time we've seen the game in action since last year's Xbox Showcase, aside from a brief screenshot drop back in December. Here's a developer intro to the 'Enter the Zone' trailer:

The Zone reveals a whole new world! We can stick with the old one, fearing change… but tell me, do you want our descendants to remember us as cowards? Or those who dared to venture forward to a new, better humanity?

Despite the threats that veil the journey from the ordinary world we used to call “homе“ to the unknown. Would we dare to pursue the comprehension of human nature that shapes under the prism of a new reality?

However, we are already on this path. The path to the Heart of Chornobyl itself!

The reappearance of Stalker 2 also provided us with a developer update, showcasing how the team has been handling the events in Ukraine since it was forced to flee the country following Russia's invasion in February 2022.

You can watch this heartbreaking development update video from GSC Game World below:

Is Stalker 2 one of your most anticipated 2023 releases? Let us know down below.