Over the past ten years, The Game Awards has become a December staple, typically landing between the 3rd and the 10th of the month. This timing seems perfect on paper—capping off the year by honoring the standout games while teasing what’s on the horizon. However, this timing isn’t quite so perfect for certain games; unfortunately, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl now finds itself in that predicament.
Unlike the Oscars, Grammys, or the gaming industry’s own D.I.C.E. Awards, which occur early in the year and include all releases from the previous year, The Game Awards doesn’t operate this way. This difference means some games fall through the cracks, unable to snag a nomination because the jury hasn’t had time to engage with them or because they release just outside The Game Awards’ eligibility period. Voices advocating for a date change have grown louder over the years. Recently, Kotaku’s Kenneth Shepard spotlighted how this impacts games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Now, with STALKER 2 entering the fray, the argument for a date shift is more compelling than ever.
In December 2021, Halo Infinite launched for Xbox and PC, winning the Player’s Voice award at The Game Awards. Unfortunately, it was ineligible for other categories, missing the show’s consideration window by just one day. Although Halo Infinite could have qualified for the 2022 ceremony, it didn’t see any nominations, overshadowed by big hitters like Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarok, Overwatch 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Similarly, games like Marvel’s Midnight Suns and Pentiment released too close to ceremony time—Pentiment on November 15 and Marvel’s Midnight Suns on December 2—leaving both overlooked for the 2022 awards. They, like Halo Infinite, were forgotten when nominees for 2023 rolled around.
Now, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl joins the club of games that miss out due to poor timing. Despite overcoming a tough development process and stirring interest in the gaming community, its current release date disqualified it from this year’s nominations. While STALKER 2 could potentially earn its moment next year, it faces steep competition from major releases like Monster Hunter Wilds, Grand Theft Auto 6, Borderlands 4, and Ghost of Yotei, potentially leaving its chance slim.
Interestingly, Asgard’s Wrath 2, which released on December 15, 2023, serves as a unique example, managing to earn a nomination for Best VR Game at the subsequent year’s Game Awards despite the tight eligibility window.
Moreover, STALKER 2 isn’t the only title potentially left in the dust due to the narrow consideration period and the heavy slate of next year’s releases. Games like Marvel Rivals and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, both set to debut in the coming weeks, risk being overlooked at the next awards. Even December VR entries such as Skydance’s Behemoth and Alien: Rogue Incursion might not escape this issue.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl plunges players into a dramatically altered Chornobyl Exclusion Zone after a second massive explosion in 2006. With mutants, anomalies, and factions vying for control, players navigate a treacherous landscape in search of valuable artifacts and hidden truths. The nonlinear storyline offers a blend of intense gunfights and strategic alliances, played out in a 64-square-kilometer open world that vividly portrays a post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Available on Xbox Series X and Series S as well as Microsoft Windows, and powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game promises a captivating experience for those brave enough to enter The Zone.
