Xbox Game Pass subscribers have until November 15, 2025, to play S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl before it leaves the service, just one year after its November 2024 launch. The post-apocalyptic shooter joins four other titles in the upcoming removal batch. This short stay has frustrated players, highlighting ongoing concerns about the subscription model's temporary access.
Departure Details
Microsoft confirmed that five games will exit Xbox Game Pass on November 15, 2025: Football Manager 2024, Spirittea, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Blacksmith Master (Game Preview), and Frostpunk. Among these, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 stands out for its brief tenure, having launched as a day-one title in November 2024. The immersive sim, known for its grueling exploration and survival elements, requires around 40 hours for the main story and up to 70 hours for full completion, making its exit particularly untimely for players with backlogs.
Player Reactions
Subscribers expressed disappointment online, especially given the game's ongoing patches to address bugs and performance issues. One player on X noted, “I think it’s a really bad precedent that a game stays shorter in Game Pass than we had to wait for it to launch, beyond waiting MONTHS to become properly playable patch after patch.” On the Game Pass subreddit, another user wrote, “It’s really frustrating seeing Stalker 2 leave Gamepass... Game is still a buggy mess, so for those who were waiting on this game to be patched, I guess we’re screwed. lol.” While some pointed out that the game remains available for purchase, the sentiment underscores the renting nature of the service.
Development Background
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was announced in August 2020 at the Xbox Showcase and faced significant delays during its four-year development. Developer GSC Game World dealt with Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, relocating staff, cyber attacks from Russian hackers, and even releasing a documentary about the challenges. Despite the hurdles, the game debuted to praise for staying faithful to the series' open-world survival shooter roots, as noted in Eurogamer's review.
This departure exemplifies broader Game Pass critiques, where day-one releases like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 rotate out quickly, favoring grazers over completionists. Games may return later, but for now, interested players should act before the deadline.