THQ wavering on 23rd March Stalker date

By Robert Purchese Published 8 February, 2007

But insists it's still March.

Radioactive rumours have been floating around that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has slipped again, but THQ says that isn't so, insisting the game is still on track.

However, when asked if the game was definitely set for the previously announced 23rd March date, the answer wasn't quite so concrete.

"What we're saying at the moment is March, but it's definitely not slipped outside of March," a spokesperson for the publisher told Eurogamer.

If all goes to plan and it does release on schedule, it would famously clash with the European launch of PlayStation 3. We're not sure what the thinking behind this was, but we've been waiting for the game since 2001, so we didn't ask.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R., developed by GSC Game World, is a PC-exclusive FPS that lets you explore the deadly Zone around Chernobyl, the scene of a horrific nuclear disaster nearly 21 years ago.

Head over to our recent impressions of the game for more information.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (23) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • lambtron #1 5 years ago

    Oh god. I WANT this game again now - arsing delays.

  • FunkyRenegade #2 5 years ago

    PLEASE GOD NO! I want to play this game so much :(

  • mkreku #3 5 years ago

    Ok, this sounds scary. This is one game that REALLY doesn't need another delay!

  • Artemus #4 5 years ago

    "What we're saying at the moment is March..."

    2008?

  • ph101 #5 5 years ago

    rofl, they are just kidding us, right?

  • LOLLERS #6 5 years ago

    This game is a bit like a pair of jacks, it looks promising at first but it still has the potential to go horribly horribly wrong...
    Edited by 1 at 08/02/07 @ 18:15

  • Darkedge #7 5 years ago

    oh ffs

    Also reminds me of the Valve 30th September DEFINITELY! No sorry Gabe lying then
    Edited by 1 at 08/02/07 @ 18:17

  • bdc #8 5 years ago

    Oh dear god. I feel an April/May release date coming on.

  • Tomo #9 5 years ago

    You all fell for it. Hahahaha.



    -- Rodger Stalker, creator of Stalker

  • spongebob #10 5 years ago

    Please, I really want this to be a good game and worth buying and playing. I haven't played a good game on PC since Half-Life 2.

    Limited Edition Tin is 39 EUR in Play.com. The release date is set to 23rd of March but that's probably just preliminary.
    Edited by 1 at 08/02/07 @ 19:06

  • richardiox #11 5 years ago

    And to think they havee that little flash countdown timer on this site too. I bet come 23rd march it will reset itself to 999 days.

    Weird to think that a game in dev for over 5/6 years would really need that extra week (assuming it lands on 30th March)

  • ralphwolfenstein #12 5 years ago

    Er... there has been no official release date announcement for Stalker, I just checked their press site. I'm not sure Amazon.co.uk counts as an official source...

    They've probably just moved it away from the PS3 launch in Europe, so I'd guess either the 16th or 30th. THQ's FY ends in March, and if it slips out of the quarter they'd have to inform the 'city' (or whatever Americans call it)

    Plus all the recent previews have been pretty positive, there's even a review(!) in a magazine in Luxembourg and their online ads are bloody everywhere

    Hmm... crossing my fingers - my 2002 Play.com pre-order still stands at least - do NOT want this to be delayed though

    Still, I'm feeling a bit smug as I just just got my Beta key today, which apparently starts sometime next week :)

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #13 5 years ago

    There was a countdown timer on the official website - is that not official enough?

  • stoopidgreg #14 5 years ago

    sad face :(

  • mkreku #15 5 years ago

    Aww crap. That means I missed out on the MP beta keys too.. :(

  • ice_freezer #16 5 years ago

    Not again.

  • matrim83 #17 5 years ago

    Aw crap, here we go again.

    But then again all things considered they can take their time, even delay it a few months as long as it is not buggy as Boiling point. Because right now my biggest problem with the game is that it could be buggy as fuck.

  • Bi50N Verified Head of Global Communications, THQ #18 5 years ago

    Ha! Quiet news day I see :)

    THQ has made no official release date announcement for Stalker, other than stating the game will be released in March

    And yes, that's March of this year ;)

  • freedumb #19 5 years ago

    'We're not sure what the thinking behind this was, but we've been waiting for the game since 2001, so we didn't ask.'

    lol
    Edited by 1 at 09/02/07 @ 13:11

  • karstux #20 5 years ago

    Frankly, I don't care if they delay it for another week, or month. Or two. 'Cause while I really, really want to play this game, after waiting so long, a couple of weeks aren't significant in any way.

  • kangarootoo #21 5 years ago

    @Darkedge

    "Also reminds me of the Valve 30th September DEFINITELY! No sorry Gabe lying then"

    Why does it always have to come down to accusations of lies? What happened to things just not working out as planned?

    They aim for March, hopefully they will meet that aim, but maybe they won't. Lying has nothing to do with it. Get a thicker skin says I.

  • FlamingCarrot #22 5 years ago

    Well it may get that release then its patch central. I preordered the game from Play in 2004! At least i'll get the tin edition for £17.99! Anyone actually watched the film? Bit long in parts(though no Solaris bumnumbathon) but very atmospheric. If you are going to buy this (i can't wait) then recommend you see it just out of curiosity.

  • Empedocles #23 5 years ago

    Hmmm I figured as much when the timer stopped ticking down...............