10-07-2025
Xbox's ‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2' Coming to PlayStation; Wizards of the Coast's Jess Lanzillo Heads to White Wolf (Gaming News Roundup)
Former Xbox exclusive 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl' is heading to PlayStation consoles later this year.
Following its November 2024 global launch on PC and Xbox Series X and S, the GSC Game World-developed title will be released on Sony's PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro in late 2025.
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This news comes on the heels of last week's announcement that 'Helldivers 2,' a PS5 video game, will soon be available to play on Xbox Series X and S. These moves mark the latest shifts across devices as the gaming industry takes notice of consumers' habits and desires to be more title focused and less beholden to what's available on one pricey hardware platform.
Per the description for 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2,' which was completed by Ukrainian game developer GSC Game World over the past few years during Russia's ongoing invasion in the country, the game 'is set in a fictional, reimagined Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.'
'The nuclear disaster at the Chornobyl Power Plant in 1986 was not the only incident, as a second explosion struck the reactor in 2006, giving rise to the Zone,' according to the synopsis. 'This dangerous region is inhabited by mutated creatures, hostile anomalies, deadly radiation, and an enigmatic, anomalous energy. Bounty hunters venture deep into the Zone, drawn in by the temptation of its treasures and mysteries. Some are fleeing their past, others are driven by greed, and a few are determined to uncover the truth behind the Zone's darkest secrets.'
Watch the trailer announcing 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2' making its way to PlayStation in the video below.
See more gaming news from this week in Variety's roundup.
'World of Darkness' IP ('Vampire: The Masquerade, 'Werewolf: The Apocalypse' and 'Hunter: The Reckoning') holder White Wolf has tapped Wizards of the Coast vet Jess Lanzillo as its new creative director.
Before joining White Wolf, Lanzillo served as vice president of franchise and product for Wizards' Dungeons & Dragons brand, following years of franchise creative direction for Magic: The Gathering.
As White Wolf's new creative director, she will lead the vision and IP development for World of Darkness story worlds across its transmedia catalog, encompassing TTRPG sourcebooks, video games, and other media.
'World of Darkness has been my creative north star since the '90s, and I've seen firsthand how these games create communities and inspire storytellers,' Lanzillo said. 'My focus is on supporting and amplifying what makes these worlds special—the rich lore, the player agency, the mature themes—while ensuring they reach everyone who would love them. World of Darkness is so much more than just games; it's a cultural touchstone with a passionate community and incredible untapped potential.'
'Bringing Jess on board to shape the creative future of World of Darkness is a big win for White Wolf,' White Wolf executive vice president Marco Behrmann added. 'She's a world-class Creative Director with deep roots in developing transmedia properties and a sharp instinct for audience-first storytelling. Jess's experience makes her the perfect fit to lead White Wolf in bold, ambitious ways. Jess is a key pillar of our expanding studio, helping drive a strong and clear creative vision from the heart of our team. Her arrival underscores Paradox's long-term commitment to White Wolf and our goal to make World of Darkness the number one horror entertainment brand in the world.'
Krafton's forthcoming game 'Subnautica 2' has announced a delay in release following the July 2 exit of the game's co-creators, Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, from studio Unknown Worlds. The trio, who were also the co-founders of the game studio, were replaced by Striking Distance Studios vet Steve Papoutsis, who was appointed CEO upon their departure.
According to tghe South Korea-based Krafton, the game's delay to 2026, which was revealed Wednesday, 'had already been under discussion prior to recent leadership changes' at Unknown Worlds.
'During playtests for 'Subnautica 2,' we received valuable feedback from our community that reinforced our confidence in the game's direction,' Krafton said in a statement to Variety. 'At the same time, the feedback highlighted a few areas that could benefit from further refinement before release. As community voices play a central role in how we shape our games, we've made the decision to give the development team more time to implement that feedback and deliver a more complete experience. As a result, 'Subnautica 2's Early Access launch has been rescheduled for 2026. This decision was based solely on our commitment to quality and to delivering the best possible experience for players. It was not influenced by any contractual or financial considerations.'
On Tuesday, new studio Opus Major announced its debut project, 'MAJJAM.' Described as a 'multiplayer adventure game where music shapes the gameplay, from movement and combat to exploration and interaction,' the title is being developed as 'a vibrant co-op adventure inspired by the communal creativity of a live jam session, where players can build their own expressive arsenal of melodies, rhythms, and harmonies to explore and rescue a vibrant and ever-evolving world.'
Watch the trailer for 'MAJJAM' below.
On Thursday, Samsung revealed a new product for gaming advertisers, Mobile Conversion, which aims to help 'mobile gaming brands turn TV viewers into mobile gamers.'
Per Samsung ads, 'Designed specifically for mobile-first and gaming brands, Mobile Conversion is a performance-driven solution that empowers game publishers to find CTV viewers with a high propensity to convert or download gaming apps using advanced machine learning and AI.'
According to Samsung's beta testing, Samsung Ads exceeded client ROAS goals by up to 150% on Day 7, 'demonstrating CTV's effectiveness in driving mobile game installs.'
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