S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 can now be pre-purchased on Steam with a release date of, wait for it, 28 April 2022. It can also be pre-purchased on the Microsoft Store.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1643320/STALKER_2_Heart_of_Chernobyl/

Am I the only one to think that a release date so far in the future is just a little bit speculative?

The developer has a publishing deal with Microsoft so the game will likely be a PC and Xbox exclusive. The game is being funded by Microsoft, who are not short of money.

This practice is becoming more and more common. Companies announce a release date, which they intend to postpone at a later date, the purpose being to get your money in their hands, and have the use of it for as long as possible before the game will be released.

I suggest that a release date so far in the future should be taken with a grain of salt. Keep your money in your own bank account and earn interest that goes into your pocket, not some company.

we already have a thread on stalker 2: https://www.gog.com/forum/general/stalker_2_trailer_at_e3

Yeah, I think Bloodlines 2 is a great example where they opened up pre-orders years before it'll actually come out. There's even a risk it never does come out, I'd say.

Also though if you're silly enough to pre-order so far ahead of time it's kind of on you. Even if I knew I was buying something ASAP I'd still wait to pre-order until release week or something like that. There's literally zero reason to do so before that.

Or they shelve the release: either until a new company picks it up(such as in the case of pre-gearbox DNF), or until if/when they get more money(in the case of System Shock remake).....etc etc.Sounds good(I myself rarely buy any preorders....except maybe for games from series I really like/want to see continuations of).