An unmarked, unassuming location in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is actually an in-game recreation of a popular piece of concept art produced for the series’ 2007 debut, eagle-eyed fans recently discovered.
After a brief prologue, STALKER 2 tasks the player with traveling to a small settlement known as Zalissya. It’s a relatively short trip, but mutant ambushes, paramilitary interrogations, and the onset of electrical storms do their best to dissuade thorough exploration of the weathered countryside. Which is a shame, because just a few meters off the beaten path lies a scene with a lot of significance to STALKER diehards.
The tableau is simple: a wooden gate overlooking Zalissya, adorned with a large bird nest, wind chimes, signs warning of radiation, a religious painting, and a gas mask. But where some might see some neat environmental storytelling and move on with their adventure, those with a longtime investment in the franchise were hit with pangs of nostalgia when they realized the site was a near carbon copy of an iconic image used to promote the first game.
Since the sequel launched on Nov. 20, several Reddit users have pointed out the similarities between the classic artwork and the STALKER 2 location, with emotions ranging from amused to emotional. One comment even mentioned recognizing the location without any prior STALKER experience due to how thoroughly the community has spread the beloved image online, to which another user responded, “It’s been my Steam profile pic since 2007.”
If you want to check out the archway for yourself, head to the location marked by the teal waypoint on the map above. Just don’t try to walk through it: The only thing waiting on the other side is a steep cliff, and the drop will almost certainly kill you.
