The newly released survival shooter STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl appears to
contain a tribute to a legendary mission from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
(2007). Players have uncovered several Easter eggs throughout the irradiated
world of STALKER 2, with some specifically referencing beloved moments from the
game’s predecessors.
Set in the post-apocalyptic Chernobyl exclusion zone, STALKER 2 features a
map that includes the abandoned city of Pripyat, located near the infamous
nuclear power plant. Sharp-eyed fans have noticed that a location within
Pripyat, specifically the top floor of the Polissya hotel, closely resembles the
sniper's nest featured in the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare mission All
Ghillied Up. This mission, which many consider one of the most memorable in the
Call of Duty franchise, takes players to Pripyat as they assist in an
assassination attempt on Russian arms dealer Imran Zakhaev.
In All Ghillied Up, players control SAS operative John Price and his mentor
Captain MacMillan, sniping Zakhaev from the Polissya hotel using a Barrett M82
sniper rifle. In STALKER 2, players will find a sniper rifle called the M701
Super at this location, often considered one of the best weapons in the game.
This nod to Modern Warfare isn't the only Easter egg found in STALKER 2; players
have also pointed out a campfire spot in the game that resembles the main menu
of Shadow of Chernobyl, as well as a car stuck in a tree, which some believe is
a tribute to the Weasleys' Flying Ford from the Harry Potter films.
Since its launch on November 20, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has sold over
one million copies, according to developer GSC Game World. The game has received
generally positive reviews, earning an average score of 74 on OpenCritic, though
players have noted technical issues.
