S.T.A.L.K.E.R. out by early 2007?

Remember when people said S.T.A.L.K.E.R. will release when pigs fly? Well, look out of your window for a couple of chunks of pork flying around as THQ has confirmed the game is now on track for an early 2007 release! Once labeled as vaporware, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl has taken nearly three years in the making and may finally see the light of day early 2007 after numerous delays. In case you’ve forgotten what the game’s all about, here’s a slight flashback:

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is set in the near future, shortly after another disaster in Chernobyl. The authorities surround the area with the Russian equivalent of the U.S. National Guard, and they begin to hear weird screams and rumblings coming from within. Curiosity also gets the better of some people, so they sneak into the 30-kilometer area to do some good old-fashioned investigating. These people are called Stalkers, and they report back to the authorities with their findings. Combining FPS, adventure, and survival horror genres with on-foot and vehicular action, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. features more than 100 NPCs, a large arsenal, and a slew of multiplayer modes.

See? This game will release before the second coming of Christ!