STALZONE
STALZONE is a free-to-play multiplayer first-person shooter developed and published by EXBO. The game is set in a fictionalised version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and combines open-world exploration with player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat and persistent character progression.
Gameplay
The game includes both player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat, along with persistent equipment-based progression. Instead of traditional character leveling, players advance by acquiring increasingly powerful gear through structured equipment progression lines, using resources gathered while exploring the Zone. Core gameplay incorporates extraction-style mechanics, where acquired loot can be lost, while equipped gear remains part of long-term progression. The game also features open-world matchmaking based on progression, direct player trading, an in-game auction driven by supply and demand, and cooperative and competitive activities alongside its open-world gameplay.
History
The game originated as a multiplayer project based around Minecraft and inspired by the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series before being developed by EXBO as a standalone title. It was originally released as STALCRAFT before undergoing an overhaul in 2024 under the title STALCRAFT X, introducing changes to graphics, progression systems and gameplay.
The game was released internationally on Steam in December 2022. In June 2026, EXBO renamed the game STALZONE. The developer stated that the rebranding reflected changes to the game's identity and accompanied an update featuring graphical improvements, redesigned locations, revised onboarding mechanics and additional gameplay systems.
Reception
Coverage of the game's 2024 and 2026 updates appeared in several gaming publications, which reported on changes to its visuals, mechanics and player activity.
Gaming media also reported on the transition from STALCRAFT X to STALZONE and the accompanying visual and gameplay changes.
See also
- Massively multiplayer online game
- First-person shooter