After more than a decade, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally out. It’s a buggy mess for now but has some cool easter eggs.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl may not have launched to the best reviews but it does have some cool easter eggs, including one from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In an unexpected crossover, players found the Weasley family’s iconic flying car stuck on a Whomping Willow in the eerie swamps of the game’s version of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

The Whomping Willow is an iconic part of the franchise. | Image Credit: Warner Bros.

This clever homage to pop culture blends seamlessly into the game’s gritty, post-apocalyptic setting, making it a delightful surprise for fans of both franchises. It may not fix the fact that the game is a slightly buggy mess but we take every win.

STALKER 2 Has a Lot of Cool Easter Eggs

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Released in November 2024 after a decade-long development process, STALKER 2 continues the series’ tradition of blending science fiction with a gritty historical backdrop. Players explore a version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and discover its secrets.

The Easter egg is tucked away in the northeastern Swamps area, a location known for its unsettling ambiance. Instead of Hogwarts’ grounds, the dilapidated car now rests suspended in a barren tree that looks quite similar to its magical movie counterpart.

It’s a clever nod to the iconic scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where Ron and Harry accidentally crash the enchanted car into the Whomping Willow at Hogwarts. In STALKER 2, this moment is cleverly added in the Swamps region of the game’s open world.

The car’s decrepit condition fits perfectly into the game’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic and it contributes really well to the haunting atmosphere. Fans who have discovered this gem have praised the developers for their attention to detail and noted that it adds to the game’s memorability.

This striking recreation features the same decrepit details of the 105E Deluxe model enchanted by Arthur Weasley. In this universe, however, the vehicle seems to have endured the Exclusion Zone’s mysterious anomalies rather than the wrath of a magical tree.

The Game May Be a Buggy Mess But a Lot of Care Went Into It

Players love all the easter eggs. | Image Credit: GSC Game World

Beyond the Harry Potter Easter egg, players have found easter eggs to other games and franchises as well, including Dark Souls and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.


For example, a campfire found in the Zone evokes Dark Souls’ bonfires, while a carefully placed sniper rifle pays homage to the legendary “One Shot, One Kill” mission from Modern Warfare.

The game’s long and turbulent development only heightens the impact of these hidden gems. Originally announced in 2012, STALKER 2 faced a lot of delays. After over a decade in the making, its release has been a milestone for both GSC Game World and fans.

While the Harry Potter car is a standout, it’s only a small piece of what STALKER 2 offers. The game builds on the legacy of its predecessors with cutting-edge graphics (though with a lot of bugs), a big open world, and a story with multiple endings.

As games continue to evolve as a medium for storytelling, these playful nods could serve as bridges between the different worlds in fictional media.