Atomic Heart 2 Unleashed: Space Whales, Flying Cities, and the Ballerina Twins Return!
Atomic Heart 2 is real, it’s wild, and it’s heading straight for the stars—literally. Announced at Summer Game Fest 2025, the sequel to the cult-hit shooter is set to deliver everything fans loved and crank the weirdness up to eleven. We’re talking flying cities, whales on the moon, and the unforgettable Ballerina Twins making a comeback. Ready for a ride?
- Atomic Heart 2 officially revealed at Summer Game Fest 2025
- New features: flying cities, space whales, and expanded exploration
- The iconic Ballerina Twins return
- Controversies and boycotts addressed by Mundfish CEO
Atomic Heart 2: What’s New and Totally Bonkers?
The team at Mundfish isn’t holding back. Atomic Heart 2 takes us back to Facility 3826—now reimagined as a sprawling Soviet-Silicon Valley with floating metropolises and scientists doing, well, science-y things like launching whales to the moon. If that sounds crazy, it’s because it is. And according to CEO Robert Bagratuni, that’s exactly the point.
Bagratuni, chatting with Polygon, confirmed that after the success (and meme-ification) of “crispy critters,” the phrase is here to stay. “However crazy or stupid it may sound, or unexpectedly popular or annoying it may be, it became a part of the character’s identity and part of the whole Atomic Heart vibe,” he says. “So yes, let it stay.”
The Ballerina Twins Are Back
Love them or hate them, the metallic Ballerina Twins are returning for Atomic Heart 2. Their design caused plenty of buzz and controversy the first time around, with some reviewers calling out their “male gaze-y shots” (source) and “cartoonish proportions” (source). Players on Reddit and Steam also questioned the level of sexualization (source) and shared discomfort with it (source). Still, Mundfish isn’t backing down. “We’re going to stay true to ourselves and the original aesthetics of the game. We just love it when things look beautiful, and you’re really enjoying what you see. So we’re definitely not changing that part,” Bagratuni says.
Space Whales and Flying Cities? Yup, That’s Atomic Heart 2
The alternate-history setting gets even wilder in the sequel. Thanks to the in-game discovery of the “Polymer” module, the Soviet Union in Atomic Heart’s world is lightyears ahead technologically, which means—yes—whales being shipped to the moon. The opening scene in the trailer shows a “whale transportation system” heading to a lunar station, and it’s all about humanity’s next leap. “The Atomic Heart 2 story is actually the beginning of this movement. There will definitely be a lot of drama, and we’re not going to spoil that, but yes, it’s the beginning of the transformation of people; to leave the Earth and move to the stars,” Bagratuni explains.
But don’t worry, the action isn’t leaving Earth just yet. Facility 3826 is still at the heart of the story, now part of a much bigger region called Polygon Science. “The whole big area [around Facility 3826] is called Polygon Science, which is dedicated to deep science exploration. As it was in the 1960s, the main purpose is the exploration of the closest planets,” Bagratuni says. Expect Mars and Venus to play a part!
More Exploration, Less Linear Corridors
One of the biggest fan requests after the first game? More places to explore! Mundfish heard you loud and clear. “There was a lot of feedback that we received from the players. For example, the city of Chelomey was very beautiful and people wished to explore it more,” Bagratuni shares. Atomic Heart 2 will open up those locations, letting players really soak in the retro-futuristic world. And yes, that huge flaming sphere in the trailer? It’s an anomaly, and you’ll get to check it out yourself.
The Boycott Question: Mundfish Responds
Atomic Heart’s 2023 launch came with its share of controversy, especially regarding Mundfish’s alleged Russian ties and claims of pro-Russian propaganda. The studio later moved its HQ to Cyprus, presenting itself as an international operation (source). When asked about the potential for new boycotts ahead of Atomic Heart 2, Bagratuni is clear: “We definitely cannot predict what’s going to happen by the time Atomic Heart 2 releases, how global events are going to change, and what’s going to be the mood of people who may want to ask for a boycott. We cannot be in charge of that,” he says. “We had a statement and it stays the same, so nothing really changed, and it was up on our social media everywhere. Our stance didn’t change, and honestly, we just want to make games. That is why we’re here.”
