S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl explained

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Developer:GSC Game World
Publisher:GSC Game World
Engine:Unreal Engine 5
Series:S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Released:20 November 2024
Genre:First-person shooter, survival horror
Modes:Single-player

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an upcoming first-person shooter survival horror video game developed and published by Ukrainian game developer GSC Game World. It will be the fourth game released in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. video game series as well as the first S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game in 15 years since the release of Call of Pripyat in 2009.

Initially announced following the release of Call of Pripyat, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was planned to release in 2012, before it was ultimately cancelled on the year of its intended release.[1] [2] The game resurfaced years later in 2018, with the development restarted and powered by Unreal Engine 5. It was scheduled to release on 8 December 2022, but due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, development for the game was put on hold.[3] However, the development team later stated on their official Discord server that the development process continues, and was scheduled to release for Windows and Xbox Series X/S in early 2024.[4] [5] [6] It was delayed again, for further polishing, with a release date of 5 September 2024.[7] It was delayed yet again a month before the former release date to 20 November 2024.[8]

Development

Early development

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was initially announced in 2010, with a release date set in 2012, by Sergiy Grygorovych, CEO of GSC Game World, stating "After the official sales of the series exceeded 4 million copies worldwide, we had no doubts left to start creating a new big game in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe. This will be the next chapter of the mega-popular game players expect from us." The development of the game was ambitious; it was stated that the game would feature an all-new multiplatform engine, made from scratch to fit S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

Numerous layoffs and overall attrition during the development of the game had shrunk GSC's employee count by 75%. Two years in, Grygorovych had announced the immediate cessation of all development due to "personal reasons", likely as a result of financial difficulty.[9] GSC Game World was officially dissolved on December 9, 2011.[10] The official Twitter account posted, "We will do our best to continue. However, at this moment, nothing is certain."[11] After several months of uncertainty, an update was posted that the development would continue after the holidays, although it would require funding.[12] However, the cancellation of this build of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 had been formally announced in April 2012 on the company's Facebook page,[13] officially stated to have resulted from dispute between investors, staff, and the original IP rights owner.[14]

Vostok Games scandal

See also: Survarium. Vostok Games, a studio founded by former GSC lead developer Eugene Kim,[15] had launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for a spiritual successor to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise in June 2014, under the title "Areal".[16] However, this drew widespread criticism and was described as a scam, with its trailer entirely composed of footage from the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games as well as purported screenshots from its development being revealed as modified assets from the Unity engine's "asset store", which Vostok Games claimed was "media-fabricated".[17] The project drew $65,000 in Kickstarter funds, exceeding its original goal of $50,000 by $15,000; however, the project was permanently suspended by Kickstarter in July, citing guideline violations.[18] Following the suspension, Vostok Games claimed to have switched to private funding on their website to fund the project. In December of that year, the studio announced another crowdfunding campaign on the Wfunder platform, setting a much larger goal of $600,000 to produce a new game called S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Apocalypse.[19]

Revival

After years of dormancy, GSC Game World was officially reformed in December 2014 to develop Cossacks 3. Four years later, on said game's Facebook page, development of a new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was announced, linking to www.stalker2.com, the game's website.[20] It was later revealed that the game would be developed using Unreal Engine 4.[21] This build of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was announced exceptionally early into development, with it still being in the "design doc phase".[22] Grygorovych later stated on a podcast that the intent of the project's announcement in 2018 was largely to generate hype, in order to strike a publishing deal at E3 2018.[23]

Little information was given regarding the project until E3 2021, where a full gameplay trailer was shown at the Microsoft/Bethesda press conference. The release date was rescheduled to April 28, 2022.[24] In August 2021, the developers revealed that the game was updated to Unreal Engine 5.[25]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

See main article: Economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Near the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, GSC, based in Kyiv, released a video on their YouTube account which called for financial aid for the Ukrainian Armed Forces,[26] stating that the outbreak of the war and the need to protect GSC employees has led to the game's development being paused indefinitely. This was also followed by a Twitter post which linked to an account to donate to the Ukrainian military and stated "through pain, death, war, fear, and inhuman cruelty, Ukraine will persevere. As it always does".[27] [28] [29] On March 14, 2022, the game's subtitle was changed to "Heart of Chornobyl", reflecting the native Ukrainian romanisation rather than the Russian form.[30] [31] On June 14, 2022, GSC stated in a development diary that the development continues despite some of the team fleeing their homes or joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[32]

Due to the war, GSC decided to move development of the game to Prague, Czech Republic.

In March 2023, GSC said they have been enduring constant cyberattacks for more than a year and anticipated that there could be leaks in the future.[33] In June 2023, GSC announced that hackers have leaked an internal test build to the public.[34]

Title

The full title of the game is "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl". Prior to 2022, the subtitle was formerly spelled "Heart of Chernobyl" — but in the wake of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, on March 14, 2022, the game's subtitle was changed to "Heart of Chornobyl" by the developers, reflecting the native Ukrainian romanisation rather than the Russian form.[31] [30]

On March 6, 2024, the developers decided to change the subtitle for the first game in the series from "Shadow of Chernobyl" to "Shadow of Chornobyl",[35] [36] reflecting the upcoming game's subtitle. The name change was announced at the unveiling of the Xbox[37] [38] [39] and PlayStation[40] [41] [42] [43] [44] release of the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy, titled as "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy".[45] [46]

Release

The game is planned to be on Xbox Game Pass at launch.[47] In addition, the game was stated by GSC Game World to be planned as a Microsoft-exclusive release, only releasing on Microsoft Windows and the Xbox Series X/S.[48] This exclusivity, however, is only slated to be for three months following its release, as evidenced from leaked documents as a part of Epic Games v. Apple.[49] [50] [51]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sinclair . Brendan . December 12, 2011 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 studio facing uncertain future . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120108060947/http://www.gamespot.com/news/stalker-2-studio-facing-uncertain-future-6347437 . January 8, 2012 . June 23, 2021 . .
  2. Web site: Makuch . Eddie . April 25, 2012 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 canceled . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190410124705/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/stalker-2-canceled/1100-6373393/ . April 10, 2019 . April 5, 2020 . .
  3. Web site: O'Connor . Alice . January 12, 2022 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 delayed into December to try to 'live up to the expectations' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220304235116/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stalker-2-delayed-into-december-to-try-to-live-up-to-the-expectations . March 4, 2022 . March 16, 2022 . Rock Paper Shotgun.
  4. Web site: May 20, 2022 . Produkcja STALKER-a 2 została wznowiona . The production of STALKER 2 has been resumed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220520192658/https://www.gry-online.pl/newsroom/stalker-2-produkcja-wznowiona/zd21ed1 . May 20, 2022 . May 22, 2022 . gry-online . pl.
  5. Web site: Scullion . Chris . June 12, 2022 . Stalker 2 has been delayed to 2023, Xbox indicates . 13 June 2022 . Video Games Chronicle.
  6. Web site: Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Delayed To 2024. GameSpot. George. Yang. August 23, 2023. August 23, 2023.
  7. News: Ngan . Liv . Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl delayed until September . 22 January 2024 . . 16 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Yin-Poole . Wesley . 2024-07-25 . Stalker 2 Delayed Again, This Time by 2 Months So the Dev Can Fix More ‘Unexpected Anomalies’ . 2024-07-26 . IGN . en.
  9. Web site: December 9, 2011 . Киевская компания, создавшая игры S.T.A.L.K.E.R. и 'Казаки', решила самоликвидироваться . The Kyiv company that created the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and 'Cossacks', decided to self-destruct . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205905/https://ukranews.com/news/121316-kyevskaya-kompanyya-sozdavshaya-ygry-stalker-y-kazaky-reshyla-samolykvydyrovatsya . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . . ru.
  10. Web site: Hall . Charlie . September 8, 2013 . Stalker fallout: Polygon traces the exodus from Kiev's legendary GSC Game World . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190328115749/https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/9/8/4568598/stalker-fallout-gsc-game-world . March 28, 2019 . June 24, 2021 . . en.
  11. Web site: We will do our best to continue. However, at this moment, nothing is certain. live. June 24, 2021. Twitter. en. September 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210904154130/https://twitter.com/survariumvg/status/146255840310071296.
  12. Web site: Sinclair . Brendan . January 13, 2012 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 presses on, but studio needs cash - Report . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203919/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/stalker-2-presses-on-but-studio-needs-cash-report/1100-6348608/ . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . . en-US.
  13. Web site: Makuch . Eddie . April 25, 2012 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 canceled . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190410124705/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/stalker-2-canceled/1100-6373393/ . April 10, 2019 . June 24, 2021 . . en-US.
  14. Web site: The reason we cannot continue.... live. June 24, 2021. Facebook. en. June 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211859/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fofficialstalker%2Fposts%2F436937749665479.
  15. Web site: Senior . Tom . June 1, 2012 . Rumour: Ex-STALKER devs form Union Studio, developing Fallout/Rage inspired shooter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190224062458/https://www.pcgamer.com/rumour-ex-stalker-devs-form-union-studio-developing-falloutrage-inspired-shooter/ . February 24, 2019 . June 24, 2021 . . en-US.
  16. Web site: Tach . Dave . June 24, 2014 . STALKER devs working on survival horror spiritual successor Areal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190517163146/https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/24/5838800/areal-stalker-kickstarter . May 17, 2019 . June 24, 2021 . . en.
  17. Web site: Cook . Dave . July 2, 2014 . UPDATE: S.T.A.L.K.E.R successor scandal is media-fabricated, dev claims . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181026130117/https://www.vg247.com/2014/07/02/s-t-a-l-k-e-r-2-areal-vostock-sparks-legal-and-fraud-threats/ . October 26, 2018 . June 24, 2021 . . en-US.
  18. Web site: McWhertor . Michael . July 22, 2014 . Kickstarter suspends Ex-STALKER devs' Areal campaign, West Games turns to direct funding . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190517163119/https://www.polygon.com/2014/7/22/5927175/areal-kickstarter-suspended-stalker-west-games . May 17, 2019 . June 24, 2021 . . en.
  19. Web site: Hall . Charlie . December 12, 2014 . After having its Kickstarter canceled, STALKER sequel goes back to the well . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203724/https://www.polygon.com/2014/12/12/7382787/stalker-apocalypse-kickstarter . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . . en.
  20. Web site: Facebook. www.facebook.com. June 23, 2021. November 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031527/https://www.facebook.com/cossacks3/posts/2053522958254369. live.
  21. Web site: Hall . Charlie . May 15, 2018 . STALKER 2 announced, scheduled for 2021 release . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180516035349/https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/15/17358508/stalker-2-announced-gsc-game-world . May 16, 2018 . June 24, 2021 . . en.
  22. Web site: Bailey . Dustin . May 29, 2018 . STALKER 2 was only announced so the devs could find a publisher . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205609/https://www.pcgamesn.com/stalker-2/stalker-2-publisher . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . . en-GB.
  23. Web site: Как Делают Игры 222. Отвечаем на вопросы. live. YouTube. June 24, 2021. June 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624220406/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw-kzRGRgGw.
  24. Web site: Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl Launches In April 2022, On Xbox Games Pass At Launch. GameSpot. Alessadro. Barbosa. June 13, 2021. June 24, 2021. June 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210623191327/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/stalker-2-heart-of-chernobyl-launches-in-april-2022-on-xbox-games-pass-at-launch/1100-6492799/. live.
  25. Web site: Birch . Nathan . August 11, 2021 . STALKER 2 is Running on Unreal Engine 5 Confirms GSC Game World . August 12, 2021 . WCCFTech . August 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210812000849/https://wccftech.com/stalker-2-unreal-engine-5/ . live .
  26. Lights! Camera! War... . 22 March 2022 . GSC Game World . 14 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220313132109/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RUvCVNeOH0 . March 13, 2022 . live . YouTube.
  27. 1496846354655547392 . GSC_GW . (image) . GSC Game World . 24 February 2022 . 14 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220303235219/https://twitter.com/GSC_GW/status/1496846354655547392 . March 3, 2022 . live.
  28. News: Stanton . Rich . February 24, 2022 . Stalker studio asks for donations to Ukrainian army, laments 'inhuman cruelty' of Russian invasion . . live . 14 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220314224738/https://www.pcgamer.com/stalker-studio-asks-for-donations-to-ukrainian-army-laments-inhuman-cruelty-of-russian-invasion/ . March 14, 2022.
  29. Web site: Carpenter . Nicole . February 24, 2022 . Ukrainian developers ask for support amid Russian invasion . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220314224726/https://www.polygon.com/22948976/stalker-developer-gsc-game-world-ukraine-russia . March 14, 2022 . 14 March 2022 . Polygon.
  30. News: Santon . Rick . March 14, 2022 . Stalker 2 renamed Heart of Chornobyl to reflect Ukrainian spelling . . live . 14 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220315012405/https://www.pcgamer.com/stalker-2-renamed-heart-of-chornobyl-to-reflect-ukrainian-spelling/ . March 15, 2022.
  31. News: Cryer . Hirun . 14 March 2022 . Stalker 2 appears to change its name to the Ukrainian spelling of Chornobyl . en . . live . 14 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220314212703/https://www.gamesradar.com/stalker-2-appears-to-change-its-name-to-the-ukrainian-spelling-of-chornobyl/ . March 14, 2022.
  32. Web site: June 15, 2022 . Новий трейлер S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 та 'щоденник розробників' . The new trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and 'developers diary' . Mezha.Media.
  33. Web site: Litchfield . Ted . STALKER 2 developer suffers Russia-linked security breach: 'We have been enduring constant cyberattacks for more than a year now' . . . 2 June 2023 . 12 March 2023.
  34. Web site: Chalk . Andy . GSC Game World says Russian hackers are leaking Stalker 2 test builds, please don't look at them . . . 2 June 2023 . 1 June 2023.
  35. https://web.archive.org/web/20240306212732/https://itc.ua/ua/novini/trylogiya-oryginalnyh-igor-s-t-a-l-k-e-r-legends-of-the-zone-dostupna-vzhe-sogodni-na-xbox-ta-ps-za-39-99-trejler/ Трилогія оригінальних ігор S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone доступна вже сьогодні на Xbox та PS за $39,99 — трейлер
  36. https://web.archive.org/web/20240307133611/https://games.24tv.ua/stalker-neochikuvano-viyshov-dlya-xbox-playstation-vidalivshi_n2509654 Трилогія STALKER раптово вийшла на Xbox та PS і не має російської озвучки: скільки коштує
  37. https://web.archive.org/web/20240306235236/https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/p/9N4GFFDG41JR S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy
  38. https://web.archive.org/web/20240311005445/https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/stalker-shadow-of-chornobyl/9n9bld5n3cnn S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl
  39. https://web.archive.org/web/20240311005407/https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/stalker-call-of-prypiat/9PJ1XG10FRW1 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Prypiat
  40. https://web.archive.org/web/20240309192718/https://stalker-trilogy.sega.jp/ 全世界累計販売1,500万本を突破したサバイバルホラーFPS. 『S.T.A.L.K.E.R.』シリーズの初のコンソール移植版が遂に登場!
  41. https://web.archive.org/web/20240306235154/https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UB0046-CUSA43979_00-0336574734560734/ S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy
  42. https://web.archive.org/web/20240311013259/https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UB0046-CUSA44356_00-0282129546865182 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl
  43. https://web.archive.org/web/20240311013451/https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UB0046-CUSA43979_00-0461534830492222 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Prypiat
  44. https://twitter.com/PlayStationUK/status/1765683066024915268 Emission incoming, find a shelter! ⚠️. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone trilogy (that's all games in the series - Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky and Call of Prypiat) is out now on PlayStation Store
  45. https://www.stalker-game.com/en Official website of the videogame S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy
  46. https://web.archive.org/web/20240311005127/https://www.gsc-game.com/eula/USER-LICENSE-AGREEEMENT.pdf S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Prypiat, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky – END USER LICENSE . LAST UPDATED: March 07th, 2024
  47. Web site: Barbosa . Alessandro . June 13, 2021 . Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl Launches In April 2022, On Xbox Games Pass At Launch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210623191327/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/stalker-2-heart-of-chernobyl-launches-in-april-2022-on-xbox-games-pass-at-launch/1100-6492799/ . June 23, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . . en-US.
  48. Web site: Reeves . Brianna . April 30, 2021 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 On PS5 Not Planned, Developer Talks Xbox Exclusivity . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204624/https://screenrant.com/stalker-2-ps5-not-planned-xbox-exclusivity/ . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . . en-US.
  49. Web site: Barker . Sammy . May 2, 2021 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Could Come to PS5 Three Months After Release . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211603/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2021/05/s_t_a_l_k_e_r_2_could_come_to_ps5_three_months_after_release . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . . en-GB.
  50. Web site: Donnellan . Jimmy . May 28, 2021 . Is Stalker 2 Coming To PS5? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204725/https://culturedvultures.com/stalker-2-ps5-ps4/ . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . Cultured Vultures . en-US.
  51. Web site: Smith . Rebecca . May 3, 2021 . S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Exclusive to Xbox for Just Three Months . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204203/https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2021/05/03/stalker-2-ps5/ . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . PlayStation LifeStyle.

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