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

[ADL]

On February 24, at 5 am, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine: our homes, our children, our lives. The media in Russia (and they are all controlled exclusively by the government) tell you that Ukraine is overrun with "fascists" and the Russian troops do not destroy houses, killing civilians. This is a lie, the most disgusting and cynical.

Ukraine and its inhabitants will fight to the last breath - for their freedom and their right to choose. For what you couldn't achieve.

We are developers from Ukraine. And it will always be so.

You have the right to believe what you want. But if you care about the truth, then this is it. Indifference to politics has no place where death steps. Every penny of taxes that go to the Russian Federation is financing the murder of our children and loved ones, the destruction of our cities.

A few important points:

1. Digital editions. Already completed pre-orders remain valid, new ones are not accepted.
2. Physical editions. Will not be available even to those who have already pre-ordered. For a refund, please contact the stores where you pre-ordered.
3. You can return any pre-order. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact the technical support of the payment system through which you made the purchase.
4. We don't regret losing that part of the community that supports the war with Ukraine.
5. We know that there are people who are aware of what is happening and support Ukraine in this war. And you will also face the impossibility of buying. Separation is not possible.

This is our last publication in the social network VK. If you would like to continue to follow the news about our games, you can do so on our other sites

Glory to Ukraine!
https://vk.com/wall-172977273_152424

 

[toughasnails]

The "fascist" thing is even more odious when you see the sort of people the Ruskies have fighting for them.

 

[karoliner]

So is the game happening or what?

 

[Angelo85]

The development has been suspended until the it's safe for the team to get back to work. So don't expect the game to be coming out this year. But this game is still happening, yes.

 

[Jenkem]

STocKEr 2 HoRT oF chORnObYL

 

[jebsmoker]

gsc is legitimately shooting themselves in the foot by cutting off the russian market. it goes without saying that STALKER is pretty much ukraine's greatest cultural export (in terms of computer games). in the west, people grew up with games like halo, half life, or call of duty if they were raised on FPS games for entertainment. in the former soviet bloc, people were raised on STALKER. it's quite literally the FPS blockbuster of that part of the world.

however, this won't stop dedicated pirates publishing their repacks on rutracker. why doesn't gsc just prevent that from being more prevalent by selling to the russian market

 

[Silentrider]

People in those parts don't buy games anyway.

 

[toughasnails]

People in those parts don't buy games anyway.

And when they do, they pay a significantly lower price. So I don't think it much of a loss in that regard.

I am however wondering about the future of Stalker's modding community given how it was already fairly filled with edgelords. I can imagine something like some Russian modders demanding that nobody translates their stuff to English and that sort of thing.

 

[ADL]

Update: From a trusted source we can't name, Vortex has the move confirmed. Part of the team is actually heading to the Czech Republic, where it is already applying for business. The GSC leadership finally chose Prague.

The original report continues: "I can confirm that the GSC studio approached the Association at the beginning of last week, saying that they are looking at the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. They needed help from us regarding legal and employment matters, "Pavel Barák told Vortex. However, he explained that even though the CzechInvest business and investment support agency is also involved in the negotiations, he does not yet have final confirmation that the studio will actually be anchored in our territory. "Unfortunately, we haven't done much for the Association yet. Mainly because I dropped out of work, "Barák said, referring to the fact that he is currently unwell due to coronavirus disease.

However, he referred to the Game Cluster association operating in Brno, which was to initiate a discussion with people from GSC Game World, and emphasized that if the studio could be brought to the Czech Republic, it would be mainly their merit. "We are maximum to help studios and individuals who are fleeing the war and would like to continue working in the gaming industry. They also have full support for the studies [which are part of the Association], "added the chairman of GDA.
https://www.vortex.cz/autori-s-t-a-l-k-e-r-2-mohou-zamirit-do-ceska-potvrzuji-zdroje-vortexu/

 

[karoliner]

They waited too long. They should have done that all the way back in 2014 as soon as Crimea was annexed.

 

[Jenkem]

"we stand with our homeland"
"also we are leaving"

 

[ferratilis]

Afaik all men between 18 and 60yo are not allowed to leave the country. So how are they able to move? Deserting?

 

[Wunderbar]

Afaik all men between 18 and 60yo are not allowed to leave the country. So how are they able to move? Deserting?

bribery?

AFAIK Ukrainian army has more than enough volunteers, they even refuse to take people if they haven't served before because it'd be a hassle to train them from scratch.

 

[cyborgboy95]

 

[TheEntitledOne]

Difficulty settings: Shells in the night

 

[wishbonetail]

Today's Azovsteel would've been a great setup for future STALKER games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azldlmJUolc

 

[Joggerino]

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/stalker-2-delayed-until-2023/

Stalker 2 delayed until 2023​

Development on Heart of Chornobyl had to be paused following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Development on Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl(opens in new tab) recently resumed, after being paused in February following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Studio GSC Game World was based in Kyiv but has had to help its staff and their families relocate, during which period it also changed the game's name: hit's now Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, reflecting the Ukrainian spelling of the region.

The game was still scheduled for a December launch(opens in new tab) though, given the circumstances, this seemed increasingly optimistic. At the Xbox and Bethesda showcase last night, a slide near the end of the presentation listing games coming out over the next 12 months showed Stalker 2 as now being down for a 2023 release.

I contacted GSC Game World and asked if the slide was accurate. "It happened a little bit earlier than expected, we were actually planning to reveal it in the upcoming days," writes GSC's Zakhar Bocharov. "But yes, the game now releases in 2023."

A game's release date is of course unimportant in the context of war, but Stalker 2(opens in new tab) is just one of many ways that Russia's illegal invasion has had knock-on effects in the gaming and tech industry. GSC Game World is currently in the process of relocating to Prague, and in March ceased operations in Russia (which resulted in the game's website being blocked in an act of petty censorship.) The studio has condemned the "inhuman cruelty" of the invasion, and this is a question of survival for its employees and their families.

 

[Wunderbar]

They also removed russian voices from the game.

 

[toughasnails]

I guess it is understandable and most people will support them there but it still seems kinda knee-jerk, reactive move. If the story will now reflect the current post-invasion situation they could have for example Russian special forces present in the Zone as the hostile faction (and they would obviously be speaking Russian). Or they could also have Russian NPCs who switched side and stand with Ukrainians, I think if anything that would annoy nationalistically minded Ruskies much more than the wholesale purge.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[vibehunter]

Not a lot of real info.

2nd trailer is clearly a callback to the SOC intro cinematic. And some hints toward a new faction?

 

[ciox]

2nd trailer is clearly a callback to the SOC intro cinematic.

Indeed, it's EXACTLY like that except not interesting.

 

[gerey]

MADE IN UKRAINE

So you know it's a quality product!

Sergei needs a new Ferrari to fight of the motherland.

 

[Curratum]

I uh... I don't know about you guys, but I'm not really going to play a Stalker game without Russian voices.

One of the autismo-land mods of the original I tried had the Ukrainian voices on and it was terrible. To my mind, the Russian voices are an integral part of the experience, as much as any other core element and honestly, I don't think I would be interested in the game without them.

Stupid that it came to this, I understand their decision and why they decided to do it but... It's just not Stalker anymore, to my brain and ears.