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For the game currently in development, see S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. For the concept game, see S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 (2002). |
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a cancelled game in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, developed by GSC Game World. It would've been the fourth installment in the series and a sequel to the third installment, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. The game was officially announced on August 13, 2010 for a scheduled release in 2012[1]. Development of the game was ultimately cancelled on April 25, 2012[2].
In 2018, development of the game resumed. Now known as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the game is currently scheduled for release on September 5th, 2024.
Development[]
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.
― GSC's announcement of the game[3]
Development of the game began sometime in late 2009, following the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky. The game was meant to use a new version of GSC's proprietary game engine X-Ray, known as "X-Ray Engine 2.0"[4].
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was officially announced on August 13, 2010[1] by GSC's CEO, Sergei Grigorovich, for a planned release in 2012. Very little details were revealed about the game, other than it would be a multiplatform release and that it would feature a new engine made from scratch.
Stalkers, while most of you are angry and upset (which we understand) please know that since December 2011 the entire Stalker team (myself included) was working without pay on Stalker 2 while new investors were scouted. That is our dedication. Sadly we could not gain legal rights to the franchise. We are still the same team working now at Vostok Games and on Survarium.
― The Official Facebook page announcing the game's closure.
On December 9, 2011, GSC Game World was dissolved by Grigorovich. The official Twitter account posted "We will do our best to continue. However, at this moment, nothing is certain."[5]. After several months of uncertainity[6], it was announced in early 2012 that the game would resume development provided GSC would get the required funding[7]. Ultimately, on April 25, 2012, the game's development was officially frozen[8][2]. There were many rumors why, such as Sergei Grigorovich not being happy with the game's progress, a lack of investment into the game's development, internal conflicts inside GSC, or GSC running into severe financial problems. Officially, it was stated to have resulted from dispute between investors, staff, and the original IP rights owner[9][10].
GSC reopened in December 2014. However, there was no mention regarding the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series and the company was working on different unrelated projects.
On Tuesday, May 15, 2018 GSC Game World published its S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 website and announced that the game would resume development, with a target release in 2021[11]. The game was later named S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Original Concept[]
Very little was known about the original concept. It was supposed to continue the story of the first three games as a new chapter and it was to take place in the Zone. It was to support DirectX 11. CryEngine 3 had been in consideration.
Among the confirmed features as stated in the official interviews is that it was planned to feature: new mutants, new areas, new uses for artifacts, and female stalkers. It was also confirmed that the main protagonist of the game was supposed to be Strelok and that the game's level layout should have featured a large-single-area game world to eliminate loading times. It had been confirmed that the game was to have been set in a triangle between both areas of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and Pripyat.
Concept art[]
Below is some concept art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
GSC-fan.com concept art[]
GSC-fan.com, a GSC fansite, managed to acquire never before seen renders and concept art of some of the proposed mutants for the original concept of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:
See also[]
- stalker.pl interview with Sasha Nikolsky (Available in Polish and English)
- Gamespot interview with Sasha Nikolsky
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 announced, will be multiplatform
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 canceled
- ↑ GSC Game World (archived)
- ↑ Gamespot interview with Sasha Nikolsky
- ↑ Twitter (archived)
- ↑ S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 studio facing uncertain future
- ↑ S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 presses on, but studio needs cash - Report
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/officialstalker/posts/436963036329617 Official STALKER FB page
- ↑ Stalker fallout: Polygon traces the exodus from Kiev's legendary GSC Game World
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/officialstalker?fref=ts
- ↑ STALKER 2 announced, scheduled for 2021 release
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