**Ukraine’s “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2” Finally Released After Two Years of Delays**
The highly anticipated video game “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl” has been released, two years after its initial release date was delayed due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
GSC Game World, the Ukrainian company behind the game, completed it while navigating the challenges of war, including blackouts and missile strikes. The game’s employees had to flee Ukraine in February 2022, forcing the developers to restart operations from a new office in Prague.
The original release date was set for April 2022, but the game experienced several delays as many of its staff were forced to leave Ukraine. Despite these challenges, “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2” has become one of the most anticipated video games of the year, with presales taking it to the top spot on Steam.
**A Game Born in War**
The game is a first-person immersive shooter set in a fictionalized version of Chornobyl’s exclusion zone after an apocalyptic nuclear disaster. The war affected not just the timing of the game’s release but also its content. The game’s name was changed to use the Ukrainian spelling of Chornobyl, and Russian voiceovers were removed.
The developers have refused to sell the game in Russia, citing threats and hacking attempts. This decision has sparked controversy, with a Russian official suggesting that purchases of the game in Russia could be criminalized after its release.
**A Developer’s Story**
In a documentary about the game’s creation, Anton Kukhtytskyi, the lead concept artist, shared his story of surviving the war and continuing to work on the game. Despite facing many challenges, including no electricity or internet for two weeks, he continued to develop the game by drawing on paper.
The staff had to recast their voice-actors and build new motion capture and audio recording studios from scratch after relocating to Prague. A significant portion of the staff still remains in Ukraine.
**A Ukrainian Game Developer**
GSC Game World was founded in Kyiv in 1995 and is one of the oldest and most prominent video game developers in Ukraine. The company is known for its “Cossacks” strategy game franchise, and its co-owner, Maksym Krippa, has built up significant stakes in online gaming and real estate.
“S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2” is available on Xbox and PC.