Looking back at 2024, there have obviously been a lot of fantastic games. No doubt about it - it's been a great year for pretty much anyone who loves turning on their PC, console, or phone and just throwing dozens of hours to the wind. But there is only one game that has truly astounded me this year. Not only on its own merit (a huge open world packed with mystery, secrets, and perilous dangers) but for the context outside of the game, too. Stalker 2 is a miracle game, and it deserves its flowers.
]]>Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World has been gradually working to fix as many of the bugs and issues that plagued the game at launch, and today it's relased a pretty huge swing at solving a heap of stuff. This latest patch comes with over 1,800 fixes, making it worth of being dubbed the game's "first major patch".
]]>Stalker 2 has you exploring the perilous Zone, packed with dangerous anomalies, threatening creatures, and hostile humans who aren’t prepared to share their loot. To make this gargantuan game the experience you want it to be, whether that’s with quality of life improvements, cheaper repairs (they’re pricey, right?), or something to make things a little less terrifying, there’s fortunately plenty of mods for that.
]]>Stalker 2 is getting a wave of gameplay improvements in another hot new patch, which includes a much-needed fix to one of the game's most excruciating bugs.
]]>After dropping Stalker 2's first patch on Friday, GSC Game World has already released another one, and it's quite helpful too.
]]>As you explore the Zone in Stalker 2, it won’t be too long before you run into your first Controller. These are gruesome, hostile mutants are incredibly tanky, and capable of manipulating your mind. They can pose quite the threat if you don’t have enough ammo or Psi-Protection to take them on, but that’s where this guide comes in.
]]>Stalker 2 is obviously struggling with some bugs at the moment, but GSC Game World has shared word of an incoming patch that should fix some of them.
]]>Stalker 2 has made me look back and realize that maybe it was a mistake to make Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 become an industry standard for the next decade.
]]>The objective to ‘Take shelter from the Emission’ will crop up regularly as you play through Stalker 2’s story and get to know the perilous Zone inside and out. This recurring quest requires you, Skif, to go ahead and seek out safety during an anomalous storm, before it ends up killing you (or, in my instance, crashing your game).
]]>Stalker 2 boasts a huge, sprawling wasteland packed with anomalies, artifacts, and some very bizarre goings-on. You’ll have likely already noticed how much sprinting from A to B the game contains, and how many Energy Drinks traveling can often have you consuming. Fortunately, fast travel exists.
]]>Across the Zone in Stalker 2, which is gargantuan in size, you’ll find various stashes and secret loot spots. Some will be marked on your map, while others are left for you to come across naturally, and all of them help out our lonely stalker, Skif, on his journey. Whether it’s arming yourself with medicines, food, or brand new gear, stashes are one thing you want to keep an eye out for while completing your missions.
]]>Stalker 2 has you exploring the gargantuan, and perilous, Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, and if you wish to survive and see the game through to the end, you’re going to want to loot, loot some more, kill some guys, and get more loot. But what should you do with all the loot you don’t need? Take it to a Trader, of course.
]]>The Stalker 2 modding gold rush was always gonna be a sight to behold, and with plenty of stuff to fix and adjust, it certainly hasn't disappointed. Following an intitial post-release period full of attempts at stopping the stuttering, the community's now moved on to tweaking how tough life in The Zone is, as well as casually messing with time itself.
]]>Stalker games suffering from bugs is a tale as old as the series itself, to the point where it's kind of a part of playing the games, at least on PC. Stalker 2 is no different. While the game has been created under especially rough circumstances due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine turning the lives of the developers upside down, hope of a more stable game with smoother edges isn't baseless. In fact, the game's saviour could be a long-held tradition.
]]>The early verdict on Stalker 2 now that it's finally arrived is that it's a pretty good game that's currently afflicted by a lot of bugs and issues. Some you can live with pretty easily, some you can't, and GSC Game World's unsurprisingly said it's got plans to fix them, having already put out a pretty colossal patch towards the end of the review window.
]]>After what felt like over a decade of waiting - probably because it really has been - Stalker 2 has officially been released. The game’s developer, GSC Game World, triumphed over a global pandemic, and the need to move out of a their home country of Ukraine following the (still ongoing) invasion by neighbouring Russia.
]]>As you embark on your lonely adventure across the hostile Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Stalkers who make good use of their scanners will quickly come across strange items known as artifacts. These items, molded by the Zone and its array of bizarre anomalies, can offer various perks (and often, cons) when equipped.
]]>As you step into the shoes of the lonely stalker, Skif, and begin exploring the dangerous, albeit endlessly fascinating, Chornobyl Inclusion Zone in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, it likely won’t take long for you to become over encumbered. Looting ammo, weapons, and food from those you cross paths with quickly adds up.
]]>Being a stalker is all fine and well in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl until you’re in the middle of a fight with some bandits, mutants, or other hostile creature and your weapon suddenly decides to break. Unfortunately, Stalker 2 features a rather brutal weapon degradation system that means you’ll want to keep a close eye on the condition of your favorite weapons.
]]>During your time in the Lesser Zone in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, it won’t be long before you meet Mityay. He will quickly speak of his home and a religious icon that his family possesses, the Orthodox Icon, and request that you retrieve it for him. This kicks off the Poppy Field side mission, which has some decent rewards for the start of your journey.
]]>Anomalies in Stalker 2 are bizarre, often dangerous, occurrences within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone that you’ll want to avoid for the most part. That said, these anomalies are sometimes so strange and so interesting that it’s hard to peel your eyes away from them, but if you wish to survive in Stalker 2, you’ll need to keep your wits about you.
]]>One of the most interesting side quests in Stalker 2 is the journalist stash side quest, which has your journey all across the map to grab sweet loot. The first you'll probably run into is in Zalissya, but actually reaching it can be a little tricky.
]]>There's not been a game that nails the feeling of loneliness like Stalker 2. A vast and challenging open world sci-fi RPG from GSC Game World, it stands alone in its ambitious exploration of a perilous, ruined landscape plagued by greed and unflinching peril. A theme park to some and a fresh hell for others, Stalker 2 excellently portrays the grim reality of trying to carve a life out of struggle, wrestling with the weird and the paranormal.
]]>The Russia-Ukraine war rages on, and there is no team more impacted by this reality than Stalker 2 creators GSC World. At the outbreak of the war, the team was split in two, with half evacuating the country and the others staying behind. The company fell victim to cyber attacks following its decision not to release Stalker 2 in Russia. It even suffered a server fire that wiped out an entire floor of its new Prague office.
]]>Stalker 2's been through an interesting development cycle to say the least, one that's certainly demanded a lot of developer GSC Game World. As it turns out, one of the minor demands that came of the studio in its efforts was a hunt for Xbox boss Phil Spencer's email address on Reddit.
]]>Stalker 2 previews are out, as are a selection of interviews with developers at GSC World (our own interview is coming later today, October 17, by the way)! In one such interview, conducted by Windows Central, the devs chipped in on the Xbox Series S, and how working on it convinced them that any game can reach the console's memory limits.
]]>I'd already died twice, trying to clear out a small warehouse around 30 minutes into my session with Stalker 2. This time, I'd do it better. Rushing in wasn't an option. I snuck around the side, waiting until two enemy stalkers turned their back, and then bam! With them dead, a cat and mouse game ensued between myself and their allies. Hurt but victorious, my reward was ammo and supplies, broken guns that weren't worth my time, and a gloomy bloke who chewed me out. Yep, this is certainly Stalker.
]]>Stalker 2's release has had to be pushed back again, it's now pencilled in to arrive on November 20, with the previously planned September release date having been abandoned in order to give the game's developers "the chance to fix more 'unexpected anomalies' (or simply 'bugs', as you call them)".
]]>Stalker 2 is back with a brand-new trailer at the Xbox Showcase, giving us a glimpse into the ravaged world of everyone's favourite Chernobyl nightmare game.
]]>In a really nice surprise today, GCS Game World released all three Stalker games on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
]]>Looking back, 2023 was a year jam-packed full of outstanding games. If you wanted to try them all out, it got very expensive, very quickly. That is unless you were a Game Pass subscriber. It turns out in 2023, Game Pass as a service hosted just over $5,000 worth of games, but how many of those did you actually play?
]]>The history of the Stalker series, its developer, the off-shoots it spawned, and the community of players who continue to mod the games and find new ways to play them to this day, is something well worth talking about. These are all reasons why the odds against Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl are stacked.
]]>The Prague offices of GSC Game World - the development team behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl - have suffered significant fire damage. The current extent of damage remains unconfirmed, but thankfully no developers have been injured during the fire.
]]>Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been delayed out of 2023 into early 2024, according to developer GSC Game World.
]]>It looks like Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl might still release this year, despite no recent updates on how the game is doing.
]]>Welcome to VG247's Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 44: The best game where you'd swap places with the main character.
]]>Welcome to VG247's Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 43 - The best game that takes ten or more hours to get good.
]]>The developer of the long-awaited Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, GSC Game World, has announced that one of its employee's accounts was compromised by a group of hackers on a Russian social network.
]]>The original STALKER instalment, Shadow of Chernobyl, first released all the way back in 2007. While we await the series' fourth instalment from GSC Game World, one particular fan and modder has taken it upon themselves to remaster the original game.
]]>During Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase Extended today, Ukrainian developer GSC Game World revealed a new trailer for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
]]>It's no news that STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has had a rocky development process, and for GSC Game World, this is by no fault of its own. Based in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city, GSC Game World unfortunately was forced to halt development on the game back in March, once the Russian invasion in the country was well underway.
]]>GSC Game World has announced Stalker 2 development is on hold due to the ongoing war with Russia but will resume once Ukraine is triumphant.
]]>GSC Game World has postponed the release of Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl to December 8.
]]>What are the most anticipated games of 2022? The answer to that question is going to be different for everyone. Even looking ahead to the immediate future, it’s clear to see that 2022 is absolutely stacked with games. With Pokemon Legends Arceus, Horizon Forbidden West, Elden Ring and Dying Light 2 all set for release before the daylight hours start getting a bit more generous, it’s going to be an explosive start to a jam-packed year.
]]>The STALKER 2 developer has clarified some of the details left out at the game's reveal.
]]>The STALKER 2 trailer revealed during yesterday's Xbox event has been viewed more times than both Halo Infinite and Fable.
]]>Developer GSC Game World has released the first screenshot for its long-planned sequel to Stalker.
]]>STALKER 2 is the design document stage, and there's a reason why it was announced this early.
]]>GSC Game World has announced that STALKER 2 is now development.
]]>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC Game World is back in action, and willing to throw shade at other companies purporting to be carrying its legacy forward.
]]>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Lost Alpha is a new mod for GSC Game World's title currently in development courtesy of modding group Dezowave. The group hopes to restore the spirit of GSC's early alpha concepts for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. which followed a more open, survival horror-based route.
]]>The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. license was said to have changed hands earlier this week, as German publisher bitComposer issued a press release to state that it had acquired the rights from author Boris Natanovich Strygatsky, who passed away in November. Shadow of Chernobyl developer GSC Game World has stepped in to dispute bitComposer's claim. FIGHT!!
]]>bitComposer Entertainment AG has acquired the rights for future adaptations of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. brand from Boris Natanovich Strygatsky, according to a press release on the firm's official site.
]]>S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 development collapsed unexpectedly in 2011 and it led to the formation of Vostok Games, developers of incoming MMOFPS Survarium. Team member Oleg Yavorsky has discussed with VG247 the nature of the game's cancellation and the demise of developer GSC Game World, calling it a 'forced move'. He also revealed that the team tried to save the S.T.A.L.K.E.R IP by making a free-to-play spin-off, but explained that an agreement couldn't be reached. Get the full scoop below.
]]>Russian blogger Sergey Galyonkin has said Bethesda now owns the rights to publish a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game, but that extended rights remain with Sergei Grigorovich.
]]>A few brief snippets of evidence reveal the remnants of GSC Game World may have coalesced on a second new centre.
]]>Chalk this one up as "wishful thinking" if you like, but reports out of East Europe suggest S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 may not be ready for burial just yet.
]]>Veterans from GSC Game World have formed a new studio called Vostok Games, and the first title from the firm, Survarium, is a free-to-play MMOFPS homage to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The firm's official website noted since S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development has been “frozen” since December, and since the firm being "unable to secure the IP rights to continue with the Stalker franchise," it started work on the new title. A Q&A session will be held on Twitter tomorrow with Oleg Yavorsky and Joe Willburn. A video outlining the studio's plans is below. Thanks, RPS.
]]>In the religious spirit of Easter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 appears to have resurrected.
]]>GSC has yet again moved to assure fans that work on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is still ongoing.
]]>GOG has announced the addition of GSC Game World titles to its digital library, starting with an entry from the studio's tactical RTS series Cossacks. The anthology bundles together Cossacks: European Wars with the expansion packs Cossacks: Art of War and Cossacks: Back to War. The Cossacks Analogy lands today for $5.99 and comes complete with wallpapers, soundtracks, the manual, a quick reference card and is DRM-free. Further titles from GSC Game World are to be added in the future.
]]>GSC's confirmed that development is continuing on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 after the Christmas break, calming fan nerves the sequel was canned. However, a spokesperson for the firm has admitted that in order for development to proceed, funding is needed.
]]>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 developer GCS Game World has issued its promised statement on the studio's future. Short version: it's not good news.
]]>GSC Games World has tweeted that a statement regarding the current situation at the firm will be released on Monday, December 12, after internet reports steaming from a Ukrainian news site called UkraNews reported that GSC had been closed down by owner Sergei Grigorovich, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development cancelled.
]]>In an interview with Ukrainian site KP, GSC Game World studio head Sergey Grigorovich explained how the DRM would work in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 when it is released.
]]>S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl is on the cheap today. Really cheap.
]]>GSС Game World's holding a contest for the best quest ideas, and whomever comes up with the best idea, may get their quest creation put into the game.
]]>A teaser site and a pilot for a television series of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and funded by the game's developer GSC Game World has surfaced online.
]]>Steam has a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Bundle on sale this weekend for 75 percent off until August 23.
This means it will only run you $9.99.
]]>GSC Game World has announced it's developing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
]]>Koch just confirmed a February 5 street date for S.T.A.L.K.E.R : Call of Pripyat in the UK, Nordic and Italy.
]]>S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat will launch on February 2 in the US, Viva Media and bitcomposer said today.
Viva Media boss Carlo Voelker said: “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat is the third in the highly successful Shooter/RPG franchise developed by GSC Game World. The game opens up a dark world where players can immerse themselves into a gripping storyline full of action and suspense.”
PR after the break. Go grade A mental.
]]>A new video for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat shows off the irradiated Zone near the Chernobyl.
Looks like there are horrific anomalies in the landscape, with dangerous things lurking and lying in wait for you.
Spooky. Aim your weapon and don't miss, because it apparently takes loads of bullets to kill whatever those things are.
It's out this fall.
Watch below the page jump, courtesy of BigDownload.
]]>bitComposer have been confirmed as the publisher to S.TA.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat worldwide.
It comes as developer GSC Game World told VG247 yesterday that an announcement concerning a publisher for the title would be coming very soon.
Press release is after the break. It's due for a fall release on the PC.
]]>GSC's put out the first two screens on the now-confirmed S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, as you can see after the break.
The title promises a new story and a new version of the developer's A-Life system over Shadown of Chernobyl and Clear Sky.
It's out this autumn.
Update: There's more in shots from a Russian mag here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Thanks, _S_E_R_G_.
]]>Eurogamer's given S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky 7/10, which added to IGN's 70 percent and PC Zone's cover score of 88 percent should give you a good idea that this probably isn't quite what it was supposed to be. Snip:
]]>Uh oh. Despite an 88 percent cover review from PCZone, IGN UK's posted a 7/10 for the GSC sequel, saying it has a "reactorful of misfires" and "so much decaying flesh attached to it that cutting through to the admittedly very healthy bone below may prove too tall an order."
]]>Koch's posted a new video of STALKER: Clear Sky, showing off a lot of graphical features DX10 users can expect to enjoy in the shooter prequel.
]]>There's a video after the break containing the first 25 minutes of gameplay from S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky. How and why this should be isn't clear. It goes without saying, but to say this is a "spoiler" is a bit of an understatement. At your own risk.
]]>According to this WorthPlaying report, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky system requirements really aren't that heavy. Full thing after the link. The GSC shooter prequel's out on August 29.
]]>Speaking to videogamer.com, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC Game World has admitted the company has console aspirations for the shooter series, but there'll only be realised if upcoming prequel Clear Sky makes enough beans.
]]>IGN's had some face-time with GSC's shooter prequel S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, the results of which you can see here. There are details there of new weapons, faction combat and so on. As far as we're aware, this is the first time anyone's properly played it, so worth a look.
The site also grabbed five direct feed movies, which you can see after the break.
Clear Sky's out on August 29.
]]>Koch is to publish S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, the company's announced, which begs a rather large question about what happened to THQ's involvement. Koch will handle the game worldwide.
"Publishing the game Heroes of Annihilated Empires worldwide together with Koch Media distribution, we were happy of the cooperation and are glad to continue it with S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky project," said Sergiy Grygorovych, CEO of developer GSC World Publishing.
Happy enough, obviously, to not work with THQ any more.
The game is a prequel to well-received PC survival FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, set a year before the original's events. Full press release after the link.
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