GSC Game World, the Ukrainian developer of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series of FPS adventures, has closed down, taking the work-in-progress S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 down with it. Sergey Galyonkin, Marketing Director at GSC's Russian distributor 1C, reports that the closure is shrouded in rumor and accusatory gossip – but that the studio's big project simply wasn't shaping up as a viable contender for profitable international distribution.
While S.T.A.L.K.E.R. enjoyed international success on PC, Galyonkin says the company was unable to secure the level of distribution that would enable S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 to turn a profit. He says GSC was unable to secure deals with console publishers, and self-publishing wasn't an option. Even after the worldwide success of the original game and its subsequent add-ons, international distribution also proved prohibitively difficult to secure.
“Some say that GSC demanded incredible conditions,” laments Galyonkin; other rumors suggested that “Western publishers do not want a post-apocalyptic story from Eastern Europe.” Galyonkin also says there are suggestions that GSC CEO Sergei Grigorovich was unhappy with the game's progress and becoming (in the evocative phrasing of Google Translate) “stupidly tired.”
It's unlikely you'll see S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 any time soon now that the game's left without a home. Galyonkin admits the game could eventually resurface under a new team – but with the original developers scattered to the nuclear winds, “nothing good will come of it.” Here's a gallery of where the game had gotten to: chances are it's all you'll get...
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NanoElite666 - December 10, 2011 3:13 p.m.
Well crap. I've been quite enjoying STALKER since picking it up on Steam last holiday season, and this is just a damn shame. -
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Bloodstorm - December 10, 2011 6:03 a.m.
I have all the STALKER games, just haven't gotten around to playing much of them. They were unique games though from what I did play. Guess I should finish them..... -
HamsterGutz - December 10, 2011 5:13 a.m.
Heard about this on SPUF. makes me super sad :( I got SoC and CoP during the steam summer sale and I loved them, I was looking forward to Stalker 2. :( -
e1337prodigy - December 10, 2011 1:54 a.m.
I don't get this. Ok, as far as I know they have made 1 really good game (stalker with an expansion pack as far as I know), it was popular and I'm sure it sold a few 100,000 (maybe closer to 1 million?) around the world. Why have they closed down completely. I suppose this is what you get when everyone pirates it. I hope you are all happy. As for distribution, I'm pretty sure I have seen Stalker on steam. Why not make it Steam only title (ie not available in shops, saves on costs and distribution). most if not everyone has internet connection so can easily be distributed through that (ie similar to indie games; since they struggle with finances too). -
ThisIsMyFuckingThirdAccount - December 9, 2011 9:31 p.m.
Was Call of Pripyat not #3? Haven't kept up with the series. -
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aequitas13 - December 9, 2011 7:53 p.m.
Wow thanks for ruining my weekend GR! Honestly though, this is a sad day. STALKER was one of the truly unique FPS games left out there. Absolutely loved traversing the Zone! Fingers crossed that Thief 4 doesn't suffer the same fate or I may no longer be friends with my PC. -
DevonOO7 - December 9, 2011 5:06 p.m.
This really hurts. Shadow of Chernobyl was a gem of a game that I stumbled upon and bought not knowing anything about the game. It was unlike any other shooter I had played and really brought me into pc gaming. S.T.A.L.K.E.R is, and always will be, one of my favorite series. RIP GSC Game World -
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Stabby_Joe - December 9, 2011 4:24 p.m.
Oh for fu... ...why must everything I like die before I get to love it?! -
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MetroidPrimeRib - December 9, 2011 9 p.m.
Really? What's another good FPS series? Name me some, I'm intrigued. -
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MetroidPrimeRib - December 9, 2011 10:10 p.m.
Half Life hasn't had a game in years Deus Ex is an RPG with Shooter/Stealth elements Crysis is shit Left 4 Dead is good, but don't expect to see anymore for a long time. DOOM? The last DOOM was 2003. No more are being developed. lol Killzone Halo hasn't been good since 2 -
Net_Bastard - December 9, 2011 10:37 p.m.
Serious Sam (although I think that it's a shoot-em-up rather than an FPS), Crysis (The 1st one wasn't shit. It was one of the best FPS games ever IMO), Far Cry, Killzone isn't shit (it's generic sure, but it isn't shit), DOOM 4 has been announced a year back, Red Orchestra, and Team Fortress.