The war in Ukraine has been raging for almost a week, with the conflict impacting millions in the Eastern European country. The Ukrainian gaming industry is also suffering from the consequences of the Russian invasion, with the development of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl being put on hold for the time being, only to be resumed "after the Ukrainian victory," the developer says.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl is being developed by Kyiv-based GSC Game World, a successor to the three preceding titles of the STALKER saga. Just like its forefathers, STALKER 2 is a first-person shooter with survival horror mechanics, with the game's events taking place in the Zone: an alternative-reality Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, full of radiation, mutating wildlife, and weird phenomena called Anomalies. The so-called Stalkers are individuals searching the Zone for powerful artifacts and personal enrichment, in an environment where several factions compete for control.
GSC Game World had already released a statement about the war, denouncing the Russian attack, and declaring confidence in the Ukrainian Armed Forces capabilities. This time, the developer studio went further, publishing a powerful video on YouTube, which describes how everything has changed in mere days; instead of working on STALKER 2, GSC Game World is now completely focused on ensuring the safety of its employees and their families.
The short video shows many of the horrifying images many of us are already familiar with, including the recent rocket attacks on Kharkiv which claimed many innocent lives. An emphasis is put on how quickly everything has changed for Ukrainians. The STALKER 2 developer ends the video showing confidence in the final victory over the invaders: "The game development shifted to the side-lines. But we will definitely continue. After the victory. Glory to Ukraine."
The video from GSG Game World shows a reality of Ukrainians ready to go against all odds, defiant against the powerful enemy they are facing; unfortunately, while morale is a key factor in every conflict, it isn't enough to stop the onslaught against the Ukrainian cities. The gaming industry, so far, has also managed to support the besieged population in other ways, with several developers making consistent donations to humanitarian associations working in the area.
While words of peace talks have surfaced, they seem, so far, nowhere near to reaching an agreement; the fighting continues. For the time being, developers will stop their work, and continue trying to help the Ukrainian population in other ways.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl will release on PC and Xbox Series X/S.