During the PC Gaming Show’s Most Wanted, the 25 most exciting upcoming PC games were revealed, as voted on by the Council – a collection of 70 industry professionals, critics and influencers. The council’s top pick this year, the most wanted of the most wanted, is Stalker 2, the highly anticipated sequel to GSC Game World’s classic FPS (First Person Shooter)
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“The recording of this video seems almost believable,” says Evgeny Grigorovich, CEO of GSC Game World and game director of Stalker 2, in his acceptance speech. “Being here proves that elements much bigger than me coordinated to make this moment happen.
It’s easy to see why it’s so highly anticipated. The last game in the series, Stalker: Call of Pripyat, was released in 2009, but it remains a classic for PC gaming fans. In this year’s PC Gamer Top 100, it’s ranked 76th. “It captures the experience of being a scavenger and treasure hunter in a world that basically doesn’t want you there, better than anything else I’ve played,” PCG’s Josh Wolens said at the time. As a series, Stalker has always been non-negotiable in its design – a non-negotiable shooter where you have to respect the fear of the strange, irradiated world you’re fighting to survive in.
“Many years ago, when the destination we had planned was complete, you refused to leave the Zone,” says Grigorovich, thanking the fans who have kept Stalker in their hearts for more than a decade. “You have enriched it with stories, love, and life, ensuring that the legacy continues through the years. You have shown us that there are still goals to achieve and stories to tell. Your passionate enthusiasm has driven us all the way, and I can never express my gratitude enough for that. I consider this award a symbol of your enduring trust.”
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During this year's Gamescom, I had the chance to play a brief, 15-minute demo of Stalker 2. Within minutes, I was attacked by a mutated dog, separated from an invisible anomaly, and exposed to radiation after standing too close to a radioactive lake. The Zone is as hostile as ever, protecting its treasures with deadly threats and harsh, unsanitary conditions. It's irresistibly dark and forbidding, even more so than previous games thanks to much-improved graphics and dark, atmospheric lighting.
“Stalker 2 is the biggest and most complex game of our lives,” Grigorovich continues. “It was ambitious from the start, but it evolved into something utterly challenging. It has extreme meaning and a deeply personal connection to us, created amidst the most stressful circumstances imaginable, including a pandemic, war, evacuation, cyberattacks, life-threatening situations, and more.”
As excited as we are about Stalker 2, it’s also important to acknowledge the circumstances surrounding its creation. In February of last year, Russia launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine. For months after that began, the city of Kiev – where GSC Game World is based – was targeted by Russian forces, suffering artillery fire and repeated incursions. “The workday starts with a siren,” said GSC’s Anton Kukhtytski in a video shown during the Xbox Showcase this summer. “During the shelling, we run to the shelter.”
The game's development was pushed back while GSC laid off employees and relocated the studio to Prague. Because of these difficulties the team faced, Stalker 2 has even more meaning for us. “The war continues in Ukraine,” says Grigorovich. “Those who are fighting on the front lines right now, including GSC employees, are real heroes. Not everyone was trained for this. But they had no choice.”
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“Stalker 2 was important to us even before the war, but now it is a national product that aims to convey the invincible spirit of Ukraine to the world. “Today we celebrate our victory here, while at the same time striving for the ultimate victory of our homeland in the future. I am extremely happy to acknowledge that Stalker 2 is entering the final stage of development. Fellow Stalkers will soon reunite in the Zone. Thank you all for this award.”
Despite the difficult circumstances the team has endured, Stalker 2 is set to release in the first quarter of next year. We can’t wait to return to the Zone – to face the horrors and mysteries of one of the most original and unique environments in the world of PC gaming.
Source: pcgamer.com
