Stalker 2 Devs Were ‘So Tired that You Would Just Die’ But Couldn’t Delay the Game Further

Stalker 2 Devs Were ‘So Tired that You Would Just Die’ But Couldn’t Delay the Game Further

As a gamer who has been through the highs and lows of the gaming industry for decades now, I can empathize with GSC Game World’s predicament. The release of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl was not what many of us had hoped for, but given the circumstances under which it was developed – amidst a war-torn Ukraine and under intense pressure to meet deadlines – I can’t help but admire their grit and determination.

The game “Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl” was launched in a state filled with bugs, yet manageable enough for players. This launch has sparked disagreement among both fans and critics. As a result, the developers of “Stalker 2,” GSC Game World, have provided an explanation as to why they couldn’t postpone the release any longer and had to make it public. It’s important to mention that the game was initially planned for a 2021 release year.

The statement came from GSC Game World CEO himself, Ievgen Grygorovych. This was what Grygorovych relayed in an interview with Eurogamer:

During an extended, high-pressure work phase that spans several months, it becomes challenging to express one’s condition because you’re consistently pushing beyond your usual limits, under immense stress and in a highly demanding and overpowering time frame.

In this situation, you’re feeling absolutely drained and the idea of running another marathon crosses your mind. However, due to your current state, it seems impossible to agree, “Let’s run another marathon,” as you know you’ve reached your limit and can’t continue at this point.

After exerting yourself so much, you’re in such a state that suggesting another marathon would feel like pushing you towards death. In other words, we didn’t have time to discuss doing more, but rather found ourselves saying ‘let’s do as much as possible up until this moment – the release date.’ This is according to Grygorovych’s recollection.

It’s worth noting that a number of developers at GSC Game World had to work on Stalker 2 amidst the turmoil in Ukraine. Tragically, one of these developers, Volodymyr Yezhov, lost his life while defending Ukraine during the war.

Volodymyr generously shared countless games and worlds with us, memories that players will cherish forever. Farewell, Volodymyr. Our sympathies go out to your family. Unfortunately, another great one from Ukraine has passed away.

— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) December 26, 2022

As a gamer myself, I can tell you that Grygorovych made it clear that the unpredictable circumstances really hit hard on GSC Game World, leaving them unsure of what was coming next. It’s no secret that Stalker 2, upon its release, was far from perfect. They openly admitted that one of the game’s key AI systems, A-Life 2.0, didn’t function as intended or not at all.

The Wartime Crunch was Exhausting

As a dedicated gamer, I found myself in a situation where my team was faced with a tough decision: sticking to the release date of November 20, 2024, or opting for another marathon work session, risking exhaustion. However, Grygorovych reassured us that we could always roll out patches and updates post-launch to refine the game experience.

Expressing it differently: It’s more than just saying that the ongoing war affected the development of Stalker 2; Grygorovych found it remarkable that much of the media coverage on Stalker 2 seemed to overlook the fact that it was developed during a time of conflict, focusing instead on addressing bugs and making improvements.

Stalker 2 Devs Were ‘So Tired that You Would Just Die’ But Couldn’t Delay the Game Further

Nevertheless, the CEO of GSC Game World firmly believes they’ll persist in supporting Stalker 2 and considers their choice to bypass an additional delay to be sound.

I’m deeply rooted in my homeland and aspire to create games here, but currently, it seems almost impractical.

According to Grygorovych, while it’s imperfect and requires adjustments, it’s more than just a game. It holds emotion, sentiment, and affection. The flaws that exist are part of the experience itself; you can’t improve upon them without first having a game at all.

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2024-12-05 13:35