Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World has announced a new documentary about the making of the game and how it's been impacted by Russia's ongoing invasion of the studio's native Ukraine.
War Game: The Making of Stalker 2 will air on October 3rd, and it's being made in conjunction with Microsoft. The movie will be directed by the creators of Xbox documentary series Power On, although this one won't come in multiple parts.
In the trailer description, GSC Game World says that February 24th, the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, "changed our world and lives forever". Suddenly, a game that was already experiencing development difficulties was now being made in a war-torn nation.
Over the stirring sound of Metallica's classic "Nothing Else Matters", the War Game trailer features GSC Game World developers talking about their experience of making the game while its native country was in defense mode.
One developer says that Stalker 2 has become "an element of resistance" for the studio, while another says the team "load our weapons with one hand and make the game with the other".
As the trailer concludes, one GSC Game World staffer affirms the studio's commitment to "finish this game" and "make it awesome". It's all very stirring stuff, and it makes me hope against hope that Stalker 2 is going to turn out as great as the devs want it to.
You can check out the trailer for War Game, which also shows off some of the footage you can likely expect to see in the finished documentary, right here.
If you're not familiar with Stalker 2, it's the long-awaited followup to 2007's Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl (which uses the Russian spelling of the word rather than the Ukrainian Chornobyl).
You'll once again take the role of one of the titular Stalkers, hunters who look for treasure in the irradiated exclusion zone of Chornobyl.
The game will feature a "photorealistic seamless open world" in which you'll encounter different NPCs and factions with their own agenda, battle horrifying monsters, and experience "immersive survival mechanics" like hunger, a need for sleep, and radiation.
Stalker 2 launches on PC and Xbox Series X|S on November 20th (assuming it's not delayed again). You can read our preview of it here.
