Ukrainian-based developer GSC World has shared the very first screenshot of the long-awaited S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. As one of the pioneers of immersive open-world games witch truly emergent gameplay, the series left a big mark in the 2000s. Check out the nice in-game image below!
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is a weird beast. Despite being at the forefront of so many breakthrough trends and three really good games, the franchise drizzled into a full-on coma before the last decade even started. A real shame, as very few games before and after it managed to encapsulate an alive world in such a good way as.
Greetings, Stalkers!
Thirteen years ago we released S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.
The world was never the same after that. Millions of players rushed into the Zone. Driven by the desire to uncover mysteries, you overcame difficulties, hunted for treasures, fought monsters and joined factions.
You changed to become the real Stalkers.
You made this day forever special.
Being inspired by everything you do (including arts, stories, cosplays and mods), we fully understand we can’t let you down. The second chapter of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. saga will be our most ambitious game so far. It will live to the legendary legacy.
A lot of you are joining social isolation now. That’s why today, on a very special occasion, we are ready to slightly uncover the mystery of what we are working on. This is the first glimpse of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
Consider it as our humble present, with more to come in 2020.
With the closure of the developer GSC Game World in 2012, it looked like that was it for the series. But thankfully, the studio managed to secure investors and reopened their doors and immediately started working on a proper sequel with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Unlike the prior entries, no fancy in-house engine will power the new game. Instead, the developers have chosen to use the Unreal 4 engine. A wise choice to keep costs and risks down. And most importantly, focus all the effort into the gameplay.
In a new Facebook post, GSC Game World shared the first-ever look at S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 with a moody forest scene. There’s also, what appears to be, the series trademark anomaly in action. The mood is already great. Let’s hope the tumultuous development of the game sees a happy ending in 2021 when the game is slated to release.
