An in-depth look at the complex development of one of the most anticipated games of the year.
“War is not something you can prepare for either physically or mentally. War is not a normal state of human existence.” – says one of the developers of STALKER 2: The Heart of Chernobyl in a 90-minute video documentary. It is noteworthy that although we can read articles or watch footage from Ukraine, it is difficult for us to get an idea of how terrible life under fire really is. This topic has become inextricably linked with the development of one of the most anticipated games of recent times. The documentary film “War Game” offers not only a new look at the development of the game itself, but also at the dark circumstances of the lives of its creators.
Official press release:
Kyiv, Ukraine, October 3, 2024
This feature-length documentary takes an in-depth look at the emotional journey of GSC Game World, a Ukrainian video game developer with nearly 500 employees, as they navigate the challenges of developing the long-awaited sequel to their 2007 first-person survival game. STALKER, against the background of the beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine. What began as an ambitious project turned into a deeply personal and historic enterprise, created under the worst of circumstances.
Produced in collaboration with Xbox and directed by Andrew Stephan (Power Up: The Xbox Story), this film is one of the most heartbreaking films ever made. It tells the real stories of real people who faced the reality of war on their doorstep. The documentary covers a variety of topics, from capturing the essence of Chernobyl and Ukraine, cultural independence and the development of games in a crumbling world, to personal and collective resilience and coping with loss.
At the same time, STALKER 2 becomes more than just a game – rather a lens through which a new reality is viewed. Developers face the dual roles of creator and survivor, turning their game into a powerful symbol of resistance. When the foundations of existence are shaken, art becomes extremely important. “This film is not just about the most difficult game development in history. It is about resilience and the indomitable human spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges. It’s about the importance of creation in times of destruction… the daring act of creating something meaningful in the face of adversity.” says Andrew Stephan, filmmaker.
“Personally, I say: STALKER 2 is the biggest and most comprehensive video game of my life. It was ambitious from the start, but this turned out to be the biggest challenge in itself. This is extremely important and very personal, and this game was created under the most intense circumstances. This is a pandemic, and resettlement, and cyber attacks, and most importantly, a war that is tearing our Motherland apart. I wish there had never been a war. I wish all this had never happened. But it happened. And we are grateful for the opportunity to share all this with the world, because the world needs to know. This is us. This is our story” – says Maria Grigorovich, creative director of STALKER 2.
Despite the heroism of the nation, the war in Ukraine continues. GSC Game World strongly supports our home country. For those who are ready to do the same, we recommend looking for a link to the official charitable foundation of Vladimir Zelensky, the President of Ukraine himself.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl will be released on PC and Xbox on November 20, 2024.
Source :Indian TV
