Stalker 2: Heart of Chornoby has received largely positive feedback, despite launching with some initial issues. However, the game was met with near-unanimous acclaim from players in Ukraine, the setting of the game and the birthplace of its developers. Ukrainian players were so enthusiastic about GSC Game World's latest installment in the Stalker series that the game's release actually caused internet disruptions across the country. Ukrainian players rushed to play the game upon its launch, leading to nationwide internet outages shortly after its release, according to GSC's creative director and executive producer, Mariia Grygorovych, in a recent interview.
"It's a bad thing because the Internet is crucial, but at the same time, it's like, 'Whoa!'" Grygorovych said about the Ukrainian players' fervor for the game. "It touched everyone in the country." The development team at GSC faced numerous harrowing experiences during the creation of Stalker 2, including a fire at their studio caused by Russian shelling and the tragic death of colleague Volodymyr Yezhov, who perished while fighting Russian forces. The Russian invasion of Ukraine placed immense pressure on the studio and its developers, forcing some to leave their homeland to continue working on the game safely. Currently, GSC Game World's staff is divided between offices in Prague and Kiev.
The complex and often heart-wrenching journey of Stalker 2's development is chronicled in a documentary created by the developers. Titled War Game: The Making of Stalker 2, the film highlights the significant challenges faced by GSC's developers as they strove to complete the sequel to the iconic Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl. Despite the hardships, Stalker 2 was a labor of love, and Grygorovych believes the sacrifices were worthwhile.
"For us and our team, what matters most is that for some people in Ukraine, they feel a little bit happier now than they did before the release of Stalker 2," Grygorovych said about the game's impact in Ukraine. "We did something for our home country, something good for them."
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
