Today, GSC Game World and Xbox released a feature-length documentary titled War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. The 90-minute video embedded above follows the journey of the Ukrainian-based development studio amidst the full-fledged war in Ukraine. Below are more details and quotes courtesy of GSC Game World on what the documentary is all about:
Created in partnership with Xbox and directed by Andrew Stephan (Power On: The Story of Xbox), this is one of the most heart-wrenching “making-of” films ever made. It tells the true stories of real people faced with the realities of war on their doorstep.
The documentary tackles many themes from capturing the essence of Chornobyl and Ukraine, cultural independence, and game development in a collapsing world to personal and collective resilience & overcoming loss.
During this process, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 becomes more than just a game — rather a lens through which a new reality is viewed. The developers grapple with their dual roles as creators and survivors, turning their game into a powerful symbol of resistance. When the foundations of existence are shaken, art becomes profoundly important.
“This film isn’t just about the hardest game development of all time. It’s about resilience and the unyielding human spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges. It’s about the importance of creation in a time of destruction…a defiant act of making something meaningful in the face of adversity”, – says Andrew Stephan, Film Director.
“Speaking personally, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is the biggest and the most complex video game in my life. It was ambitious from the very beginning but turned out to be an ultimate challenge by itself. It’s extremely important and extremely personal, and it’s a game made in the most stressful circumstances possible. That includes the pandemic, relocation, cyberattacks, and, above all of that – war tearing our Homeland apart. I wish the war never happened. I wish all of this never happened. But it did. And we’re grateful for the opportunity to share all of this with the world because the world should know. This is us. This is our story”, – says Mariia Grygorovych, Creative Director of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl launches on November 20th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Are any of you looking forward to the game? Let us know in the comments section below.
