War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Documentary
If you’re a fan of sci-fi themed military shooters, chances are you hold 2007’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl in high regard. It’s a haunting, harrowing and tension-filled first person shooter set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. It’s also one of the first high-profile games by a Ukrainian developer. GSC Game World made many trips to the Exclusion Zone to capture images and the desolate tone of the site. Gamers responded to S.T.A.L.K.E.R’s mystery and authenticity. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. generated intense fan appreciation and energetic demands for a sequel. As its title suggests, War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a new documentary about the process of making the anticipated follow-up.
Game studio GGS Game World produced the full-length film, premiering on the developer’s and Xbox games YouTube channels. While of course there is a promotional element to the film — S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 releases this coming November — much of the documentary focuses on how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 impacted the game and studio.
Out of the Ashes
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has a somewhat convoluted history. The game was first announced in 2011, but stalled by financial and personnel issues not long after. By 2019, GSC Game World re-formed. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was announced as being back on track using the Unreal 5 engine. A trailer revealed the game in 2021. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 seemed to be likely headed for release in 2022. Russia’s attack on Ukraine changed that trajectory.
The making of an ambitious game like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a complex and demanding process under ideal circumstances. It’s hard to imagine trying to develop a game with your country decimated by war and your employees either being displaced or actively fighting against the invaders. The second half of War Game: the Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 tells that story.
Personal Tales
The documentary spins a harrowing tale through interviews by members of the development team. Their passion for the game and concern for the large employee family at GSC Game World is obvious in the way they responded to the war. As Russia’s attack grew more imminent, the developer had buses on standby 24/7 to transport the team and their families out of Kyiv to the western border. Not long after the invasion began, GSC moved its people and equipment first to western Ukraine. Following a move to Budapest, the last stop was the Czech Republic, setting up their new studio in Prague.
At the same time, the war continued to escalate in Ukraine, threatening the lives of the families left behind and of course delaying progress on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Still, for many on the development team, continuing to work on the game provided a bit of comfort and normalcy in a desperate situation.
Nearing the final stages of development when the war began, GSC Game World had to rebuild its motion capture and recording studios in Prague and re-record much of the dialogue with an entirely new cast of actors. Then, in 2023, the developer was cyber attacked and game code was leaked. Despite these trials and tribulations the game is scheduled to be released on November 20.
Bravery, Adversity and a Video Game
What begins as a standard behind-the-scenes documentary look at game development becomes something much more powerful in War Games: the Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. After the war begins, it’s easy to see how GSC Game World reflects the fiercely patriotic, resilient, inspiring and defiantly strong attitude of the Ukrainian people.
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