"Deadly anomalies, dangerous mutants, anarchists and bandits..." Based on what creative director and producer Slava Lukyanenka says, not even that could stop STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl from coming out.
Lukyanenka gave a lengthy interview to FEED4GAMERS that touches on the hardships of developing a major release during a war, new mechanics, and how the story of STALKER 2 ties in with the previous games.
War and Peace
STALKER 2 had gone through dev hell before 2022, but none of the previous hardships compare to what hit the team after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
Lukyanenka highlighted the difficult mix of moving to a displaced team, split primarily between Prague and Kyiv, and the human factors involved.
The EU group has to deal with immigration challenges like adaptation and bureaucracy; the Ukraine situation meant dealing with the constant danger of missile and drone attacks.
Management had to adapt over the years, with the original team of 20 people eventually growing to 430.
According to Lukyanenka, developing STALKER 2 is "a coping strategy" and a place to insert wartime experiences amidst the turmoil.
Shadow of STALKER
Heart of Chornobyl takes place 15 years after the events of Call...
