S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Developing a Video Game Amidst the Chaos of War

The song continues, “My dear mother, my…” but instead of finishing with “land,” Richter changes it to “alive!”—a plea that resonates deeply with a nation fighting to free their homeland from Russian devastation. But much like the game’s dystopian setting, Ukraine’s reality is stark. As fans count down to the game’s release, the nation marks the 1000th day of its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Fifteen years ago, many players might not have even known the game was Ukrainian—some may have assumed it was Russian. Today, the Ukrainian identity of the franchise is unmistakable, with GSC Game World, the studio behind the series, taking an active role in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. 

From grand gestures—such as founder Serhii Hryhorovych offering a Rolls-Royce to anyone who sinks the Russian lead frigate Admiral Grigorovich—to subtle acts of cultural reclamation, the studio’s stance is clear. Even the game’s title, Heart of Chornobyl, uses the Ukrainian transliteration “Chornobyl,” deliberately distancing itself from the more widely recognized Russian spelling “Chernobyl.”

We connected with the studio’s press team to delve deeper into the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development challenges and the themes driving its narrative.

Through the prism of war

“Life, like for all Ukrainians, has been divided into ‘before the full-scale invasion’ and ‘after,’” says the GSC Game World team. Anxiety looms daily, especially when a Ukrainian colleague doesn’t respond. “The worst thoughts come to mind,” they share, “and social media pages turn into obituaries.”

Russia’s war nearly derailed S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl entirely.

The team had to rebuild their studio and adapt to remote work, often scattered across various locations. “Part of the team is in Prague, the majority is currently in Ukraine,” they explain. Maintaining morale was a challenge as the war inflicted unimaginable stress and trauma. Those remaining in Ukraine endured relentless Russian bombardments, while others volunteered for the military.

Tragically, the war has claimed the lives of team members. Volodymyr Yezhov, a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer, was killed fighting Russian forces near Bakhmut. “He used to say that Ukraine’s fight today is forging a brighter future for our children," said his brother, Viacheslav Yezhov. 

“Those who went to defend the Motherland are our heroes,” the team emphasizes, noting their colleagues were not trained for war but felt compelled to act.

Yaroslav Kravchenko, the game’s story director, said: “We see things differently now, through the prism of war,”

Resilience and creativity

Through their work, the team is determined to draw global attention to Ukraine’s plight, support their country with donations, and amplify its culture and identity on a global stage. “We’re trying to hold on and continue doing what we do,” the team shares. “Many colleagues admit that working on the game helps them keep their sanity and stay distracted.”

In some sense, morale and focus have never been higher. This unites us.

GSC Game World team

Creative hurdles also persisted—the studio has made efforts to distance it from direct commentary on the war. Adjustments were made to avoid mirroring real-world military events, while also incorporating elements that honor the company’s Ukrainian heritage.

“You don’t truly understand how important your identity is until someone tries to deliberately and systematically destroy it,” they said. Though not explicitly referenced, the war subtly influences the game's tone, reflecting the psychological impact on those creating it. The game’s content took on new meaning.

The sound of sirens, once just atmospheric, became a trauma trigger for millions of Ukrainians and had to be reworked. “Monologues and story moments gained a context they didn’t originally have—we checked and made targeted adjustments,” explained the team. “We changed the tone in some scenes, softening their ironic mood.”

Thus, against all odds, the Ukrainian studio continues doing what they know best—creating a beloved video game.

Heart of Chornobyl

“Many people around the world don’t even realize that [Chornobyl] is practically part of the Kyiv region, and you can reach it by car in about an hour,” says the GSC Game World team. For Ukrainians, however, Chornobyl is more than a distant landmark—it’s a deeply personal and emotional topic. Families across the country, including those of GSC team members, have been directly affected by the aftermath of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

“My grandfather was a liquidator,” said Pavlo, the GSC Game World team member, in the game’s documentary film. “He built underground walls to contain underground water, contaminated with radioactivity. He died of cancer.”

In 1986, when the city of Chornobyl became the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, Soviet authorities suppressed information about the radiation leak. Residents of neighboring Prypiat were evacuated only after radiation levels spiked, with the government more focused on avoiding panic than ensuring safety.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl plunges players into the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. To capture the Zone’s atmosphere, the GSC Game World team visited the area to experience firsthand its ghostly desolation, shaped by a fire that burned for 10 days and sent radioactive plumes across Europe. “The connection between the real-world location and the game world is likely even stronger than you might imagine,” the team shares. The Zone in the game isn’t just a bleak ruin; it’s a sprawling, living ecosystem shaped by its own twisted laws of physics, bizarre anomalies, and hostile inhabitants. “It’s unlike anything else—tragic, unforgettable, and deeply moving,” the developers note.

The game blends real-world inspiration with speculative fiction, creating a battlefield where desolate beauty and deadly mysteries collide. Unfortunately, the war has made visiting Chornobyl nearly impossible now. Russia's invasion of 2022 turned the Zone into a battlefield once more. 

During the Battle of Chornobyl, Russian forces seized the site of the Chornobyl disaster. When almost 40 days later the Russian army was forced out of Chornobyl, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry took to social media with a playful nod to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise, posting: “Russian mutants lost this round.”

Cutting ties with Russia

In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion, GSC Game World made the decisive move to cease all game sales in Russia and Belarus, sparking outrage among Russian fans. This decision also included abandoning Russian dubbing for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl and deleting previously recorded material, further intensifying the hate.

“Before the full-scale war, we had a lot of Russian fans,” said Anastasiia, a team member. “But it’s important to understand… Ukrainians have been fighting Russians for a long time—fighting their influence on us, on our culture, on our language.” For years, Russian propaganda imposed the Russian language and culture, eroding identities surrounding Russia. For GSC Game World, speaking Ukrainian became an act of resistance—a way to reclaim cultural identity and separate from Russian influence.

The studio’s decision came with risks. The backlash from Russian players was not limited to online complaints; it escalated to aggression and targeted attacks. Hackers breached the company’s systems, leaking sensitive materials online.

“There isn’t a day when they don’t try to hack the company,” said Creative Director Mariia Hryhorovych. “It was aggressive—a hack to destroy.” 

The attacks became personal, with some hackers even posting employees’ data and photos of their homes alongside threats.

"We tried to get some support from those people," says Yevhenii Kulyk, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 technical producer. "But instead we received a lot of negativity.”

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fan support

The unwavering support from fans around the globe has been a lifeline for the team at GSC Game World. The messages and feedback helped them to push through to the finish line. “Seeing someone waiting for hours to play a snippet of your game on the event can genuinely give the strength to keep going,” the team shared.

Beyond just creating a game, the team hopes S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl becomes a gateway for players to learn more about Ukraine. “We hope the game will draw attention to Ukraine—that people will willingly want to learn more about Ukraine through it,” they said.

Above all, the developers want every player—whether new to the series or long-time fans—to find something meaningful in the game. “For newcomers, we hope they will fall in love with it. And for those who already know it well, we want them to recognize it as the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. they’ve been waiting for.”

The team’s resolve appears to be paying off—S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has already claimed the top spot among paid games on Steam ahead of its release, a strong reception from the global gaming community, a win for Ukrainian video game industry, and a testament to the power of collective support.