S.T.A.L.K.E.R. gets delayed

By Ellie Gibson Published 11 July, 2005

PC FPS not out till next year?

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, the long-awaited PC first-person shooter from GSC Game World, has been delayed until 2006 according to fan site Oblivion-Lost.com.

Apparently the game's deputy director, Anton Bolshakov, has confirmed that "The game will certainly not come out this year.

"When the plot is fully implemented (it is being completed), the simulation will be finally tuned. This what the team is doing right now.

"Look for the beginning of the wide advertising campaign, as it will mean half a year until the release," we're told.

Publisher THQ declined to comment on the story, unfortunately. As we reported last year, THQ was originally hoping for a September release - GSC's Oleg Yavorsky told us that this might be a little optimistic, but that the game would definitely be out by Christmas.

However, it now seems we may well have a longer wait in store. Ah well, all the more time to stock up on tins of beans and torch batteries. In the meantime, if you haven't done so already, check out some S.T.A.L.K.E.R. screenshots.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Angrydarren #1 7 years ago

    Well what an gobsmacking surprise.

    V.A.P.O.U.R.W.A.R.E.

  • Xerx3s #2 7 years ago

    Nandatimmeh?

  • kalel #3 7 years ago

    What a joke.

  • TILT #4 7 years ago

    Problem for them might be, if they ever release, that it looked stunning once, but now it looks like any other current shooter. They better have one hell of a gameplay.

  • UncleLou #5 7 years ago

    Well what an gobsmacking surprise.

    V.A.P.O.U.R.W.A.R.E.

    Considering this is a very ambitious project, and not a generic safe bet cash-in sequel, I'd wish for some more support from the gamers, tbh.

  • raikov #6 7 years ago

    Thanks for reminding us how crap it already looks btw ;D
    Duke Nukem Forever is atleast trying to overhaul itself for current-gen systems... there's interest in STALKER but it's hardly Half-Life 3 where people will buy it no matter what it looks like. PC gamers tend to like cutting edge stuff as well as playable games, its arguably half the draw of the system.

  • richardiox #7 7 years ago

    Never saw that coming...

  • ralphwolfenstein #8 7 years ago

    For the love of god man, let it go. It's not your problem anymore...

    ;)

  • kalel #9 7 years ago

    @Lou

    Normally I'd be with you mate, but there must be something very very wrong with this game now. Go and have a look at the offical forums and you'll see people making comments like Angrydarren's in 2003! You can support and support and support but at some point gamers expect games!

  • ishigo #10 7 years ago

    perhaps bundled with DNF as 2009 white label supa-pack?

  • jumpdeveraux #11 7 years ago

    Despite a very capable graphics engine and rich environment one does begin to wonder that all we'll get is a polished turd.

    I guess they could launch it as Boiling Point 2 :- Road To Chernobyl.

  • smelliot #12 7 years ago

    Well, I doubt it will ever be released.

  • ProfessorLesser #13 7 years ago

    Again? Bastards.

    This is a really good concept. I don't see where all you people saying it'll look rubbish are coming from... have you seen trailers? Am I blind?

    /has less interest in HL3 than STALKER

  • Artemus #14 7 years ago

    Duke Nukem Forever is atleast trying to overhaul itself for current-gen

    It does that for every gen. Forever...

  • Dragul #15 7 years ago

    this is trying to take the cup from DNF, in the vaporware class. Just shoot the animal in the head and stop the suffering is in...

  • DarkTimes #16 7 years ago

    Do not dare dis a game publisher/developer for trying to actually finish a game before releasing it. If only all devs took these steps before pushing a half-finished good game concept out the door to meet the xmas rush. Took five years to make Half Life 2... time well spent.
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/05 @ 01:37

  • Midnight_Raven #17 7 years ago

    I think Uncle Lou is right here. Sure, the game has been postponed before, and you wonder with every new delay if its ever going to make it (thanks in large part to DNF et al).

    Still, even if the graphics may not be cutting edge anymore at release, if they can implement their gameplay ideas properly, this game might very well become one of the best FPS ever. I certainly would hope that for a project like this.

  • Dirtbox #18 7 years ago

    And you'll be looking forward to it for a lot longer.

  • jienn #19 7 years ago

    stalker is more next-gen then any other "next gen" title i've seen or heard of, except for opf2.

    when it comes to rating how much "next gen" a game is there are a number of important things, and by the most important, gfx is the least important. A unique Non-linear, objective, AI-based storyline is far more next gen in my book. the gfx and other visual porno is just coming along, sort of.

    having played a very early alpha build i have much sexpectations from stalker when it finally get released. they haven't spend all this time polishing gfx.
    Edited by 1 at 13/07/05 @ 03:27

  • 2ksuperior #20 5 years ago

    This game will never be released.I am waiting for 3 years but they just delay and delay with no result. And bytheway THANKS FOR THE SCREENSHOTS they helped me A LOT.IF this game is released in christmas MAYBE I'll buy it but if not I will be very very disapointed CHEERS PC LOVE =)