Apparently STALKER 2 is happening, but don't get too excited
Does it even exist?
Apparently STALKER 2 is happening and will be released in 2021.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 News
Former STALKER team announces Chernobyl-set battle royale game
Anomaly don't get this excited.
How about a STALKER battle royale game? There's one in development. It's called Fear the Wolves and it's made by Vostok Games, the studio formed from the ashes of STALKER developer GSC.
Fear the Wolves takes place, like STALKER, in the creepy radiation-blasted wasteland of Chernobyl. It's a 100-player deathmatch where you can play lone wolf or in squads - but players won't be the only enemy. Deadly anomalies constantly threaten your health, mitigated somewhat by protective gear found while exploring. Of more pressing danger, however, will be the mutated forms lurking in the shadows...
Fear the Wolves will be released at some point this year on PC and consoles - presumably much later this year. There'll be an early access phase on PC beforehand.
Dodgy crowdfunding project Areal returns as Stalker Apocalypse
It's a better pitch but still not convincing enough.
Controversy surrounded a Kickstarter project called Areal earlier this year. It was billed as the spiritual successor to the creepy, cult S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, made by some of the same people, and it had serious ambition - but also serious flaws.
A few extraordinary pledges secure Areal Kickstarter success
UPDATE: West Games starts new crowdfunding campaign following Kickstarter suspension.
UPDATE 23/07/2014 3.06am: West Games has started a new crowdfunding campaign on its official site.
Finally there's Areal prototype game footage
But is it too little too late?
There are six days of the Kickstarter to go and - finally - we're shown gameplay footage of Areal.
Areal adds key S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Survarium designer
But serious questions about the Kickstarter still remain.
There's been a noteworthy update to the controversial Areal Kickstarter (beyond what I dug into last week): the full-time hiring of Alexey Sytyanov, the lead game designer of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and the lead game designer of Survarium.
That S.T.A.L.K.E.R.y Areal Kickstarter: What's going on?
UPDATE: Vostok takes issue with West-Games claim regarding Survarium.
UPDATE 30/06 11.30AM BST: West-Games made a bizarre claim in one of the updates that Vostok Games has now shot down.
Stalker's standalone Lost Alpha mod now available
Sooner than planned after early version leaked.
A standalone mod for the original Stalker game is now available to download - a little earlier than planned.
Bethesda won't comment on fresh S.T.A.L.K.E.R. acquisition rumour
How would it slot alongside Fallout and Rage?
Bethesda and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.? The rumour has surfaced again.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-inspired Crysis mod becomes full game
Sector 23 replaces tropical skies with mutants and mud.
An ambitious Crysis mod titled CryZone: Sector 23 has made the jump to full game status, Russian developer Owl Game Studio has announced.
Former STALKER team will develop Survarium openly with community
"We intend to establish a very open dialogue."
In keeping with the times, reincarnated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. dev Vostok Games will openly develop new game Survarium hand-in-hand with the community.
Stalker 2 "frozen", developers start new studio
Vostok Games announces free-to-play MMO Survarium.
Stalker 2 is all but dead and buried, judging by a rush of activity surrounding beleaguered developer GSC.
Stalker 2 still alive, new video released
But developer quiet on future.
Developer GSC has released a new video for post-apocalyptic shooter Stalker 2 and in doing so has attempted to reassure fans concerned about the game's future.
Stalker 2 not cancelled says dev GSC
"The Stalker team is extremely happy!"
Ukrainian developer GSC Game World has confirmed that open world shooter Stalker 2 is still in development, quashing reports of its cancellation late last year.
"The Stalker team is extremely happy!", a post on the official Stalker Facebook page reads. "Why? Because we are continuing work on Stalker 2 after the holidays."
Ukrainian news agency UkraNews reported last month that GSC founder and CEO Sergei Grigorovich had decided to close the company, leaving Stalker 2 canned.
Stalker 2 dev: "we will do our best to continue"
UPDATE: Website will stay open, store closing when stock is sold.
UPDATE: GSC just posted an additional Tweet stating that its "website will continue, with the forum and tech support. The shop will continue until the nearest planned items sell out. (uploaded now)"
GSC denies Stalker 2 cancelled rumour
UPDATE: GSC deletes Twitter denial.
UPDATE 1: GSC has deleted its Twitter denial of Stalker 2's cancellation.
ORIGINAL STORY: GSC Game World has denied a Ukrainian news report that claims Stalker 2 has been cancelled and the developer shut down.
Following the publication of a UkraNews.com report that claimed the promising open world shooter had been canned after GSC founder and CEO Sergei Grigorovich decided to close the company, the official Stalker Twitter page posted: "No we have not closed GSC or cancelled."
Stalker 2 DRM: no firm decision made
But GSC notes "severe level" of piracy.
Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World is looking for a way to protect its upcoming game from the threat of piracy in a way that is "acceptable for all", but warned that it may have to go down the always-online DRM route.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 creeping towards RPG?
Q&A notes greater focus on survival.
There's going to be a greater emphasis on survival within S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, developer GSC Game World has revealed - hinting at a shift towards being an RPG rather than a shooter.
Design your own S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 quest
Dev looking for mission ideas.
The studio behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 has called on fans to submit quest ideas for the forthcoming FPS sequel.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 multi-platform
"Next chapter of the mega-popular game."
GSC has announced a multi-platform sequel to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.