When GSC Game World ran into financial problems, the hail mary attempts to save S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 reeked of desperation. There were few viable solutions, and today’s news is that veterans of the team have left to form a new studio and make a brand-new game.

Those veterans have formed Vostok Games, and are already talking about Survarium, a free-to-play MMO shooter, set in the post-apocalyptic near future. The art already has a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. vibe.

The developers have also recorded a developer diary that includes some discussion about GSC Game World closing, what it was like to close the book on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and the plan for Survarium.

Survarium is based on the studio’s own Vostok Engine, and is scheduled for a late 2013 release on PC.

When GSC Game World ran into financial problems, the hail mary attempts to save S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 reeked of desperation. There were few viable solutions, and today’s news is that veterans of the team have left to form a new studio and make a brand-new game.

Those veterans have formed Vostok Games, and are already talking about Survarium, a free-to-play MMO shooter, set in the post-apocalyptic near future. The art already has a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. vibe.

The developers have also recorded a developer diary that includes some discussion about GSC Game World closing, what it was like to close the book on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and the plan for Survarium.

Survarium is based on the studio’s own Vostok Engine, and is scheduled for a late 2013 release on PC.

Shit

Well, I'm interested in whatever they do next. I really liked STALKER.

Get out of here, STALKER. :(

But I dont want an online shooter.....

DUDE, why not just kickstart a STALKER game under a new license-free name?  
IT WOULD GET FUNDED IN A FUCKING MINUTE.. 
  
 

F2P FPS MMO... god damn :/

Howdy-do, Stalker?!

lol apparently vostok means east

EAST GAMES.

I hope it's better than Fallen Earth.

But I don't want a MMO.

Cater to me damn it!

Surprised there wasn't a Stalker 2 kickstarter. That's too bad. I wish for those guys success, I'm just worried that there new project isn't really that interesting to people.

Blargh. Should have just made a Not-STALKER that's pretty much identical but legally different.

Scoopin' dem scoops!

The dev team seems to be doing the thing they think is right for the kind of game they want to make, license be damned. Good on them.

@AhmadMetallic said:

DUDE, why not just kickstart a STALKER game under a new license-free name? IT WOULD GET FUNDED IN A FUCKING MINUTE.. F2P FPS MMO... god damn :/

KickSTALKER?

I really enjoyed Shadow of Chernobyl and Call of Pripyat. Sad to hear there won't be a followup. I like a game that is survival based and not hand holding. I fed that equipment repairman so many bottles of vodka!

F2P FPS? FFS.

For those that dont know Vostok means East... so .. funny pun on Eastern Games :)

That's super-sad. I've actually never played their games, but the way people talk about them makes them sound supremely exciting and relevant to the evolution of shooters. Too bad.

:(. Well, damn.

@Alorithin said:

Shit

An MMO Stalker game would not be a Stalker game. That was half the point of Stalker was that you were out in the Zone on your own.

Add 150 xXSephiroffXx's to the Zone and the whole atmosphere has been sucked dry.

At least I can still play the first 3 games.

This is terrible news. It's the complete opposite of the good news about the Warhammer MMO becoming single player (minus the terrible part about people being fired).

@AhmadMetallic said:

DUDE, why not just kickstart a STALKER game under a new license-free name? IT WOULD GET FUNDED IN A FUCKING MINUTE.. F2P FPS MMO... god damn :/

KickSTALKER?

Howdy Ho!

@AhmadMetallic:

They would need a fuckton of money. STALKER was a niche game, and I don't see how the community could scrape together what would easily be a record amount of kickstarter money. That us of course just a guess, but judging by how long they spent developing STALKER 1 I would bet they're not even half finished with STALKER2.

Depending on what their game mode would be for this new game.. I might be excited.. If it's just another fps in the Tribes Ascend playstyle (I actually like tribes, not dissing it) I wouldn't really care about it. But if it's a really open world with mutants and shit all over.. I'd be into that. Just not very keen on a PVP game made by these guys. STALKER 1 multiplayer was pretty mediocre.

They could not have made a more Eastern European video then they did. It's literally impossible for that video to be any more Ukrainian than it already is.

Get a kickstarter going. It's going to get funded the same day.

Kotaku had a leaked video showing what was allegedly continued development of STALKER 2. I sure hope it's still in the books. Maybe they're hoping that this F2P shooter will rack in a bunch of cash (as F2P does) that they can use to make STALKER.

Edit: Right after I posted this, I went on Kotaku, and the third post is 'STALKER is cancelled'. Lol.

Can't believe you haven't played Stalker patrick :p Seems like the perfect game for you!

DUDE, why not just kickstart a STALKER game under a new license-free name?  IT WOULD GET FUNDED IN A FUCKING MINUTE..    F2P FPS MMO... god damn :/

Hearing 'Free to Play' is like a dagger to the heart. We're not yet at a point where 'Free to Play' = Quality imo

@Duxa: It's not really a pun if it's a literal translation... is it?

As far I expected to see it, one of my favorite franchises comes to a close :( The experiences I've had with the franchise have been some of the most emotionally resonant not only as a fan of PC gaming throughout the 90s but as a person whose family hails from Eastern Europe. Good thing the trend caught on and we can enjoy the fruits of the Metro franchise but nothing could compare to the excitement I would have for a new game. Damn shame that for one reason or another the funding couldn't come through to support what is a well liked but niche franchise.

Eh...a F2P Shooter doesn't sound that great.

I just want Stalker 2 dammit

@MisuseOfLasers said:

Get out of here, STALKER. :(

come back here stalker :(

FUUUU

I love me some stalker.

For all those asking about kickstarter and funding etc. That is not the issue. We secured new investors. We were however unable to secure the IP rights from the owwer to continue with the Stalker franchise.

From Twitter. What a crappy situation.

I've attempted to get into STALKER several times, and I keep gettin beaten down by the first few hours of the game. Probably doing something wrong. That said, I feel the the same way the rabid stalker fans do about a lot of games so I understand the pain of having a sequel squashed.

Pourin one out for STALKER 2.

Fucking gutted, my sweet Stalker, you shall be missed.

7$ for a guitar solo. 2$ for an artifact that boosts your XP gain for 24 hours.
 
I don't want this.

See you space stalker...

This sounds like a bad idea.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'S strength was its atmosphere and sense of place, something you aren't going to get from a free to play FPS.

God fucking dammit.

My favorite shooter and open-world franchise just got turned into a nightmare scenario of more than probable shittiness.

Get out of here stalker! You don't have a premium account!

I want my STALKER２GODDAMNIT

Очень понравилось видео. Надеюсь, что это оказывается хорошо! Будет по-прежнему любят видеть больше S.T.A.L.K.E.R.!

Patrick, I feel like you would really like the first STALKER game. It's not really my cup of tea (you'd think it would be, but it isn't), but I think you'd really like it.

Really disappointed with this; especially now that they're going in a completely different direction. Nrgh.