Titled War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, this feature-length documentary offers an in-depth look at the emotional journey of GSC Game World, a Ukrainian video game developer with nearly 500 employees, as they navigate the challenges of developing the highly anticipated sequel to their 2007 first-person survival shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., amidst the outbreak of the full-fledged war in Ukraine. What started as an ambitious project evolved into a deeply personal and historical endeavor, forged in the most unimaginable circumstances.
Created in partnership with Xbox and directed by Andrew Stephan (Power On: The Story of Xbox), this is one of the most heart-wrenching "making-of" films ever made. It tells the true stories of real people faced with the realities of war on their doorstep.
The documentary tackles many themes from capturing the essence of Chornobyl and Ukraine, cultural independence, and game development in a collapsing world to personal and collective resilience & overcoming loss.
During this process, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 becomes more than just a game — rather a lens through which a new reality is viewed. The developers grapple with their dual roles as creators and survivors, turning their game into a powerful symbol of resistance. When the foundations of existence are shaken, art becomes profoundly important.
“This film isn’t just about the hardest game development of all time. It’s about resilience and the unyielding human spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges. It’s about the importance of creation in a time of destruction…a defiant act of making something meaningful in the face of adversity”, - says Andrew Stephan, Film Director.
“Speaking personally, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is the biggest and the most complex video game in my life. It was ambitious from the very beginning, but turned out to be an ultimate challenge by itself. It’s extremely important and extremely personal, and it’s a game made in the most stressful circumstances possible. That includes the pandemic, relocation, cyberattacks and, above all of that - war tearing our Homeland apart.
I wish the war never happened. I wish all of this never happened. But it did. And we’re grateful for the opportunity to share all of this with the world, because the world should know. This is us. This is our story”, - says Mariia Grygorovych, Creative Director on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
Despite the heroism of the nation, the war in Ukraine continues. GSC Game World has been supporting our home country in all the ways we can. For those willing to do the same, we recommend following a link to the official charity fund of Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine himself - https://u24.gov.ua/