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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC shut down

by Alexander Sliwinski on Dec 9th 2011 12:20PM

Ukrainian developer GSC Game World, creators of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, have reportedly shut down. The details regarding the closure are currently very s.k.e.t.c.h.y. UkraNews reports, citing sources, that CEO Sergei Grigorovich told the staff in a meeting this morning that he had decided to close the company. GSC is said to have had between 40-50 employees.

RockPaperShotgun, which has been on top of this story, got in touch with GSC and obtained the ominous: "Sorry, no comments at this point."

STALKER 2 was expected to launch sometime in 2012. We'll update as more information becomes available.

Update: Details are still a mess, but it appears GSC has been shuttered.

Source: RockPaperShotgun, UkraNews

Tags: GSC-Game-World, layoffs, pc, Stalker, stalker-2, stalker-call-of-pripyat

Reader Comments (35)

Daawwhhh...

Decent games, nice community. Hopefully 2 finds a way.

Weren't these also the Metro 2033 guys? This is disappointing to hear. :(

@bigwhiteyeti
No, they are just both Ukrainian developers

@Ebok007

Actually, 4A Games spun off from GSC Game World, hence the confusion.

@Architecture
Ah-ha, learned something new

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

STALKER is an awesome game series!!!! was it not selling well? :(

@Accessgranted

As far as I was aware, I thought they were doing great! Small team, sales were really good, wtf happened?!

@Accessgranted I don't know about the psuedo-sequels, but the original sold something like 2 million units....

I am S.A.D.

@Ebok007 R.I.P GSC Game World.

@Ebok007

I F.E.A.R. the worst for the games industry!

O.M.G!

There's so much mystery surrounding this. The fact that these rumors about the Ukrainian mob being involved might even possibly true is really indicative of how strange this all is.

@Haizeus
having the mob isn't anything new in video games. Just look into Midway....

@Haizeus

Whats this about a mob? Do tell o.o

Maybe the secrecy stems from their company being purchased by a larger company. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games are good - but not great - however they have a lot of potential. Maybe under the eyes of a larger company, they can reach that potential. Combine all this with it's current base of fans and you got the recipe for some money!

As to who purchased GSC (assuming that even happened), it's all guess work now - but with the next line of consoles coming around, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo could each use some new exclusives heading their way, so either one of them purchasing this company would be probably a smart move.

(Note: this is all speculation... likely caused by the chemicals in my diet coke).

@Axcalibur

No, stalker games are amazing. I love that the series never tried to simplify it's core gameplay for the sake of accessibility, You could love the game, or hate the game, it depends on how you played it and whether you took smart approaches to things or dumb ones and died so much you got frustrated.

I like that the game wasn't created with the limitations of the consoles in mind, and the fact that stalker 2 may not ever be released now is tragic. Granted I still don't believe the news, but I guess I'll know soon enough.

@Axcalibur

"Maybe the secrecy stems from their company being purchased by a larger company. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games are good - "

If I had to make a wager, I would put money on the theory that GSC was getting shaken down by corrupt officials and the company closed rather than be the subject of thinly veiled threats and extortion. That notion would be absolutely absurd in the western world (if the company was from say, the UK, Montreal, or California)...but this is the Ukraine we're talking about; extortion, having to pay large "fines" in order to stay in business, and paying protection money are sadly quite common in certain parts of the former Soviet Union.

nonononono :(
S.T.A.L.K.E.R was so fun

This is seriously the most depressing game-related news I've seen all year. The Stalker series is one of last, favorite franchises that just refused to approach things in conventional ways. Some of my all time favorite gaming memories came out of those games. :(

@(Unverified)

Every franchise that I really loved that treasured emergent narrative is dead or dying. The gaming gods frown upon us.

I Just hope it just a rumor since they are actually talented developer(even though their consumer fix their games for them). I would be really sad to see them go.

GET OUT OF HERE STAFFER
GET OUT OF HERE STAFFER
GET OUT OF....

@SocksForYou
I laughed...then cried

So this is what happens when you sell no copies, yet mysteriously tens of thousands of people have played your games...

@Dick Socrates

Except they sold quite a few copies.

@Dick Socrates "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was announced last August, following an eye-opening announcement of 4 million sales for the series so far." http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-12-s-t-a-l-k-e-r-2-creeping-towards-rpg

4 million is slightly more than "no copies".

@Dick Socrates

*stares at his steam account that has each S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game*

I wasnt aware buying steam games didnt count as buying a game, so I've been pirating my games through steam this whole time?!

nooo this sucks! i loved the atmosphere of this game. i hope someone can continue this franchise.

Such is life in the zone...

Dang was really looking forward to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Wonder why they closed..

Ah man, say it ain't so oo o oo o.

But it is. The first S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is one of my all time favorites, I was really excited for number 2.

This is sad news. There were some things I didn't like about the game, but overall I thought it was pretty amazing. The concept alone was really cool.

I've actually bought all my stalker games RETAIL just because they're one of the very few PC games that aren't better for being on steam, they are worth every penny, and they go on sale on steam all the time. Get these games if you like a survival FPS that is blisteringly cruel.

WT... I M S.A.D, one of the most depressing news in the gaming industry...
stalker series was a great experience, could play hours without being tired... what a great concept. this is indeed a very disappointing news... hope it's a sh1ty rumor.

Breaking News

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC shut down

Reader Comments (35)

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:27PM SmashZilla said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:28PM bigwhiteyeti said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:37PM Ebok007 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:46PM Architecture said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:42PM Ebok007 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:29PM Accessgranted said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 5:12PM BoBsS said

Posted: Dec 10th 2011 12:46AM Sabrage said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:35PM Ebok007 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:02PM purpletentacle said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:28PM liquidsoap89 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 6:09PM Liquidfingers said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:56PM Haizeus said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:27PM sicsided said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 3:52PM Faenix said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:04PM Axcalibur said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:59PM aea0a095 said

Posted: Dec 10th 2011 1:24PM jackal said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:10PM SCOPED0G said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:19PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:27PM Haizeus said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:19PM bargaingamer said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:24PM SocksForYou said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:43PM penetraitor said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:35PM Dick Socrates said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:42PM Mehbah said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 3:08PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 3:53PM Faenix said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:10PM CNOLA85 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:47PM Papytendo said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 3:51PM Faenix said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 4:01PM mezzaninex said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 4:37PM sigma8 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 7:52PM HighFiveJesus said

Posted: Dec 11th 2011 4:06AM vivek599 said

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