There are just a couple more months remaining before we'll have to once again climb into our radiation suits and deal with the horrible mutants outside, so developer GSC Game World and newly named publisher Deep Silver have sent along some handy details regarding what we can expect from their forthcoming radioactive PC shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky.

According to the duo, the game, which promises a kind of "what-if" spin on the events depicted in last year's S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, will place players in the role of a mercenary s.t.a.l.k.e.r. named Scar, caught up in a war over "territory, artifacts, and power." Pretty "dynamic" graphics are also promised, with Clear Sky supporting -- but not requiring -- DirectX 10. Other highlighted features include new and "overhauled" levels from the previous game, fast travel, "movie quality" cut scenes, and "greatly improved" AI. Additionally, a new animation engine and "hugely expanded" multiplayer for up to 32 players online or over a LAN will also be included, for those special moments when slaughtering hordes of radioactive mutants just isn't enough.

[Via Press Release]

With S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky shipping worldwide on August 29, Deep Silver has announced that it will handle publishing duties in North America for developer GSC Game World's upcoming prequel to 2007's S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. We think it's particularly interesting that Deep Silver, a UK-based studio that only established a US footprint last month in Los Angeles, has been trusted to steer the game's North American debut instead of THQ, which handled the original game's release last year.

As the latest in GSC's considerable plans for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe, the game promises a "what-if" look at the events leading up to last year's FPS/RPG hybrid, and according to Deep Silver was "created as a warning to mankind against mindless play with technologies" -- especially, we assume, any tech that can give rise to hordes of radioactive beasties.