In 2020, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development team at GSC Game World comprised just 65 members. Over the next few years, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war, the team grew sevenfold to an impressive 470 employees, as reported by Bestgamer.net. Studio owner Maksym Krippa confirmed this remarkable expansion in an interview with Forbes.
CEO Evgeniy Grigorovich and Chief Producer Maria Grigorovich spearheaded the operational and organizational aspects of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Their leadership played a crucial role in managing the development process, ensuring the studio’s continued success during this transformative period. Businessman Maksym Krippa also revealed that the company has already achieved profitability with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 through pre-release sales. When asked about the number of copies required to make the project commercially viable, Krippa confidently stated, “We have already sold enough to make the project profitable.”
The Journey Behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was officially launched on November 20 at 18:00. Although the release date was delayed six times, the team at GSC Game World remained committed to delivering a game that met the high expectations of fans.
“We are building on the legacy of legends who created the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. It’s our responsibility to ensure it’s nothing short of exceptional,” said Maksym Tkachenko, Project Manager at GSC Game World, in a behind-the-scenes documentary about the game’s creation.
Founded in Kyiv in 1995, GSC Game World is a renowned Ukrainian video game developer best known for the iconic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Cossacks series.
Upon its release, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl quickly became Steam’s most popular paid game, as reflected in the platform’s sales rankings. Available at prices ranging from 1400 to 2550 UAH, the game captivated players worldwide.
The launch also caused significant network disruptions in Ukraine. Internet providers such as Tenet and Triolan reported slower home internet speeds in several cities due to the overwhelming number of downloads, demonstrating the immense anticipation for the game.
This milestone cements S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s status as a groundbreaking success for GSC Game World and Ukrainian game development.