As this blog post was picked up by some English-speaking outlets, I thought I should add an English translation, because Google Translate does a really poor job here.
So, I wasnt going to write about this before I could talk to Grigorovich, but he isnt picking up phone and there is a lot of rumors around, so Ive decided to clarify some things. I dont work at GSC, but I know a lot of people there and here is what I got after talking to them. This is purely unofficial of course.
GSC is no more. Almost everyone is let go, only few people left and still employed. STALKER 2 project is closed.
My friends in GSC believe that the reason for that is failed console publishing deal. GSC couldnt sign any publisher for STALKER 2 on consoles, and GSC wasnt strong enough to do it all by itself. STALKER 2 was going to become PC exlcusive, which isnt a great future for story-driven game.
Some say that Grigorovich demanded a lot from publishers and his terms were unacceptable, some say that publishers didnt like setting Eastern European postapocalypse is not that popular outside Europe. I dont know which is true, but guess it is a bit of both.
Also, some people at GSC say that Grigorovich wasnt happy with quality of STALKER 2, but others say it was going to be a great game and huge improvement over first one. One guy said that Grigorovich was tired of game development and no longer interested in STALKER at all, but I dont believe it, knowing Sergey for last ten years. He might be tired, yes, but he loved STALKER.
Ive read on Ukranews about «goverment agencies trying to take over GSC». None of my friends confirms it. It is just not possible: only thing that valuable in GSC is its IP and it is registered outside Ukraine. Also, Ive heard numerous people saying that Grigorovich talked to them about closing GSC for a year now.
I dont know what will happen to STALKER next. Grigorovich might sell or lease it to other companies: there was at some point browser-based STALKER game in production. But there is only one studio in Ukraine that can handle this 4A Games, creators of original STALKER. And theyre not exactly friends with Grigorovich. As for other Eastern European developers (from Poland or Bulgaria) I dont believe they can do STALKER 2 justice. Some are just too good to work for IP that is not their own and some dont have enough experience.