Documentary Reveals Struggles Of Developing Stalker 2 During The Ukraine War

Sure, many of us have heard about the struggles many have faced in Ukraine and seen testimonies and footage on the news and on the internet. However, few media reports have been as profound as the recent film War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Documentary, which follows the war’s impact on the video game project Stalker 2.

Beginning before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the documentary follows GSC Game World’s steady and passionate pursuit of creating Stalker 2: Heart Of Chernobyl. But as the war slowly develops, so does the documentaries focus on the people of the studio rather than the project they’re making.

We at DualShockers strongly suggest you watch this hour-and-a-half film, not only as fans of Stalker but also because it displays the type of hardships many of us can only imagine, portraying genuine human emotions and responses to one of the most inhumane events going on in the world.

The documentary starts with an earnest display of GSC Game World, a company under massive pressure to deliver the successor to the cult classic Stalker franchise.

In an industry largely delivered online and impersonally, the display of those working at GSC Game World feels so much more alive and connected than what we see from other game companies; many developers were initially inspired that such a significant franchise was developed so close to home.

So, as the war developed, we view the family-like touch those at the company maintained. Ordering buses to allow developers and their families to flee and keeping those who stayed behind to fight against Russia on the payroll despite the sweeping changes.

As the story progresses to the present, we see the Stalker 2 booth at GamesCom 2024, having a line capped at 5 hours long, with fans worldwide seeking to support the developers and boost them emotionally due to the conflict in Ukraine.

More Than Just A Game

This documentary fabulously unites the fighting in Ukraine with the development of Stalker 2. Russia’s malicious attacks caused many to abandon hope, never thinking life could be normal again, but Stalker 2’s approaching release is a glistening example that proves otherwise.

The documentary itself has many heartfelt moments. Many developers had joined the army to fight, and others were at risk of losing their livelihoods and families. Those escaping wondered, “why do I have the right to be safe, and why doesn’t everyone else have that right?”

We’re shown the horrors they had to face. The mass amounts of civilian casualties, the mass bombings that took place right where the developers lived, and, above all else, how they tried to maintain communication and their humanity within a deeply dehumanizing time.

We’re shown people working on the game while in the middle of a warzone, and as we found at the time, GSC Game World even canceled Russian support for the title, leading to waves of hackers trying to infiltrate the project.

War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Documentary explores so much more and includes so many personal stories that deserve to be heard, so if you have the time, we strongly urge you to watch it to help preserve the stories of those who would otherwise not have much of a voice.

And as Stalker 2’s release date approaches, I plan to pick up an ultimate physical edition and dive into the game that not even a war could manage to tear apart.