Bethesda to produce STALKER 2?

STALKER, the open-ended post-apocalyptic shooter, is regarded by many as a classic, with a distinct and immersive atmosphere.

We’re also pretty familiar with that graphical style, as we’ve used the STALKER video card test to benchmark about a million laptops. Well, a slight exaggeration, perhaps…

Anyway, STALKER’s many fans were unsurprisingly upset when rumours emerged earlier this year that the sequel was going to be canned. And indeed come April, we heard the sad news that this was indeed the case.

But maybe not, according to the latest gossip from the gaming arena. Word is that STALKER 2 may indeed still come out, having been snapped up by Bethesda (of Skyrim and Fallout fame).

This rumour comes from Sergey Galyonkin, the marketing director at 1C Multimedia, who posted on his blog explaining the situation as he understands it.

PSU spotted the translation of the blog over at the Steam forum, and the post reads:

“The following info is from a reliable source but isn’t official, keep that in mind. Sergey Grigorovich didn’t sell the brand name ‘STALKER’. Bethesda is going to publish a STALKER game and has all the rights to it.”

“The game is multi-platform (consoles+PC) and is based on Bethesda technology. It’s being made by a studio familiar with that technology (possibly Obisidian or the Fallout 3 team from Bethesda, but no facts as of yet). It is almost 100% guaranteed that it’s not a Ukrainian studio.”

“Bethesda will be able to buy the brand name from Grigorovich later, but for now all the misc. merchandise is his responsibility. Release date, engine, details – TBA.”

Bear in mind, of course, that this is just some marketing bod’s opinion, and whispers he’s heard, so it needs to be taken with the usual large pinch of the white stuff.

Indeed, the post seems slightly confused. Bethesda has all the rights, but not the name? Or maybe he means they’ve signed an agreement only to take the name once the release of STALKER 2 is imminent.

It’s all rather unclear, to say the least, but an interesting rumour certainly. STALKER 2 in the hands of Bethesda would definitely be a project to watch – although some are concerned about whether the firm might be able to capture STALKER’s rather unique atmosphere.