Ukrainian businessman Maksym Krippa, owner of GSC Game World, shared the achievements and development process of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. In an interview with Forbes Ukraine, he said that the game has already recouped its costs and started to make a profit.
The interview with the businessman was conducted on December 6, 2024, a little more than two weeks after the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Krippa did not disclose new official figures on the game's sales (according to the latest information, it is more than 1.5 million copies), but noted the incredible success.
"We have already sold enough to make the project profitable. The team worked almost 24/7 before the release. They lived for this project, especially amid the war. I wanted to give the country hope and pride, to show everyone that Ukrainians can do projects of such a high level," the businessman said.
Krippa also said that the key people responsible for the creation of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 are Yevhen and Maria Hryhorovych. The married couple was engaged in all operational and organizational processes and were the creative directors of the game.
"Their contribution and dedication cannot be overestimated," added Krippa.
He also said that about 470 people work on the game, of which 200 are employees from different countries and 270 are from Ukraine. Crippa noted that when he acquired GSC Game World in 2020, the studio employed only 65 people. Although he did not disclose details, the businessman also clarified that the cost of game development amounted to "tens of millions of dollars."
In addition, the businessman believes that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 can become for Ukraine what The Witcher is for Poland. He also expressed a desire for the game to have a series on the Netflix platform. According to him, negotiations on this issue are already underway, but the final decision has not yet been made.
As for future plans, Krippa said that at least two expansion packs and a multiplayer mode are being prepared for the game. He also hinted at the possibility of releasing the game on other platforms, so it is likely that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will eventually appear on PlayStation 5.
Earlier, MAL'OPUS Publishing announced a large artbook that will tell about the world and how GSC Game World created the new game.