War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a must-see documentary for fans of video games and history alike, a behind-the-scenes look at the eagerly awaited game that tells the very human story of its makers and the Chernobyl disaster that inspired them.
I was excited to be offered a chance to see the documentary ahead of today’s release, but it’s even better than expected. Developed by GSC Game World, the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. arrived in 2007 and was an immediate breakthrough, a first-personal survival horror title set in a fictional version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine. It was atmospheric and immersive, a cross of sorts between Half-Life and The Last of Us, with a terrific plot that unrolls a backstory over time and multiple possible endings.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was popular enough that it was quickly followed by two sequels over the next two years, and GSC announced a fourth game, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Hearts of Chornobyl in 2010 with an expected release date in 2012. But then the years passed, a situation Half-Life fans can relate to, with GSC canceling and then restarting development multiple times. But now it’s finally ready, with a next-generation game engine, incredible graphics and sound, and a November release date for Windows PCs and Xbox Series X|S.
War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 tells the story of the making of this game, of course, and that’s fascinating for all the right reasons. Even more fascinating are the stories of the people behind this title, their personal experiences in Ukraine, and how the Chernobyl disaster and now more recent events influenced and inspired them. This documentary dives deep into these histories, with the developers making their own excursions into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. I watch every Chernobyl documentary and movie I can, and viewed simply as a telling of that history, War Game is a towering achievement. If you couldn’t care less about video games, no matter: You need to watch this documentary.
That it’s tied to the history now sadly unfolding in Ukraine makes this story all the more compelling: GSC was forced to move many of its employees and their families when Russia invaded the country. But many also remained behind, admirably, because Ukraine is their home and they felt a responsibility to defend it. That work on the game continued during this new disaster is incredible in its own right. But it was just the latest transgression. As the developers note, they were confronted by a global pandemic, mass relocations, cyberattacks, and then war while making S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. It was perhaps inevitable that all these events influenced the new game.
War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is about 90 minutes long, and it’s available on the Xbox and GSC Game World YouTube channels. I can’t recommend it highly enough.