GSC Game World has refuted claims made by its founder, Sergiy Grygorovych, asserting that his statements regarding the Xbox exclusivity deal for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl do not present an accurate picture of the game's development and funding.
Earlier this week, Grygorovych suggested in an interview that Microsoft paid GSC Game World a sum exceeding the game's development costs to secure timed exclusivity for the Xbox platform. He indicated that the deal was so substantial that it "paid for itself before the first day."
In a statement provided to Insider Gaming, GSC Game World explained its decision to address Grygorovych's claims, stating that continued silence could be misinterpreted as confirmation of inaccurate information. The developer clarified that Grygorovych was not involved in the negotiations with partners concerning Stalker 2, nor was he part of the game's full production cycle. Therefore, the studio contends that his remarks do not represent the actual situation.
While the statement does not directly refute the financial aspect of the exclusivity deal, it does note that the "majority of the development budget" was funded by studio owner Max Krippa. GSC Game World emphasized that Stalker 2's development has been one of the most challenging in the industry and that its story should be based on facts rather than assumptions or subjective opinions.
Grygorovych had attributed Microsoft's interest in securing timed exclusivity to the game's strong reveal trailer performance and Microsoft's strategic aims against competitors. He stated that the deal documents were finalized rapidly.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has endured a difficult development, exacerbated by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The game experienced multiple delays and was launched in a less-than-optimal technical state in late 2024. Since its release, GSC has been actively working on improvements, issuing significant patches that address performance, AI, and animations. The game's exclusivity period for Xbox concluded in November 2025.