GSC Game World Responds to Founder's Xbox Exclusivity Deal Comments

July 28, 2026 - 05:29

The Ukrainian developer behind the upcoming "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl" has issued a statement to correct recent remarks made by its founder regarding the game's exclusivity agreement with Microsoft. In a post on social media, GSC Game World addressed comments from Sergiy Grygorovych, who earlier suggested that the financial terms of the Xbox deal had exceeded the game's entire development budget.

The studio was direct in its response, stating that Grygorovych's words "do not reflect the actual facts." While the company did not disclose specific figures, it emphasized that the partnership with Xbox was a standard commercial arrangement and not an unusually massive windfall. The clarification comes after Grygorovych's interview comments sparked widespread discussion about the economics of AAA game development and platform exclusivity.

GSC Game World also used the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the project, which has faced multiple delays due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The studio noted that the development process remains challenging but that the team is focused on delivering a finished product. "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2" is currently slated for a 2024 release on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a day-one launch on Game Pass. The clarification aims to set the record straight as fans eagerly await more concrete details about the long-awaited sequel.