GSC Game World has officially responded to recent claims suggesting that Xbox paid more than the entire development cost of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, stating that the reports are inaccurate.

The clarification comes just days after comments made by GSC Game World founder Sergiy Grygorovych during an interview with YouTuber OLDBoi, where he implied that Microsoft’s funding made the game profitable before launch.

Studio Says the Claims Are Incorrect

In a statement provided to Insider Gaming, GSC Game World explained that it initially chose not to respond publicly to Grygorovych’s remarks. However, the studio ultimately decided to address the situation to prevent misinformation from spreading.

According to GSC, the founder’s comments do not accurately represent the agreements made between the company and Xbox.

The studio stated that Grygorovych was not involved in negotiations with publishing partners or in the day-to-day development of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 throughout its production, meaning his comments should not be viewed as an accurate reflection of the project’s financial arrangements.

Majority of the Budget Came From Owner Max Krippa

GSC Game World also clarified where the majority of the game’s funding actually came from.

According to the studio, company owner Max Krippa financed most of the development budget, while also acknowledging the important contributions made by Microsoft’s partnership.

The developer thanked everyone who helped bring the project to life, including:

• Players who supported the game.
• Xbox and other publishing partners.
• The developers who worked throughout production.
• Those defending Ukraine during the game’s difficult development.
• Company owner Max Krippa, who funded most of the project.

The studio emphasized that the story behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 should be based on verified facts rather than assumptions or personal opinions.

STALKER 2’s Development Was One of the Industry’s Most Challenging

In its statement, GSC described the creation of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl as one of the most difficult game development projects in recent memory.

The title faced numerous obstacles throughout production, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, which forced the studio to relocate parts of its operations while continuing development under extremely challenging conditions.

Major Update and Story DLC Coming Soon

Despite addressing the recent controversy, GSC made it clear that its primary focus remains on supporting the game.

The studio confirmed that it is currently putting the finishing touches on a major update for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 alongside the game’s first large-scale story DLC.

More information about both pieces of content is expected to be revealed in the near future as GSC continues expanding one of 2024’s biggest survival shooters.