Ukraine Crisis Causes Setback: Microsoft’s Highly Awaited Game Postponed

STALKER 2 is revealed again, this time to give us bad news, which feels bittersweet: it is delayed, but it looks better than ever in its new trailer.

The war in Ukraine has impacted the world in many unexpected ways. Besides the devastating human toll it’s taking, it’s also having effects on various aspects of life, including the realm of video games. After all, video games are also developed in Ukraine. And while it might be easy to assume that a country at war abandons everything else, that’s not the case. People continue to live their lives and try to maintain some semblance of normalcy, even if it’s often not exactly feasible.

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That’s what happened with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The game by GSC Game World, a studio based in Ukraine known for developing the cult classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, has been heavily affected by the war in Ukraine. And that’s not over.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl—originally Heart of Chernobyl but later changed to match Ukrainian pronunciation instead of Russian—was announced on May 15, 2018, to be released in 2023 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. At the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, GSC Game World had to pause the game’s development. Although they resumed the game’s development in May 2022, with part of the team relocated to Prague, another part of the team remains in Ukraine. This has led to an official delay of the game, albeit not a significant one: its new release window is the first quarter of 2024.

The game will be a first-person shooter with survival mechanics and elements of immersive simulation and horror, just like the original game. Featuring a cinematic story, it will take us to explore the heart of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, known as the Zone, where anomalies are said to occur, hiding valuable secrets for those who can uncover them.

Despite the delay, a gameplay trailer of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been released, showcasing the game’s visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5 and its close connection to the original game. It’s a testament to the creative resilience of the brave individuals at GSC Game World, who haven’t let even the Russia-Ukraine conflict destroy their creative spirit. With its release still on the horizon, the game remains highly anticipated.

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Unveiling the Next Chapter: Catch a Glimpse of the New Gundam Series in the Teaser Trailer

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury has just wrapped up, but the new Gundam series has already been announced and we have a short teaser.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury has just ended, and it is no longer the latest Gundam series. Because if the devil works fast, Bandai Namco Filmworks works even faster, as they have just announced this Saturday at Anime Expo what the next animated project will be for their most lucrative franchise of giant robots. It’s called Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance.

Comprised of six thirty-minute episodes, it will take place during the events narrated in Mobile Suit Gundam 0079, the original series, in what is known as the One Year War. It is a war between the Principality of Zeon, a group of space colonies seeking political and economic independence from Earth, and the Earth Federation, who strongly oppose this division. Focusing on the European front, this is not the first time we have seen it in Gundam. In fact, one of the key parts of the war, Operation Odessa, takes place in Europe and spans several episodes of the original anime series, as well as the eighth volume of Mobile Suit Gundam: Origin. That’s why, although they haven’t provided details about the story, it is expected that they will delve into the history of Europe, Operation Odessa, and the Principality of Zeon’s control over the region.

As usual, Sunrise and Safe House have been confirmed as the animation studios for the project. What’s most peculiar about this is that it will be a 3D series utilizing the Epic Games engine, Unreal Engine 5, typically used for video games. It’s a unique twist for the franchise, as they have only previously ventured away from traditional animation for the production of Mobile Suit Gundam Kai, a 3D animated remaster of the original series in five episodes.

Comprised of six 30-minute episodes, the series will be distributed worldwide through streaming platforms. The story will revolve around a pilot named Iria Sorari. Gavin Hignight, known for his work as a writer on the anime Tekken Bloodline and the video game Marvel’s Spider-Man, will be in charge of the script. Naohiro Ogata, who has previously produced the excellent Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury and Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, will serve as the executive producer of the series. With such notable names behind it, the anime has generated a great deal of excitement. Notably, the mecha designs will be handled by Kimitoshi Yamane, a classic designer who has worked on multiple occasions for the series and is known for his work on The Vision of Escaflowne.

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Without a specific release date, we will have to wait a little longer to learn more about the project. However, what we can already say with certainty is that if it is as good as Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury, we will be talking about one of the best anime series of the year when it is released.

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