Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is finally released worldwide for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. The gaming community has been clamoring for a sequel since the original game was a massive triumph and the novels were a great source of inspiration for Saber Interactive. Books can be adapted into different mediums like films, television series, and video games; however, GSC Game World wanted to stand apart.
The game developers of GSC Game World have been working on the Stalker sequel for years after constantly running into different roadblocks. When all hope seemed lost, the studio revived the plans for a sequel but the road to completing it was not easy and the developers wanted to do something different.
After Years Stuck in Development Hell, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Is Finally Seeing the Light of Day
Game development is not for the faint of heart, and the developers of GSC Game World didn’t feel the need to faithfully adapt everything from the source material and translate it into the game. Game director Ievgen Grygorovych read the book The Roadside Picnic which inspired the game and decided not to take everything from the page and slap it into the game for good reason.
While speaking about the long journey to make this game, Grygorovych never intended the game to be a faithful adaptation. The director never saw the reason to adapt the game by the book, if he had, the final product would have been drastically different. The director cites how modern technology and current science-fiction projects inspired the studio to do something more ambitious and unique.
We actually didn’t have a target to make a game by the book. It’s very different, as you say. We live in a totally new time. There’s a lot of new science fiction now.Â
Other game developers who worked on the game spoke about the project in great detail. Players should tread carefully and avoid stumbling onto areas housing major threats.
Game design is much more advanced. We can’t just make good science fiction. We have to make a good game. The story needs to drive that game. We weren’t aiming to make it by the book.
The game is nothing like The Roadside Picnic which is about a potential alien invasion, the game is about surviving against ravenous mutants and there is no shame or anything wrong with it. If GSC Game World were to repeat what the book originally did in 1972, they would have modernized an old novel and given it a fresh coat of paint. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is more than the source material and Grygorovych wanted to take it to a whole new level and immerse the gaming community in a dangerous world.
With years stuck in development hell, the developers had enough time to engross themselves with the full potential of Unreal Engine 5 and offer a great Xbox experience which is a rare sight to see. However, players stuck on the Xbox Series S may want to consider upgrading to a Series X which is said to be the most powerful gaming console of the generation after GSC Game World confirmed Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will run at only 30 FPS.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Is Not Ashamed to Take Inspiration From the Source Material
While Stalker 2 chose to stand apart from the source material, the Warhammer sequel embraces the lore. Both sequels spent a decade and then some to complete and Saber Interactive had its fair share of hurdles throughout production. Embracer Group had to let go of the developers and the gaming community was worried about the highly-anticipated sequel facing another delay.
Fans of the Warhammer franchise were pleased to see Focus Entertainment engage with them and set their expectations high regarding the single-player story mode of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. The game developers dug deep into the lore and made the most of it in this project.
It is worth noting the developers of Stalker 2 are working on the project amidst a war which is a testament to their dedication to seeing this game through. Hopefully, their years of hard work will not be thrown down the drain and the game will offer a great experience.
Saber Interactive relied on the source material to appeal to a much larger audience while GSC Game World set off to do something original. These two approaches could usher in a new era of gaming and elevate the respective genres organically and faithfully.
What are your thoughts about Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 and are you excited about Stalker 2: The Heart of Chornobyl? Let us know in the comments section below!
