S.T.A.L.K.E.R. dev GSC denies closure via Twitter

GSC Game World, creators of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, is rumoured to have been closed down, with the in-progress S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 reported as being cancelled by the same sources.

Initially, PC gaming blog Rock Paper Shotgun reported on a Ukranian news story claiming that owner and founder Sergei Grigorovich had closed down the studio, dissatisfied with progress on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

The company's official Twitter feed soon responded with a Tweet saying: "No we have not closed GSC or cancelled #stalker2". However, that tweet has now disappeared from the feed, leaving considerable confusion over the fate of the outfit.

The original Ukranian report also makes reference, although it is stressed to be second hand rumour, to "interest from one of the security agencies" which may have played a part in the suspected closure. Given the sensitive nature of the Chernobyl area in which the series is based, government intervention would not seem inconceivably far-fetched.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has been a PC exclusive series for its three instalments so far, but rumours of console variants were fuelled by the studio itself prior to the release of Shadow of Pripyat in 2009. Distribution of the series in Europe was originally handled by THQ, before Deep Silver took over for the second game. For the third, German company bitComposer Games secured worldwide publishing rights.

Around 40-50 people are thought to be employed at the studio. GSC Game World has been contacted for official clarification.