GSC Game World has rejected statements made by its studio founder about Microsoft's payments for STALKER 2 exclusivity. The developer said the comments do not reflect the actual situation.
GSC Game World issued a statement to Insider Gaming denying the accuracy of remarks by founder Sergiy Grygorovych. He had claimed in an interview that Microsoft paid more than the game's development cost to secure a timed Xbox exclusive release.
The developer noted that Grygorovych was not involved in negotiations or the full production cycle of the game. It added that the majority of the development budget came from owner Max Krippa.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl launched in late 2024 after multiple delays tied to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Its Xbox timed exclusivity ended in November 2025.