Right now, throughout the newest Xbox Partner Preview broadcast – as a shock for Xbox avid gamers all over the place – GSC Recreation World launched the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy for Xbox One and Xbox Collection X|S (by way of backwards compatibility). That’s proper – it’s obtainable right now!
The Legends of the Zone Trilogy bundle – available on the Microsoft Store for $39.99 USD — consists of all three iconic video games that make up the unique S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. Trilogy: Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat. – or you may choose up every of the video games individually for $19.99 USD every. Each ingredient from the unique video games has been maintained and faithfully ported to console thanks to the arduous work of GSC Recreation World and their companions at Mataboo. This all makes for an incredible alternative for Xbox avid gamers all over the place to get some foundational data of S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.’s universe in the lead-up to the launch of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, coming day one to Recreation Cross on September 5, 2024.
However translating these hardcore PC video games to an Xbox controller has been no small feat. For a collection that’s recognized for mixing quite a lot of genres like horror, first-particular person shooter, exploration, and immersive sim, it was necessary for the crew to get it proper. Talking with GSC Recreation World PR Specialist Zakhar Bocharov, we wished to be taught extra about what this course of was like, bringing these cult-traditional, hardcore PC titles to console, and a few of the revolutionary design and UI changes the crew had to make to carry all three video games to Xbox.
“S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. has been a PC franchise for a very long time, so the key priorities have been concentrated round adapting the expertise for consoles as a complete (together with, however not restricted to, native controller help for console interfaces),” explains Bocharov. “We created every thing from scratch, guaranteeing that the recreation was each straightforward to management and comfy to play.”
For instance, the crew developed a weapon choice wheel and made modifications to each the aiming system and the menu navigation so it may help an Xbox controller. The unique S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. is a posh recreation, so whereas optimizing the gaming expertise, the growth crew made it an necessary objective to not lose that distinctive gameplay loop and the feeling of overcoming The Zone’s iconic and hostile setting. This has been a mission a very long time in the making, so there was vital care and a spotlight to element to guarantee this traditional PC recreation will be loved for a complete new console viewers.
“We wished to carry S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. to consoles for fairly a while, and we labored carefully with our trusted companions at Mataboo to make that occur,” Bocharov shares. “Regardless of the new launch date for S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. 2, we determined to hold S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy in early 2024 to give the gamers a while to full the originals earlier than hopping into the sequel. S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. 2 is a direct continuation of the plot and a standalone title, however clearly understanding the earlier occasions and characters would assist you to to take pleasure in sure story moments, nods, and Easter eggs higher.”
The model obtainable right now for Xbox One and Xbox Collection X|S might be shut to the unique model of the S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. expertise on PC. Xbox One gamers will lastly have the opportunity to dive into the franchise, and people on Xbox Collection X|S can take pleasure in the recreation in a excessive-constancy mode by way of backward compatibility. Later this 12 months, the crew will launch a patch for Xbox Collection X|S model that may carry further graphical enhancements and different options. The console variations can even have mod help by way of mod.io, however this too might be a function to roll out later as the crew continues to tweak issues a bit, so regulate GSC’s social media channels on when these options will roll out.
“Contemplating the cult standing of the collection and understanding that S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. 2 is coming to Xbox, it was logical to let gamers expertise the unique video games,” explains Bocharov. “We take into account these releases as lastly closing an extended-present hole; all the video games from the collection will lastly be obtainable on all meant platforms.”
All through all this difficult work to lastly carry these iconic PC video games to console, the Battle in Ukraine has been ever current in the hearts and minds of this recreation growth crew. Revisiting a collection that helped put GSC Recreation World on the map so a few years in the past has now ensured that its legacy will prolong to consoles as properly — as well as to being obtainable for a complete new bunch of Stalkers to take pleasure in — helps protect a very distinctive creation from this crew of artists and recreation builders.
“The struggle, relocation, cyberattacks, and dealing between a number of nations difficult mainly all processes inside the crew — together with the growth of the video games we’re speaking about right now,” Bocharov describes. “Once more, big kudos to Mataboo for making this occur even throughout the hardest of instances. S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.’s legacy is now as necessary as ever. Normally, we are saying that about S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. 2, however bringing the originals to the new platforms and letting extra folks expertise them ensures that the really Ukrainian franchise will go on and might be beloved. It’s crucial for GSC to safe this.”
As Bocharov has indicated, this might be an incredible primer for a brand new viewers to turn into engaged in the world of S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. earlier than the arrival of Coronary heart of Chornobyl later this 12 months on Xbox Collection X|S. Realizing that, we wished to know if they’d any recommendation for these of you who might be taking their first steps into The Zone.
“S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. doesn’t personal its cult standing for nothing,” says Bocharov. “The mix of genres (FPS/horror/immersive sim), the extremely partaking gameplay loop, the one-of-a-type world of The Zone — all of those have been attracting new Stalkers over 16 years now. The phrase “distinctive” describes this expertise completely. Being fairly a hardcore expertise, this might not be the kind of recreation you play daily. However our tremendous-devoted beautiful fan base proves one easy truth: if you happen to’re into this world, you can find your self hooked up to it for years forward. Good looking!”
You’ll be able to choose up S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy right now for Xbox One and Xbox Collection X|S on the Xbox Retailer.
S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy
GSC Recreation World
$39.99
Delve into the famend classics of open-world survival with the unique S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. trilogy, now obtainable to console gamers for the first time ever.
Examine the Zone’s origins, taking over the roles of legendary stalkers and forging paths that may lead to totally different outcomes based mostly in your actions and selections.
Check your gumption whereas navigating by way of radioactive particles and anomalies, and put your reflexes to trial throughout intense gunfights.
Seek for the solutions to the darkest mysteries that would value you your sanity in sinister catacombs crammed with starved mutants.
Traverse huge areas saturated with Japanese European ambiance and referenced from the actual-life Chornobyl Exclusion Zone: the metropolis of Prypiat, the Nuclear Station, the Jupiter plant, and lots of others.
Embrace the solitude and desolation of those lands, as they’re your solely reliable companions in your foray right into a darkish science-fiction setting.
S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl
GSC Recreation World
$19.99
The forerunner of the open-world survival FPS style, the traditional S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. — recalibrated for a console journey. Dive into the grim ambiance of this darkish science-fiction world on a path to Chornobyl in the first chapter of the unique trilogy.
EMBRACE DESOLATION
These desolate lands are stuffed with a whole bunch of vagabonds. Although, the stalker is at all times on his personal, dealing with risks which are usually unseen. Take pleasure in the mixture of motion, stealth, horror, and survival with RPG components in a grim Japanese European setting. And don’t belief something however your Geiger counter!
EXPLORE
The Zone, a spot stuffed with unfathomable wonders and sinister threats – previously an exclusion territory close to the Chornobyl Nuclear Energy Plant. Crawl your path to the vacation spot by way of actual-life present areas: Prypiat, Nuclear Reactors, Purple Forest, and others.
SURVIVE
The trail of a stalker to his objective isn’t a stroll in the park. A treacherous anomaly, ready to mash even the most skilled fighter, invisible radiation, or plain hunger – any of those can value you your life. Being cautious at each step and managing your sources is the approach to survive.
FIGHT
Prepare to take a look at your expertise and gumption, enduring superior numbers of rivals and mutants able to reacting to modifications and dwelling their very own lives in huge areas. A broad arsenal of greater than 30 weapons will come in useful.
DECIDE
To remain alive, a real stalker must not ever cease his search. Useful trophies, gear, provides, new associates or solutions to the grimmest riddles of those lands are what give an opportunity not to perish. Put together for a non-linear journey for solutions and forge your destiny with decisions that lead to totally different endings.
S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.: Clear Sky
GSC Recreation World
$19.99
Nice Emission, the greatest anomalous vitality blowout from the instances of Second Incident at The Chernobyl Nuclear Energy Plant, has shaken the world once more and reshaped the Zone. To research its trigger and and stop future cataclysms is your solely probability to survive in S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.: Clear Sky.
WAR OF FACTIONS
With the anomalous exercise at its most, the unstable Zone continues to tremor with outbursts. The transformation of the Zone map destabilizes the fragile steadiness of forces in the Zone. Hostilities for the new territories, artifact fields and spheres of affect flare up amongst teams. Feuds and friendships are left behind – now, everybody watches out just for themselves. The Faction Battle has begun. To outlive, be a part of one among the events and knock out opponents over the Cordon… Or profit from working for all the factions without delay, like a real mercenary.
S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.: Name of Prypiat
GSC Recreation World
$19.99
A navy expedition to the middle of the Zone has mysteriously disappeared. Your activity, as a particular service operative in S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.: Name of Prypiat – the remaining a part of the unique trilogy, is to work out the purpose behind the disappearance and decide the standing of the personnel. This version has been recalibrated for a journey on console.
THE SEQUEL TO THE STORY
Play your half in the remaining installment of the unique S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R trilogy, uncovering the additional destiny of the Zone and the stalkers in it. Survive and unravel the mysteries of those lands, mixing motion, horror, survival, and position-enjoying components inside the darkish Japanese European science fiction setting.
UNCHARTED LANDS
The heartlands of the Zone at the moment are open for exploration to the most skilled and daring stalkers. Forge your path by way of the swampy Zaton, the industrial “Jupiter” plant, the ghost city of Prypiat, and the high-secret catacombs untouched since the disaster.
NEW THREATS
The Zone grows ever extra unpredictable and treacherous, warping actuality itself. Search shelter throughout sudden emissions and confront new kinds of anomalies and mutants. Confront the Chimera, the fearsome predator of the night time, and the telekinetic Burer, lurking in the darkest recesses.
YOUR JOURNEY
Encounter quite a few vagabonds and inhabitants alongside your journey. Be discerning and cautious in your interactions; some might help your investigation or make clear the Zone’s mysteries. Bear in mind, your selections will form their futures and destinies.