bitComposer Entertainment Acquires S.T.A.L.K.E.R. License from GSC Game World

[Shawn Zipay]

Following the death of GSC Game World, it has been announced today that bitComposer Entertainment has picked up the rights to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise.

"The acquisition of the S.T.AL.K.E.R. license serves as an important cornerstone for the further international orientation of bitComposer Entertainment AG," says Stefan Weyl, member of the bitComposer Entertainment AG executive board. "For us, this brand represents a bridge to an important segment of triple-A products and a milestone in the history of the company. We would like to express our gratitude to Boris Natanovich Strygatsky."

"S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a reputable brand with a long history of success. To date, the series has sold many millions of units worldwide," says Wolfgang Duhr, member of the bitComposer Entertainment AG executive board. "Naturally, we'd like to tap into the success of this series, and we see a great deal of potential for the future."

The press release also states that "this move ensures that the successful series will continue" and that more details "will be released shortly."

[jimykx]

So they now have an unfinished game on their hands?

[Stev0esque]

I don't think so. I think they might start from scratch. Which IMO isn't a good thing. I'm worried about linearity and/or "Lifeless" AI (many STALKER fans are quite picky about the Alife system of the xray engine)

[Shawn Zipay]

I don't see why they would start from scratch on a game that already had a ton of work poured into it before things went south for the company. That's a huge bit of resources they'd be throwing away not only in work completed but also in having to get things started from scratch at their end.

Probably, if anything, they'll finish the game (assuming they were given those assets) and release that. Then they'll start fresh on a sequel all their own.

[Stev0esque]

Thats a good (and logical point) but at the same time the Xray Engine is also rather fickle that I don't know of many people other than GSC and the Modding community that want to work with it.

Keep in mind that what I'm saying is speculation and I tend to pick up the paranoias of my fellow STALKER fans. While we are not as loud and externally whiny as the Battlefield Fandom we are probably more paranoid.

[Stev0esque]

Its a bit all over the place but this thread on the GSC forums outlines a few things that refute this:

From "Don Reba" (site admin)

So, Sergey Galyonkin got in touch with Grigorovich and found that:

1. He did not negotiate with bitComposer about giving them the rights to the trade mark S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and still keeps them for both USA and Europe.
2. bitComposer distributed Call of Pripyat and owes GSC 8 months' royalties.

also, I gathered that BitComposer actually got the rights to Roadside picnic (or the film based of it, Stalker), the original book that S.T.A.L.K.E.R drew inspiration from, and that Sergey Grigorovich (and GSC, which is supposedly defunct now but its not really clear) still retains rights.

Sauce

Edit: yes, this is all a mess. I know.

[Shawn Zipay]

Fantastic. Of course something couldn't just be simple when it comes to this franchise.

[Stev0esque]

I think we just love drama.

[Shawn Zipay]

When did we become the TNT station?

[Stev0esque]

I mean the S.T.A.L.K.E.R fandom.