Exactly a year ago, GSC Game World announced S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. If the past is anything to go by, it looks like May is the month of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 information where Sergiy Grygorovych offers hints as to what will come regarding the sequel to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. As of recent, Grygorovych reveals that the game will be a “cultural phenomenon.”

According to a tweet, it looks like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will be a “cultural phenomenon” since Grygorovych is going through with development, which is confirmed in the following media post on May 16th, 2019.

Sergiy Grygorovych:
"I told you about S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2 a year ago.
At the beginning of development, I decided it must be either a cultural phenomenon or nothing. Now I can say that I like it.
And we won't talk a lot this time, we make. The team feels your support, thank you all!" pic.twitter.com/UnQ3TYwj4Y

— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) May 16, 2019

In other words, Grygorovych is saying that last year (2018) he told fans and gamers alike about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and how it’s an actual thing. At the start, he decided the game must be a “cultural phenomenon” or “nothing.” Seeing that he “likes it” means it is something, but he won’t talk a lot about it this time. Instead, the team will focus on making it a playable game.

As for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 vanishing/dying, that is something that won’t happen according to the official team — assuming their words hold any weight. This revelation can be seen right here regarding a fan:

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. project won't vanish, don't worry)

— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) May 17, 2019

To sum up the aforementioned, Grygorovych is happy with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 at this point and hopes to stay quiet until it’s done.

Furthermore, a post bubbled up last month on a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 subreddit by EvolAutomata offering up rumors on the project. Some of the stuff is true, and other things noted on the Reddit post is unverifiable. However, the following bulleted list from the post should be taken with a grain of salt:

• 2.0.2.1 is not the release date but a series of secret codes
• Information, arts, and promo material will be revealed in 2-4 months before the game’s release.
• Opened positions include level designer, technical artist, and project manager — meaning the game is a long ways off
• YouTuber Antishnaps (Антишнапс) claims a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 artist revealed that they’re not using X-Ray anymore but the Unreal Engine.

Something interesting to note about the rumor that came out of the woodwork last month is that Antishnaps says his artist friend revealed that the old team who developed previous Stalker games is pretty much gone, but the team who worked on Cossacks 3 is helping.

Last year, DSOG reported that Epic Games’ director of publishing, Sergey Galyonkin, revealed during a podcast that the team working on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a separate team that “was not involved in the development of Cossacks 3,” and that some of its “members have worked on the first S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game.”

Time will tell whether or not the rumor is false or if it holds any weight when Grygorovych and crew feel like talking S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.