Thirty years is an eternity in the gaming industry, but GSC Game World has reached that milestone today. The Ukrainian studio behind the legendary S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise is celebrating three decades of survival and game development with a massive Anniversary Sale on Steam, offering discounts of up to 75% across their entire catalog.
This celebration comes at a pivotal moment for the studio. Fresh off the recent PlayStation 5 launch of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, GSC is taking a moment to look back at where they started. While many of us know them strictly for the Anomalous Zone, their history runs deep with strategy classics like Cossacks and Heroes of Annihilated Empires.
Anniversary Sale Details
If you have been waiting to fill the gaps in your digital library, now is the time to strike. The sale is currently active on Steam and covers the studio's major franchises. While the discounts vary, the "up to 75% off" tag is a significant opportunity for players who might have jumped into the series with Heart of Chornobyl and want to experience the original trilogy that started it all.
The sale includes:
- The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Franchise: Essential for understanding the lore behind the Monolith, the Ward, and the origins of the Zone.
- Cossacks Series: The RTS titles that originally put GSC on the map.
- Heroes of Annihilated Empires: A unique blend of RTS and RPG mechanics.
A Message to the Community
Alongside the discounts, GSC Game World released a statement thanking the community for sticking with them through thick and thin. It is no secret that the road to this 30th anniversary has been harrowing, involving studio closures, reopenings, and developing a triple-A title in a war zone. Despite these challenges, the team confirmed they are not stopping here, reaffirming their commitment to world-building and future development.
Is the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. backlog worth playing in 2025?
Absolutely. While S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 modernized the mechanics, the atmosphere of the original trilogy—Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat—remains unmatched. Understanding the history of characters like Scar (who returns in the sequel) or the original indoctrination of the Monolith adds massive context to Skif's journey in the new game. With these prices, it is a low-risk investment for a lot of lore context.
The sale is live now on Steam. Whether you are a veteran stalker or a rookie just entering the Zone, it is a solid way to celebrate a studio that refused to give up.