Team behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R successor now facing legal action

Well that escalated quickly. No sooner had West Games’ Kickstarter campaign for a planned “spiritual successor” to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl begun, than the team were facing accusations of false claims and possible legal action.

The key issue is whether West Games lied about their members being former developers from S.T.A.L.K.E.R creators GSC Game World.

The game’s Kickstarter is pretty clear on this, with one section reading: “The core people that developed the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series have come together to create a new team called West Games. Together, we’re developing a game called Areal, which continues the spirit of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and adds an engrossing story, unique game-play and innovative features.”

“With that said, Areal is not S.T.A.L.K.E.R., but a game developed by the people who made S.T.AL.K.E.R.. Most of our team is composed of former senior GSC Game World staff members, and now that we have our own fully independent studio, we can create the ultimate post apocalyptic video game.”

Joe Mullin of Vostok Games, a development studio created by former GSC staff, took to the Survivarium boards to register his anger at the statements from West Games. ”We have contacted GSC’s lawyers regarding this fraudulent claim of being the developers of Stalker and Metro Last Light,” he posted. “Please do all you can do ensure people know these claims are false.”

VG247 point out that art on the Kickstarter page appears to be taken straight from the official S.T.A.L.K.E.R wikipedia page, which again raises question about the legitimacy of the project.

Mullin and Vostok Games are said to be preparing an official statement, so we’ll have more on this story as it breaks.