Ukranian S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Developer Dies Fighting Against Russia
A Ukrainian developer that worked on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series has been killed while fighting against Russia in the invasion of his homeland.
As reported by exputer, Volodymyr Ezhov was killed while fighting against Russian forces in the city of Bakhmut on the Donbas Front. The city has been under much duress recently in the war between Russia and Ukraine due to the city's strategic location in the east of the country. Ezhov was fighting as a member of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces.
Ezhov was known for his work at GSC Game World where he was part of the team that developed the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. Most notably, the project he had the most involvement in was S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Clear Sky, a survival first-person shooter set in the aftermath of an alternate Chornobyl disaster. You can spot a digital recreation of Ezhov's face in S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat as the character of Loki.
Impact Of The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
GSC Game World is a Ukranian development studio that originally held an office in the capital city of Kyiv. However, following the outbreak of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the studio has now partially relocated to the Czech Republic [via Vortex].
The studio is currently working on a new title in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series that Ezhov worked hard to help create. Its title, Heart of Chornobyl, was recently changed to reflect the proper Ukrainian spelling of Chornobyl as opposed to the Russian spelling (Chernobyl).
Sadly, Ezhov is not the only Ukrainian game developer to have been killed in the war. Back in October, Andrii Korzinkin, an animator that worked on Metro Exodus, was killed during a 'combat mission'.
Our thoughts are with the families of both Ezhov and Korzinkin at this time.