GSC Game World, the developer of the eternally delayed S.T.A.L.K.E.R., has spoken out in an attempt to clear up recent speculation that the game is in serious trouble.

According to a press release from the developer, the game is now in the stage of "approval and is being actively developed in close cooperation with the publisher." The reports of major staff layoffs are also apparently untrue.

"The team has undergone certain reductions, particularly in the art section, due to all the graphics-related works being almost complete (out of 40 people, 5 were dismissed). None of the leads, programmers and moreover, testers may not be reduced at any time," read the statement from GSC Game World.

 Advertisement

Reports that the rights to the game engine belonged to some of the staff that have been let go also turned out to be false. "All the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. technologies, including the X-Ray engine and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-2 engine belong to the company," and should a technology leak occur then its "legal use is impossible."

As for when we will finally see the game released, we're not sure, but given the rocky road over which S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has thus far taken, getting the game to retail at all would seem to be an achievement.