Ukrainian game developer GSC Game World has announced that it has received a commemorative award from the BAFTA Games Awards in recognition of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl being nominated for one of the industry’s most prestigious honors. The studio shared a photo of the award on social media, humorously describing it as «another rare artifact.»
Earlier this year, in March 2026, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was nominated for the BAFTA Games Awards in the Game Beyond Entertainment category. This award recognizes games that go beyond traditional entertainment by delivering meaningful social, educational, or cultural impact.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is one of the world’s most respected organizations recognizing excellence in film, television, and interactive entertainment. Its annual Games Awards are considered among the highest honors in the global video game industry.
The BAFTA recognition is only the latest achievement for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. At the end of 2025, the game received the Best Technology Award at the Central & Eastern European Game Awards, highlighting the technical excellence of the project and the achievements of its Ukrainian development team.
The game also earned widespread recognition for its mine safety awareness campaign created in partnership with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU). During the Ukrainian Creative Stories 2026 festival, the campaign won 28 awards, making it the most decorated project of the event. It also reached the shortlist in 40 out of 51 categories, an achievement unmatched by any other Ukrainian entry that year.
GSC Game World continues to actively support and expand S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The studio is currently owned by Ukrainian entrepreneur Maksym Krippa, and its next major release will be the upcoming story expansion, Cost of Hope.
According to the developers, the DLC will feature dozens of hours of new gameplay, introduce two new locations–Iron Forest and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant–and deliver a non-linear storyline in which players’ decisions directly influence the progression and ending of the expansion, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
