Rock, Paper, Shotgun reports that Ukrainian blogger Sergey Galyonkin claims that Bethesda has the rights to publish a STALKER title. Since I can't read Ukrainian I can't exactly vouch for that, but at the very least the words "Bethesda" and "STALKER" appear, so they're not talking about Chinese dishes.
This is not the first time the rumor of Bethesda trying to get their hands on the STALKER franchise has appeared, and while that doesn't necessarily mean it's true, it at least means that it's a persistent rumor.
EDIT: Our own Sam Ecorners has translated the post from Galyonkin:<blockquote>"To start, everything I've written below is based on information from very reliable sources that I fully trust, however, it is not official. Please keep that in mind.
Sergey Grigorovich did not, in fact, sell STALKER brand.
Bethesda, however, is publishing a STALKER game and has all the rights to do so.
The game is being developed for multiple platforms (consoles and PC) based on Bethesda's technology, by a studio familiar with that technology. It might be Obsidian or the Fallout 3 team in Bethesda, but not necessarily. The important bit is that it is not a Ukrainian studio, almost 100% guaranteed.
Bethesda will be able to buy out the entire brand from Grigorovich, not just for games, but so far, all side merchandise is his responsibility.
For example, a few days ago a comic book based on the universe was released.
Release date, technology, details about the game are all unknown to me at this moment.
Update: I can see that there are still questions about rights separation. TL/DR: Bethesda - a game, Grigorovich - everything else( books, movies, merchandise) but Bethesda can buy everything from Grigorovich later, just like they did with Fallout.
Update 2: Bethesda refused to comment on this information."</blockquote>UPDATE 2: Computer and Videogame's associate editor Rob Crossley claimed on Twitter that the rumor isn't true
Update 3: GSC social media manager states the rumors are false.<blockquote>the news that #Bethesda purchased the #Stalker rights is false. I hear anything new, you will all be the first to know! as far as I know Sergiy still owns the rights and the requirement for him to sell are VERY high including shares in whatever company buys them as well as who develops the game. This aside from the money it would cose. however, perhaps it could be true but as far as I have been able to find out, its false.</blockquote>
This is not the first time the rumor of Bethesda trying to get their hands on the STALKER franchise has appeared, and while that doesn't necessarily mean it's true, it at least means that it's a persistent rumor.
EDIT: Our own Sam Ecorners has translated the post from Galyonkin:<blockquote>"To start, everything I've written below is based on information from very reliable sources that I fully trust, however, it is not official. Please keep that in mind.
Sergey Grigorovich did not, in fact, sell STALKER brand.
Bethesda, however, is publishing a STALKER game and has all the rights to do so.
The game is being developed for multiple platforms (consoles and PC) based on Bethesda's technology, by a studio familiar with that technology. It might be Obsidian or the Fallout 3 team in Bethesda, but not necessarily. The important bit is that it is not a Ukrainian studio, almost 100% guaranteed.
Bethesda will be able to buy out the entire brand from Grigorovich, not just for games, but so far, all side merchandise is his responsibility.
For example, a few days ago a comic book based on the universe was released.
Release date, technology, details about the game are all unknown to me at this moment.
Update: I can see that there are still questions about rights separation. TL/DR: Bethesda - a game, Grigorovich - everything else( books, movies, merchandise) but Bethesda can buy everything from Grigorovich later, just like they did with Fallout.
Update 2: Bethesda refused to comment on this information."</blockquote>UPDATE 2: Computer and Videogame's associate editor Rob Crossley claimed on Twitter that the rumor isn't true
Update 3: GSC social media manager states the rumors are false.<blockquote>the news that #Bethesda purchased the #Stalker rights is false. I hear anything new, you will all be the first to know! as far as I know Sergiy still owns the rights and the requirement for him to sell are VERY high including shares in whatever company buys them as well as who develops the game. This aside from the money it would cose. however, perhaps it could be true but as far as I have been able to find out, its false.</blockquote>
