GSC Game World says it is the “sole owner” of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series and brand

After yesterday’s announcement from bitComposer about its acquisition of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. license raised more than a few eyebrows and several questions, the game series’ developers GSC Game World have clarified their own position. In a statement to RockPaperShotgun, the developers clarify that they retain sole ownership of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. IP.

In view of the rumors appearing in press, we find it necessary to inform that GSC Game World and Sergey Grigorovich remain to be the sole owners of all the intellectual property rights to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game series and the brand overall, including all the trademarks, the game universe, the technology etc.

GSC also give the pot a bit of a stir by adding that “We have doubts regarding the mentioned product by bitComposer (the publisher of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat on some territories), since the latter has significant debts in terms of fulfilling the obligations under the existing contract between our companies.”

As further clarification, GSC say that the only thing approaching S.T.A.L.K.E.R. rights which bitComposer has access to is a distribution deal for Call of Pripyat in “some territories”.

“They may have purchased the rights for the game based on Roadside Picnic [the book upon which the film Stalker is based], but it has nothing to do with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or its universe,” the developers add.

In the same statement, GSC confirms it is seeking to sell the brand to “a decent” developer or publisher as a way of continuing the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series for real.