In the recent reports we've devoted a lot of space to what’s going on behind the scenes of Chernobylite. And as you well know, the vast majority of what we're showing you in the reports is in the game, sometimes on a 1:1 scale, sometimes in a slightly altered form. But as you'll see, there are also things that players don't know exist. And discovering them by yourselves takes some time.
Today we’re going to help you a bit by showing some of the hidden gems in the game. Maybe thanks to this we’ll encourage you to explore the Zone even deeper. Who knows what you will find there?
How has Chernobylite changed?
Before we get to the main menu, we encourage you to check out the Steam post below. We think it’s a real treat for those curious to see how Chernobylite has changed over the past 2+ years. Starting from entering the Early Access until its official launch. We are not sentimental people ourselves but the movie you find there evokes good memories!
It's time to talk about what is "not seen" at first glance in Chernobylite. We'll start with the very beginning of the game. Each of you knows this scene: Igor and the crew come to the vicinity of the Power Plant and try to get into it. However, have you ever wondered what would happen if Igor… didn’t want to participate in the mission? If you return to the car after watching the cut-scene with the exploding power plant, this will happen:
As you can see, sometimes it's worth breaking the rules. You never know what you can find with it.
But we also know that this doesn't always work and sometimes players need a hint. Here's one: look at the photos of Igor's crew members. If you think that we hired professional models for the photo shoot... you’re very wrong. In the photos you’ll find the faces of The Farm 51 team. These are the charms of a small, independent studio.
Finally, one curiosity that you will not find in the game. And for a good reason. Putting your faces to the game is one thing. But there was a time when we thought you might hear us too. As you know, you can hear English and Russian voices in the game. We also planned to record dialogue lines in Polish. Unfortunately, such recording sessions with voice actors are expensive, and we wanted English and Russian voice overs the most. That’s why we decided that... we would record these lines ourselves. We are Poles, we speak Polish. So it can't be hard, right? Well… it is. The end result was far from perfect, to say the least. Eventually, we abandoned this idea. Again, that's the charm of a small, independent studio...
We hope you enjoyed the stories. Now go on, stalkers! There are many other things in the game just waiting to be discovered.
That's it for today!
Take care, Stalkers!
Will you join us? Let us know in the comments or on Discord.
35,000 scanned 3D models, 7,000 dialogue lines, about 100 days spent in the Chernobyl zone, countless feedback from our players. It all adds up to Chernobylite - a game made by just a handful of enthusiasts who wanted to transfer their fascination with the Chernobyl Zone to the virtual world. And it was successful. The result of our work - already fully completed - you could see a few months ago after the official premiere.
However, before you received a full-fledged game from us, two years earlier we provided you with a substitute in the form of Early Access. Not everything was finished, not everything was working properly, and not everything was as it should be. But the very fact that we have come to the point where we can show you the results of our hard work was something extraordinary. And it was even more exciting to watch our project develop and change before our eyes. We want to experience this journey again, this time with you.
We present you the material on which we present Chernobylite as it was in the beginning and as it is now.
[previewyoutube="6R54_4SBmn0;full"]
Admittedly, the changes we have made over the months have paid off very much. And the end result is impressive, which you yourself often emphasize. Again, thank you!
Weekly Report #91
Hello Stalkers!
Though Chernobylite launched a few months ago, many of you have been eagerly anticipating the next event: the launch of the game on consoles. We are therefore very happy to announce that the waiting has paid off. Chernobylite has officially hit the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 platforms!
First impressions
A lot of you are already playing the game. The console version of Chernobylite was also played by gaming journalists. And here's what they have to say about it.
“IN SHORT, The Farm 51 has developed one of those games that we will always remember, offering a very successful console port. Its plot full of plot twists and decisions, as well as a solid and effective playable base, make Chernobylite a game that we should not miss under any circumstances. Its biggest flaw is that it does not delve deeper into some of its mechanics and they are used in a very basic way.” 33bits
“Chernobylite combines some cool ideas and implements them in a way that complements the story it wants to tell. Several issues stand in its way, with potential save corruption acting as the biggest road block. Once that issue gets patched out, the core experience will offer up something unique, even if many of its gameplay elements lack depth.” PSU
“Chernobylite is a remarkably full-featured and solid game for an indie. While it doesn’t quite feel AAA in its execution, it comes pretty close at times. With a ton of interesting mechanics, a surprisingly solid structure, and an intriguing story and setting, Chernobylite gives RPG fans a fascinating look into an alternate universe version of a real-world disaster zone. While I’m certain there aren’t quite this many creepy dolls laying around the real Pripyat, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief to get such a detailed view of the Chernobyl plant’s control room. It’s a bonus that that view comes embedded in an interesting and unique game.” Gaming Nexus
“Chernobylite is a lovingly crafted example of what a post-apocalyptic game can and should be, offering players a rollercoaster of a story with plenty of choices that naturally lend to an overarching sense of freedom. Aside from a few technical issues, Chernobylite does everything right and wraps it all in a tense, and oftentimes uncomfortable, package that has you wanting to see what’s lurking around the next corner. If there has ever been a game that makes you want to pack your bags and take a trip to a dangerous part of the world, this is it.” TrueAchievements
New roadmap and website
Of course, this isn’t the only thing we want to show off today. As promised, we're preparing a lot of new content for you, which we're going to release as part of the DLC. As you can see in the roadmap attached below, the first upcoming DLC will be available for Halloween and Christmas. Further ones should be expected in each quarter of 2022.
If you want to know the details of what we’ve in store for you in the near future, check out the post below.
The console premiere of Chernobylite is also an opportunity to refresh our website. We've given more space to let the graphics and texts on it breathe a bit. You can check the final effect yourself!
That's it for today!
Take care, Stalkers!
Will you join us? Let us know in the comments or on Discord.
Have you already completed the Heist but still roam Chernobyl in your nightmares? Is it oddly the only place that feels like home now? Rest easy kokhani, there’s still more in store for you in the Zone—it will never let you go.
From this fall, two DLCs are planned for the remainder of 2021 while four more, the ‘Colors of Chernobyl’ series, are planned for 2022, to be released quarterly. Each DLC will include free content, introducing a mix of new missions, monsters, weapons, game modes, and more as well as a paid content pack (with the exception of Monster Hunt).
Check out the full roadmap:
Be sure to follow our social media and community channels to learn more about what each DLC will contain as more information becomes available.
Will you join us? Let us know in the comments or on Discord.
The new patch after Chernobylite release is here! And we’re working really hard to provide you with many more updates and some new content soon, as a part of the mega patch scheduled around Halloween.
For this one, we have improved the Ukrainian localization and added Czech and Turkish ones.
We are really grateful to our amazing community for providing us with these translations. Thank you all for your hard work!
Elena Nuriakhmedova - Ukrainian
Lukáš Potužník - Czech
Gökhan Kocaman & Ahmet Emre Kaptan - Turkish
We also have the Hungarian localization which was already added to the game before, prepared by our community member Zsolt Brechler.
Translations are considered 80-90% final. We’re still in the process of fixing some bugs. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions here on Steam.
Weekly Report #90
Hello Stalkers!
Autumn has come sooner than we expected. Cold, dark and cloudy. Could there be a better time to play games? Probably so. But we, rather than playing games, prefer to create them.
Before we go to the main menu, a brief reminder. On September 28, the premiere of Chernobylite for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will take place. At the same time, we would like to answer the most frequently asked questions: no, we are not planning to open pre-orders for the game at the moment. Yes, we plan to support this version with additional content as well. Stay tuned for more info soon.
Let us reveal (not all) the cards
As promised, in the upcoming reports, we want to show you a little bit of the development of the upcoming DLC that we are preparing for you. Of course, we can't show much at the moment. However, the closer to the release of the first DLC, the more cards we’ll be able to reveal.
We dug through tons of artwork documenting our work on future updates the game, and we came across something that is likely to get your attention.
The uninitiated might get the impression that this is Cthulhu trying to get out of the cramped building. But it's actually Chernobylite.
So you have one clue: wherever you go, you will surely find large swaths of Chernobylite. Where is this place exactly located? Will it be possible to visit them? We won't tell you that yet. But we promise that there will be plenty of such views as well.
Finally, we have something else for you. This is a kind of proof that when creating new content for the game, it is indeed NEW. We don’t work with the copy-paste method, we don’t only move models from one place to another, and we don’t replace their textures so that no one knows. Everything you see was made from scratch.
That's it for today!
Take care, Stalkers!
Will you join us? Let us know in the comments or on Discord.
Summer will be over soon. A large part of our team uses the last opportunity to rest. All in all, don't be surprised - the team worked very hard until the official launch of Chernobylite. They deserved a good rest. But that doesn't mean we're slowing down. The following months will bring a lot of new content. We think you will all be satisfied.
Of course, the most important of these is the promised DLC. We are preparing a whole lot of new stuff for you that we are going to put into the game. You have to be patient a little more, but trust us, it will be worth the wait. Of course, this is not the moment when we can tell you in detail what exactly you will find in the DLC (we want to avoid huge spoilers), but we can show you this and that from time to time without revealing too much. Here is an example:
This is clearly a crafting table. But what can you create on it? Write your suggestions in the comments, and maybe you can guess.
In addition, we are preparing a new roadmap, and with it - a new website. Again, we can't show too much, except for a small fragment. Let me put it this way: the site clearly needed some solid changes and it’s going to be great!
The holidays are still going on, we charge the batteries as much as possible. Until then, expect a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of our work so far on what we want to bring you into the not-so-distant future.
That's it for today!
Take care, Stalkers!
Will you join us? Let us know in the comments or on Discord.
Today we will address some most frequently asked questions. They are often repeated, so maybe this report will clear a few things for you! But before we will begin, let us ask: have you seen the recent video? No? Then watch this first and then read on!
[previewyoutube="LQ-y39prSMY;full"]
Okay, now that you've watched the above video, let's start with the questions!
1. How do I get the various items in the game?
Oh, that's an intriguing question! It really depends on what you mean by "items". So we'll quickly divide those into groups:
basic resources - these are e.g. herbs, electronic parts, food. Every one of them can be found during the missions (we encourage you to explore the maps!), but also produced in the base. Food, herbs and mushrooms can be grown and you need to build the small "gardens" (press B while in the building zone in the base). Others can be recycled from different items - let's say you found 3 AK's and you don't need them. Build a recycler in your base, then dismantle the guns. You'll get some resources thanks to that.
armor - the armor itself need to be crafted, but very rarely it can be found during missions too. Same with the plates, so the things that you put into your armor for more protection.
weapons - you can find them hidden (or not) during missions, but you also get the simplest revolver at the beginning of the game (thanks, Olivier!). Why can't you pick up NAR guns? These are protected by a biometry lock, so... sorry, can't use that! Also, the more advanced weapons can be crafted once you achieve that level of improvement of your base!
That's the simples explanation, but the methods will vary regarding how you play! Of course, there's more into it, like e.g. ammunition, modifications, devices, workstations.
2. Will the gathered resources respawn?
The answer is YES. But depending on the difficulty level you've chosen at the beginning of the new game, it will take less or more time. E.g. on the highest difficulty, there will not only be fewer resources to gather, but they will also respawn longer.
3. Are the supply missions limited or can I grind it?
Actually, on the higher difficulty levels, the grinding can be (or is) necessary to get through another day. Resources are scarce and you'd need to really keep an eye on your stash. Especially food can vanish quickly if you don't watch it.
4. Do I have a limited time for each mission?
Yes and no. No, because there's no time limit per se. But also yes, because the passing time will make the mission harder for you. At the beginning of the game, the Zone is fairly safe. Depending on the difficulty level, it will change slower or faster - and usually not to your benefit. For example, over time there will be more radiation, more monsters, the Black Stalker can find you very quickly. However, you can "fight" those changes by building special equipment during missions. Every one of that devices gives you some benefit - one can limit the radiation, other can make it more difficult for Black Stalker to find you. Also, each map has its own "statistics" to maintain, so building the devices in Pripyat Central will not help when you'll visit the Red Forest.
5. Does the game have controller support 'cause I like to play on PC with my pad?
We totally get it, played it like that ourselves more than once. So the answer is: yes. The game has partial controller support and we're working to have full support.
6. What will happen if the main character dies?
Oh boy, that's a minor spoiler, but some of you might find it out very quickly. When Igor dies, the world will change itself. But also you will be able to change the world by changing your past decisions. Be sure that dying is a natural part of the game and it will not end with Igor's death.
7. What can I build in my base? Is it worth gathering the resources?
Let us be clear: you find yourself in a hostile environment. The Zone is not a pleasurable place. You need to be smart about the path to fulfilling your main goal - which is to find Tatiana. You don't need to build anything... but you'll find it extremely difficult to play or even to finish the game. For example, since the beginning of the story, you learn that you'll have to do The Heist, the final mission. To do so, you'll need support from companions which you will (hopefully) find. And to have their support, you'll need to tend to their needs or else they will leave you. This includes e.g. building them a bed. So we can say that it's not necessary, but it will probably be extremely difficult if you won't build it. Similar to the missions - over time, the Zone will become even more terrifying and hostile, so it's gonna be hard not to improve your gear. It's all connected, you see.
8. Can I build during missions?
Yes, you can! And we really encourage you to do so! Not only you can build some simple workstations to craft necessary items, but also create traps & mines that can be some real strategic advantage. Besides that, you can build devices that will delay the negative effects that will happen over time in the Zone (like increasing radiation).
9. How long is the game?
Wow, that's tough. It really depends on how you play, because it usually takes 15-20 hours, but on higher difficulty levels it can take much more. Or if you play casually and you like to wander around, enjoy the views - then it can really take a LOT more.
10. When will you stop the support of the game (on PC)?
Don't plan to do so now - it will probably happen in the future, but we have just published Chernobylite! We have plans for DLCs! And even if we didn't we wouldn't stop the support. That would be like saying "okay, you bought the game, so now we can disappear". No chances for that.
11. If I send the companion away / he/she leaves - can she return?
No. That's why it's so important to keep them happy (well, at least not nagging about everything). Remember your main goal is to find Tatiana - to do so, you'll need to make The Heist on the Power Plant. And you'll need a team.
12. How do investigations work? Do I need them?
Look at the investigations as a part of a powerplay between what Igor wants and what Igor knows. He lands in the Zone, trying to find ANY information about Tatiana, learning what could happen to her. But the Ariadna, so the device he'll use after finding enough information, can be misleading, providing rather a blurry image of the past. These things Igor (and you) will learn thanks to the investigations can significantly impact the choices you'll make. So let's just say investigations are extremely important, but the outcome of them will vary depending on your choices and understanding of what you'll see. Remember you can run the simulation (so conclude a particular investigation) without all info - so you can miss something that would add an enormously important context to what you see.
13. Who is Black Stalker?
Ha! Nice one. Like we're just going to tell you before you discover it yourselves.
That's all for today, stalkers! Take care!
Weekly Report #87
Hello Stalkers!
Our stories about traveling to Chernobyl always ignite the imagination in the minds of those who have not yet had the opportunity to go there. But what stimulates the imagination more are the pictures. And we certainly do not lack these.
In total, we spent about 100 days in the Chernobyl zone. We took countless photos and recorded many, many hours of videos, including those taken by a drone. Terabyte of history of one place. Below you will find just a small excerpt of what we have collected on the spot. But it is still impressive.
[previewyoutube="Jsk7XqFugw4;full"]
And to think that in the beginning we did all this to create Chernobyl VR - a project that made it possible to go for a walk in the Chernobyl zone. - When you’re high up in Reactor Number 5 you can see practically the whole Chernobyl area. When I was standing there with Wojciech Pazdur, our Creative Director, and said “Wow, what an amazing place, it would be awesome to make a video game here” and “Imagine, how cool would it be if a player could see this view every day in-game and choose where to go next from this lookout and even see their influence on the game world?” - this is what game director Artur Fojcik recalls.
[previewyoutube="0DX4SfSIAPU;full"]
And so, the idea turned from a small seed into concrete serious plans for a full-fledged game. For us, that meant more journeys and more research.
[previewyoutube="ozi9dC2TS7U;full"]
You can see the effects of our work in the movies below, but more importantly - also in our game. Was it worth it?
[previewyoutube="qXm_fRFNOWY;full"]
[previewyoutube="kuZ3VwpvTmw;full"]
That's it for today!
Take care, Stalkers!
Will you join us? Let us know in the comments or on Discord.
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