S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat prowling Feb. 2

GSC Game World gained a following in 2007 upon the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The game gained critical acclaim for its immersive atmosphere, where players assumed the role of an amnesic scavenger looting rare artifacts several decades after the Chernobyl reactor explosion of 1986. In 2008, the Kiev, Ukraine-based developer released a prequel to the warmly received survival shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, though it did not fare as well with critics.

Following the prequel's release, GSC Game World revealed that its next project would be a follow-up proper to Shadow of Chernobyl, titled S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. Today, Viva Media and Bitcomposer Games announced a North American publishing deal for the PC game. The publishers also pegged an exact release date for the shooter, saying North American gamers can pick up Call of Pripyat on February 2.

A sequel to the events in Shadow of Chernobyl, Call of Pripyat drops players into the role of special agent Alexander Degtyarev. As the undercover operative, players are tasked with investigating the whereabouts of five missing military helicopters while also contending with the rival scavenger factions and radioactive mutants. Environments presented in the game include a secret military base, an abandoned factory, and the titular city of Pripyat.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.