Report filed by Rakan Stanbouly
According to Russian Blogger Sergey Galyonkin (via VG247), Bethesda has acquired the publishing rights to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise. Contrary to earlier rumors, Bethesda will not own the brand completely. In spite of that, series creator Sergei Grigorovich has reported that the publisher is still able to develop the latest title in the atmospheric shooter series. Galyonkin recently updated the report, stating, “I see that the division of rights raises questions. Briefly: Bethesda – game, Grigorovich – everything else (books, movies, merchandise). But Bethesda might have the right to redeem all of Grigorovich, as once bought Fallout from Interplay.”
Bethesda PR have responded multiple times to these claims, at first saying that, “We don’t comment on rumours or speculation.” In response to a direct Twitter question posed by VG247, Bethesda Communications head Peter Hines stated: “Didn’t we already do this rumor back in April?”
Previous allegations of this acquisition were denied by Sergei Grigorovich on the game’s Facebook page back in May, saying that, “There is no truth to the allegations that the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. rights have been sold to Bethesda. The rights belong to Sergiy Grygorovych, the founder of GSC Game World.”