The sequel to cult survival horror S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was reportedly announced by its developer "without consulting anyone", and is still at the design document stage of development.

As reported by DTF and translated by IGN, Epic Games' Sergey Galyonkin said on his podcast that, "the head of [developer GSC Game World], Sergei Grygorovych announced the game without consulting with anyone".

Grygorovych apparently announced the game before E3 to demonstrate public interest to potential publishers, who could pick up the game at June's conference.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was announced earlier this month, and will apparently be released in 2021.

There has been some confusion as to who was involved with the sequel, and even if GSC Game World held the rights following a report saying Bethesda had bought them.

It seems things are on the move, however. Galyonkin explains that the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development team is separate from GSC Game World's existing Cossacks 3 team, and includes members of the group that made the original game.

Given the early announcement, it's no surprise that Galyonkin says the game is still at the design document stage - i.e. the game exists only as a design plan.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK News Editor, and he didn't consult anyone before deciding he would write something stupid under every article he writes. He should have. Follow him on Twitter.