bitComposer isn't talking. The publisher says everything it currently has to say on the matter was stated in its press release. When I pointed out that it's the press release that needs clarification, bitComposer responded with a firm "no comment."Not so fast. It seems bitComposer didacquire the rights to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game franchise, but rather, the rights to make a game based on the short story Roadside Picnic and its subsequent film, Stalker -- both of whichthe GSC S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games. Confused? It appears bitComposer is as well.In its press release announcement, bitComposer repeatedly used the name/acronym S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and even referenced the previous games in the franchise. But according to GSC World's official Facebook page for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. , bitComposer didacquire the rights to the trademarked games.If this is the case, it appears bitComposer made a huge mistake -- and likely shelled out a significant sum of money -- to make a Stalker gamea S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game. Yowza. We'll keep you posted.Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers, and Robbers of the gaming world, take note: STALKER lives. Again. Frankfurt-based publisher bitComposer Games (Jagged Alliance: Back in Action) announced today that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights for future videogame adaptations of the shooter franchise, and it promises that the irradiated series will continue. STALKER 2 appeared to be dead in the water when developer GSC Game World closed its doors in December 2011 because it was unable to find a publisher to support the sequel. Various reports have popped up since then indicating STALKER 2 might be saved -- including rumors Bethesda and BioWare had acquired the rights to the franchise -- but now there's no need for finger crossing, bitComposer says STALKER will continue."STALKER is a reputable brand with a long history of success," bitComposer said in a statement. "To date, the series has sold many millions of units worldwide. Naturally, we'd like to tap into the success of this series, and we see a great deal of potential for the future."For now, there are no further details, but bitComposer says it will have another announcement in the near future. I'm going to go ahead and throw out an educated guess what that announcement will be: Vostok Games, the studio made up of former GSC Game World developers, will be named the developer of the next STALKER game. It makes sense. The Vostok devs worked on STALKER 2 for more than a year, and the shooter they're working on now, Survarium is basically a STALKER clone.One more interesting tidbit from bitComposer's announcement: Boris Natanovich Strugatsky, the creator of STALKER, passed away on November 19. It's unclear if bitComposer purchased the rights for the game from Strugatsky before he died or from his family after his death.