Proto:S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

This page details one or more prototype versions of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl probably has the most prototypes released of any game out there. For some reason (which makes it hard to sort these), there are duplicate build numbers, many of which are drastically different to the other ones, as well as some builds with lower numbers coming out after builds with higher ones!

To do: This isn't even a remotely comprehensive list of the sheer amount of available builds. There's also builds of the SDK hidden within these builds, and there's a ton that flat-out don't work and are only mentioned in other builds with little to no content from them. This is a massive undertaking, remember that. I have not documented every single build here - there's tons more left.

Oblivion Lost

Build 749 A very early build, made back when S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was a sci-fi game.

Build 756 A vehicle test with an early player model.

Build 788 Tech demo showing off a river, bridge, and an underground base.

Build 1097 Massive build featuring several copies of "Aztec City", however it seems it was just for testing purposes.

Build 1098 The last available build of the sci-fi version of the game. Has several weapons, an enemy, a friendly NPC, and more!

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Oblivion Lost

Build 1114 First version featuring the final concept. Look at Cordon and Agroporom in their infant years!

Build 1096 The same thing as 1114, but with sound!

Build 1154 Lets you explore Cordon and a full version of an early Agroporom on-foot or as a car. Not driving a car - as a car. (Note that when merged with 1153, this becomes far more stable.)

Build 1233 A test level where you still drive around as a car. Hooray.

Build 1254 A tech demo for an unknown game event in 2003.

Build 1265 First version dedicated to multiplayer testing.

Build 1465 A test of 3 levels with AI in Agroprom that does absolutely nothing except get shot at by bored developers. Also, hands in a car!

Build 1472 A tech demo built around an obsolete graphics card. Does not play well with modern PCs.

Build 1475 Same as 1472, except with different levels and crashing with 3-5 minutes!

Build 1511 Contains early versions of the scrapped Dead City level and Generators levels.

Build 1512 1511, but with more testing purposes.

Build 1537 So many AI tests, so little time.

Build 1558 Explore another version of Dead City!

Build 1569 Nothing interesting except Pripyat and a complete lack of stability without modification.

Build 1580 Just a basic test level, but has some early trading functions hidden in the files.

Build 1616 A very basic test level meant for weapons testing: silences, scopes, and the like.

Build 1632 More testing, and a lot of content that went unused in the build itself.

Build 1834 The last Oblivion Lost tests, and an E3 demo for the masses as SHoC!

Build 1835 Old versions of maps, along with the first appearance of X10... and it's stable enough to make long videos with!

Build 1844 A demo for the press. Go on a quest to get an artifact from a Mercenary, but be amazed as your quest suddenly ends because you can't loot his body!

Build 1849 Pretty much a later version of 1844, with the first two archives apparently being identical with 1844.

Build 1842 Weapon and vehicle tests! Whoa! (This build was made just under four months after 1849. Huh?)

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Build 1850 Another day, another multiplayer test.

Build 1851 Seems to be yet another test of Agroprom.

Build 1865 Closer, but still so far.

Build 1893 Closer yet, but still pretty far. The last build that's still rough like the previous ones, but now with SecuROM - because invasive DRM is always a good idea!

Build 1902 Closer still, but just not there yet.

Build 1911 Not very stable, but you can still get some interesting info from it.

Build 1917/1925 Dynamic shader tests on a test map. Quite uninteresting.

Build 1935 An absolutely massive build released by the developers. It's the closest they got to their original intent before they had to scale back for various reasons.

Build 1936 A more optimized version of 1935, but still leaving a lot to be desired. Has some AI tests on a place called "Etalon". Also has SecuROM (yay).

Build 1964 Aggressive AI.

Build 1971 More multiplayer fun.

Build 1994 Lets you have pointless conversations with NPCs via the PDA.

Build 2008 Pretty rendering, many maps, but generally uninteresting compared to some of the other playable ones.

Build 2212 Built three months earlier than 2205. Who was keeping these in order, anyway?

Build 2218 Stationary turret test with many dynamic objects and a whole three AI.

Build 2205 Getting closer to the final game.

Build 2215 Still getting there.

Build 2217 Multiplayer with a full-length Double Barrel Shotgun not seen in the final.

Build 2232 Keep on truckin'.

Build 2307 A fan-made build that-wait, what.

Build 2571 Closer to the final, with some unique weapons not found in the retail version!

Build 2559 Yet another multiplayer test.

Build 2588 Getting there!

Build 2590 More testing stuff with what appears to be a stable build of the SDK.

Build 2604 Real close now, with more unique weapons not seen in the final.

Build 2607 Quite close to the final.

Build 2945 A closed multiplayer beta test which requires authentication.

Build 2939 A newer version of 2945, but this time it checks for a CD-key. Which we have.

Build 2947 A multiplayer demo test built on the same day as the final release.