At this time, August 8, is Worldwide Cat Day (opens in new tab), and to rejoice the second GSC Sport World has launched idea artwork for a “bayun,” which is basically the Stalker 2 (opens in new tab) model of a cat. As you may think, it’s horrific.
You suppose I am kidding? Feast your eyes:
“A really stealthy and nimble mutant,” the picture says. “For years, tales about it had been thought to be mere fables. Bayun takes its title from its throat sacs, which permit the beast to mimic every kind of sounds, together with human speech.”
The bayun is emaciated, denuded, oozing via open sores, has glowing inexperienced eyes (when it has eyes, that’s), and yellowed fangs bared in a hideous grimace. What guarantees to make it actually terrifying, although, are these throat sacs, and the mimicry they permit. Veterans of the Zone could bear in mind the sound of a child softly crying at the hours of darkness recesses of an deserted underground laboratory, and the way that in the end labored out (opens in new tab). I will not get into particulars, however I’ll admit—with not a hint of disgrace, as a result of that shit was terrible—that I squealed like a litter of frightened piglets when that entire factor went down.
The truth that it is a cat makes the bayun even worse. Individuals who do not personal cats could not understand this however they’re able to an unimaginable vary of vocalizations. My very own cat has a gut-curdling howl she busts out a pair instances a month when taking part in together with her favourite toy (which is doubly unusual as a result of in any other case, she hardly makes any noise in any respect), and for these of you unfamiliar with the Oh Lengthy Johnson meme, get a load of this:
So think about that, however irradiated, hungry, indignant, and doubtless concerning the measurement of a big canine, and that is the bayun. It is doable that they will not really seem within the recreation: This is perhaps only a little bit of gag idea artwork, and albeit I might be fantastic with that as a result of there are already sufficient issues to cope with within the Zone. However cats have beforehand appeared within the Stalker sequence, after a trend: The Stalker fan wiki (opens in new tab) notes that they appeared as a mounted animal in Shadow of Chernobyl and Clear Sky, and that textures and sound information for “actual” in-game cats are current as nicely.
Bayun, by the best way, will not be Russian for cat: That will be “koshka.” Bayun is a selected cat from Russian fairy tales, who based on the Russian folklore weblog Lukomorye (opens in new tab) has a robust voice that may lull the unwary to sleep—without end! However those that can resist and are capable of seize the cat are richly rewarded, for his voice may also remedy accidents and illnesses of every kind.
He is a creepy wanting bugger too:
Regardless of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (opens in new tab), the place GSC Sport World is predicated, work on Stalker 2: Coronary heart of Chornobyl has continued after a short pause (opens in new tab), albeit at a slower tempo: It is at the moment anticipated to be out someday in 2023.
:contrast(5):saturation(1.16)/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fa521a821-8701-47e1-a6c6-ab251c2e75ff "Razzie Awards 2025: Cate Blanchett scores rare nomination during awards season")
