S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, the much anticipated prequel to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, will ship on August 29, 2008 according to developer GSC Game World. Clear Sky is set one year prior to Shadow of Chernobyl, and the Zone is far less stable. Levels and roads that were relatively safe in Shadow of Chernobyl are no longer as dependable, and anomylous activity is higher than ever before. Among the many changes in Clear Sky are - an improved version of the X-Ray game engine, DirectX 10 rendering, and an improved A-Life artificial intelligence engine. The developers have also included some of the more popular user mods from Shadow of Chernobyl - like weapon and armor repair, and a reworked HUD and PDA. In addition to availability through standard retail outlets, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky will also be available via digital download from Steam.