STALCRAFT: X will officially become STALZONE - EXBO explained the reasons for the large-scale rebranding

A multi-year struggle for its own brand.

EXBO announced the biggest changes in the history of its online shooter: in the near future, STALCRAFT: X will change its name to STALZONE. The developers emphasized that the decision is not related to legal claims from Blizzard, as some players assumed. The reason is a multi-year struggle for the rights to their own brand.

According to company representatives, attempts to register the STALCRAFT trademark lasted almost four years. During this time, EXBO managed to participate in lawsuits, argue with Rospatent, organize sociological studies, and try to prove that STALCRAFT and StarCraft are unrelated and target different audiences.

One of the steps forward was the addition of the "X" prefix to the game's name, but this was not enough. The developers note that even after a partial rebranding, legal risks remained. Moreover, after a major advertising campaign in the summer of 2024, the project faced problems on YouTube, where its thematic category was removed due to similar names.

Against the backdrop of the protracted dispute, the studio had prepared several scenarios in advance, hoping to succeed at least in Russian jurisdiction. However, after the cassation appeal was rejected in March 2026, the company made the final decision to completely abandon the STALCRAFT brand and switch to a new name — STALZONE.

As EXBO notes, the rebranding is part of a larger transformation not only of the company but also of the game itself. Over the past year, the team has significantly updated the project: graphics and lighting have been improved, character models, starting locations, and the system for introducing new players to the game have been reworked. The developers also sought to get rid of elements that resembled the project's Minecraft roots.

The name change will open a new page in the game's development. EXBO plans active promotion of STALZONE in Western and Asian markets already in July. In addition, major announcements and further changes within the company are planned for the fall, which should accelerate the project's development.

The studio believes that the new brand will ultimately bring more benefit than harm to the game. According to the developers, STALZONE will allow them to finally get rid of old associations and emphasize the project's independence. Today, the game runs on its own engine, a team of approximately 400 people is working on it, and the long-term goal remains to become one of the prominent representatives of the MMO shooter genre. The new protected brand, EXBO is confident, should become an important foundation for the project's further growth and international promotion.