Anton Kukhtitsky, lead concept artist at GSC Game World, shared insights into the creation process of the pseudo-deer mutant in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. His post included illustrations showcasing early designs of the creature.
The core idea behind the pseudo-deer was to create an armored creature that wouldn’t look like a fantasy monster but would seamlessly fit into the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe. One source of inspiration came from night photographs of wandering moose.
The first image showcases the final version of the pseudo-deer, featuring massive antlers and growths covering its body. It also includes concepts for other variations, such as a parasite deer (reminiscent of the infected creatures from Resident Evil 4) and a "wolf in sheep’s clothing," which literally hides inside another creature. The latter design featured a post-death phase where the head would rise on its antlers and attack the player until the umbilical cord was severed.
Earlier, GSC also shared a detailed look at the witcher medallion in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.