Moscow fights against computer game: The Russian parliament is warning the public that the distribution of a Ukrainian game could be considered a crime. Politicians are considering banning itand Russian trolls are conducting a disinformation campaign against the game “Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl” by the Ukrainian producer GSC Game World. Supporting the studio may be considered “high treason” in Russia.
Russian disinformation: The media describes that Russians are paid to write negative reviews about this item. Moreover, they spread fake news on social media that the Ukrainian game collects information about users to help identify people suitable for mobilization and sending to the front.
Ukrainians are going crazy: Meanwhile, in Ukraine the game is a real hit. On launch day, so many Ukrainian players wanted to download it that there were internet problems across the country. “Stalker 2” was a highly anticipated game. Its premiere was due to the ongoing war in Ukraine postponed many times.
Game from the middle of the war: The media describes the stories of creators. When the full-scale Russian invasion occurred, the team responsible for the game “Stalker 2” has split into two groups. Out of 180 people, as many as 139 decided to stay in Ukraine and fight for their homeland, and the rest went to the West. Some of them worked on the game full-time from a studio in Prague, and others during breaks between hostilities. Work on the game was also interrupted by, among others: numerous power outages.
Support for Ukraine: GSC Game World has repeatedly called for financial assistance to Ukraine. It raised 800,000 dollars on thing the Ukrainian charity Come Back Alive, which supplies the army with equipment, drones and medical supplies. It has not yet declared whether it plans to share profits with the Ukrainian army, but this is one of the concerns of Russians who would like to buy the game. If this happens, they may expose themselves to criminal liability. However, the studio doesn't really care about players from this country. Official sales in this country were refused and the Russian soundtrack was removed from the game.
What is the game “Stalker 2” about? “The Heart of Chernobyl” is another part of the game from the “Stalker” series. The action takes place in an alternative reality in which the second one occurred disaster nuclear power plant, which resulted in their appearance numerous mutated creatures and other unnatural phenomena. The player's task is to explore this world, collect artifacts and fight enemies.
Read also: “This is not a joke. Biedronka released its own simulator. It has already been played over a million times“.
Sources: : military.com, stalker2.com, gram.pl, online-games.pl, ign.com, BBC, jellyfish.io, 404media.What