Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a story about resilience and making something out of the hostile environment you’re placed in. GSC Game World personifies this sentiment by putting out one of the most anticipated games of the year in a war zone. The game’s development was hindered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the developer still managed to publish the game, which despite its current state, is a feat worthy of recognition.
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We caught up with GSC Game World at Gamescom this year, discussing the long journey to get Stalker 2 off the ground.
However, if reports are to be believed, it seems that the game is now specifically being targeted as a form of propaganda. According to 404 Media, a well known Russian misinformation cell has created a video that claims that Stalker 2 is being used by the Ukrainian government to enlist soldiers for the war (thanks Eurogamer).
A Fake Video Claims Stalker 2 Helps Ukraine Enlist Troops
According to the report, the misinformation video also features the watermark of Wired and is being sent via Telegram and directly to journalists via email.
“Ukrainian game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 helps the government locate citizens suitable for mobilization,” says the text on the video with Stalker 2 gameplay in the background. “An embedded program was discovered in the game’s code that collects player data and transmits it to the developer’s servers. The program collects data about the device, name, IP address and current location of the player. The information is transmitted every second.”
The video goes on to claim that in return for funding the game, the developer GSC Game World has made a deal with the Ukrainian government to collect data that will help find recruits for the war against Russia. “It’s better to play using a VPN or boycott this game for your own safety,” concludes the video.
This isn’t the first time that the game has been targeted like this. In the past, hackers threatened to leak information about the game due to the developer’s pro-Ukraine sentiments. GSC Game World even changed the name of the game to use the Ukrainian spelling of ‘Chornobyl’.
The developers have been dealing with a war right in their backyard. It’s unlikely that attempts like this will faze them, and the great reception that Stalker 2 has received in spite of all the bugs is proof that these attempts are futile.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the long-awaited follow-up to the apocalyptic first-person shooter. As a Stalker, you must venture into the deadly Exclusion Zone, contending with mutants and warring factions alike, in search of valuable artifacts.
