The highly anticipated STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl by GSC Game World is finally going to be released at the end of this month after many, many delays. The war between Russia and Ukraine was one of the biggest delays that plagued the game’s development. In fact, the game’s title was changed from Chernobyl to Chornobyl to avoid any issues that could arise as a result of using it. Unfortunately, it seems as though the different issues concerning STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl have yet to lessen.
According to an article by Daily Storm, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Anton Gorelkin, states that the game might be completely banned in Russia. One reason given was because of potential ‘extremist content’ in the game.
“I believe that STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has every chance of being officially banned in Russia. I don’t think, however, that this will happen based only on the fact that the developers of the video game support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. But I do not rule out that if illegal information (extremism, justification of terrorism, incitement of ethnic hatred, etc.) is found in the game content after its release, the most severe measures will be taken.”
Unfortunately, it seems these measures will also extend to anyone who purchases the game. If a person who purchases the game is notified that the funds from the purchase will go to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they can be accused of treason. However, it will be difficult to accuse anyone of treason because it needs to be proven that they wanted the money to go to Ukraine forces, according to lawyer and human rights activist Mikhail Mushailov.
“If a person is properly notified from open sources that the money from the purchase of the game will go to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, then I am afraid that law enforcement agencies may be interested in the buyers. <…> Your ignorance will be shattered into pieces by the results of counterintelligence and operational-search activities. From them, it is quite possible that it will follow that you knew everything, understood, discussed it with someone, a couple of secret witnesses will be found – and that’s it, you have arrived.”
This isn’t exclusive to STALKER 2, this punishemt might extend to anyone in Russia who chooses to purchase a game from the Ukrainian gaming industry. Developer GSC Game World had revealed in 2022 that they would not distribute the game in Russia but, of course, that doesn’t mean that it won’t somehow find its way there. There is even information on the internet specifically for trying to find roundabout ways of purchasing the game.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will be available on PC and Xbox on November 20.
