S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 may be banned in Russia if it "justifies terrorism," says government official

by Danny Craig  · 
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 may be banned in Russia if it "justifies terrorism," says government official
GSC Game World

A Russian government official has said that if S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, developed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World, features an “anti-Russian” sentiment or “justifies terrorism,” it could be banned in the country.

The details:

  • In a statement to Russian state-owned publication RIA Novosti (via VGC), Anton Gorelki, Deputy Chairman of the government's State Duma committee, stated that "tough measures" will be put in place if the game contains "extremist" or "anti-Russian" content.

  • Gorelki added that GSC Game World has been vocal about its support for Ukrainian armed forces since Russia's invasion of the country in early 2022, which can also lead to a ban. The invasion forced the studio to relocate to Prague, and the game's title was changed to incorporate the Ukrainian spelling of Chornobyl. The developer has also shared the dark reality of how the attack has affected the Ukrainian people through various videos and posts.

  • Legal advisor Mikhail Mushailev has also warned players that if Stalker 2 is banned, purchasing the game using a VPN or other means may be perceived as financially supporting a "hostile force." In the eyes of Russian law, this would be considered terrorism since a player would be knowingly purchasing an item that could indirectly benefit the Ukrainian military.

  • GSC Game World blocked all sales of its titles in Russia following the invasion, and after confirming that Stalker 2 would not be localized for the region, it became the target of a major cyber attack. The attack resulted in various assets and builds of the game leaking online, but despite this, the studio refused to give in to the attackers' demands and asked fans to avoid the leaked content as development continued.

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