S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's Popularity Overwhelms Ukraine's Internet

The highly anticipated survival horror shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, achieved such phenomenal success in its home country that it overwhelmed Ukraine's internet infrastructure. This article explores the game's launch, its impact, and the developers' reaction.

A Nationwide Internet Phenomenon

On November 20th, the release date of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Ukrainian internet service providers, Tenet and Triolan, reported significant speed drops in the evening. This was directly attributed to the massive number of simultaneous downloads by Ukrainian gamers eager to experience the game. Triolan's Telegram announcement, as translated, stated that the increased network load caused temporary slowdowns.

Even after successfully downloading the game, many players encountered login and loading issues. The internet slowdown persisted for several hours before resolving as downloads completed.

GSC Game World, the developers, expressed both pride and surprise at the event. Creative director Mariia Grygorovych stated, "It was tough for the whole country, and the internet disruption is a negative aspect, but it's also incredible!" She emphasized the positive impact, stating the game brought joy to many Ukrainians.

The game's immense popularity is undeniable. Within just two days of its launch, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 sold an impressive 1 million copies worldwide, with particularly strong sales in Ukraine. Despite known performance issues and bugs, its success was remarkable.

GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio with offices in Kyiv and Prague, faced challenges in releasing the game due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which caused multiple launch delays. However, they persevered, releasing the game in November and committing to addressing bugs and performance issues through regular updates; the third major patch was released earlier this week.