How Stalker 2’s Launch (Actually) Broke The Internet

Stalker 2: Coronary heart of Chornoby has loved a typically optimistic total reception, regardless of launching with a couple of points. However Stalker 2 launched to near-unanimous reward from gamers in Ukraine, the nation through which the sport is ready and the homeland of its builders. In truth, Ukrainian gamers have been so desperate to get their fingers on GSC Sport World’s newest entry within the Stalker collection that the sport’s launch fairly actually broke the web.

Ukrainian gamers flocked to the sport as quickly because it launched, leading to nationwide web outages within the hours after its launch, GSC artistic director and govt producer Mariia Grygorovych mentioned in a recent interview.

“It is a dangerous factor as a result of the Internet is vital, however on the identical time it is like, ‘Whoa!'” Grygorovych mentioned of Ukrainian gamers’ enthusiasm for the sport. “It touched everybody within the nation.”

Grygorovych and the remainder of the event crew at GSC handled some really harrowing experiences throughout the creation of Stalker 2, together with a fireplace at GSC’s studio brought on by Russian shelling, and the death of colleague Volodymyr Yezhov, who misplaced his life preventing Russian forces. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added an infinite quantity of pressure on the studio and its builders, a few of whom in the end made the troublesome selection to depart their house nation to proceed engaged on the sport in security. At the moment, GSC Sport World’s employees is cut up between two areas: an workplace in Prague, and one in Kiev.

The sophisticated (and infrequently heartbreaking) story of Stalker 2’s growth is detailed in a documentary created by its builders. Entitled War Game: The Making of Stalker 2, the movie paperwork the immense hurdles GSC devs confronted as they fought to complete the sequel to the long-lasting Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl. However Stalker 2 was a labor of affection, and Grygorovych says the sacrifices have been value it.

“For us and our crew, what’s most vital is [that] for some individuals in Ukraine, they really feel slightly bit happier 1733442764 than they have been earlier than [Stalker 2’s] launch,” Grygorovych mentioned of the sport’s significance in Ukraine. “We did one thing for our house nation, one thing good for them.”