STALKER 2 Could be Banned in Russia

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Key Takeaways

  • The Russian government warns of a potential STALKER 2 ban due to anti-Russian sentiments or terrorism justification.
  • STALKER 2 has gone gold despite GSC Game World’s struggles developing amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the celebration may be delayed for players in Russia.
  • A legal advisor warns of potential consequences for Russians bypassing the ban should it end up taking effect.

As a long-time fan of the STALKER series, I find myself in a peculiar predicament with the upcoming release of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The excitement and anticipation have been building for years, but recent news about potential bans in Russian territory due to anti-Russian sentiments or terrorism justifications has left me feeling rather uneasy.

As the launch date for STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl nears, the Russian government has cautioned players within its borders that the game may be prohibited if it contains anti-Russian views or encourages terrorism. The development of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl was delayed by about two years due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as the studio behind it, GSC Game World, is based in Kyiv.

Fortunately, against all expectations, GSC Game World has continued developing the game, and STALKER 2 has recently reached its final production stage, delighting fans of the series and sparking anticipation for what’s to come next. However, recent announcements from the Russian government may necessitate a delay in celebration for some gamers.

According to VGC, Anton Gorelki, a Russian State Duma Deputy, mentioned in an interview with RIA Novosti that severe actions might be taken against a particular game if it promotes terrorism, contains anti-Russian views, or portrays the government as extremist. Potential consequences could include a full ban of the game within Russia, which may disappoint fans eager for the game, particularly following the impressive unveiling of STALKER 2’s open world earlier this year.

Russian Government Could Ban STALKER 2 in Russian Territory

The possibility of a complete ban on the game in Russian territory is undeniably bad news for anyone within the country, especially due to the potential legal consequences involved. Legal advisor Mikhail Mushailev recently said that, in the case of a complete ban, Russians who buy the game through a VPN or similar means could be deemed as supporters of hostile forces. This, along with the fact that GSC Game World recently stated that the Xbox Series S was struggling to maintain a locked 30 FPS in STALKER 2, might greatly impact sales upon launch.

Fortunately, there’s some good news to balance things out: It was confirmed that STALKER 2 will allow modding on both PC and Xbox platforms, offering an abundance of possibilities for players. The anticipation surrounding this game is palpable, with long-time fans of the series eagerly awaiting its release on November 20.

Excitedly, I’ve started pre-loading STALKER 2 on my gaming rig! With a massive 147.6 GB file in progress, I’m among the many eager fans who can’t wait to dive into the game as soon as it drops. The anticipation is high, but we’ll have to see if any content issues might lead to a ban from the Russian government and potentially impact sales. Only time will tell!

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2024-11-15 22:43