S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Popularity Surges, Dampening 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. Let's delve into the launch details and the developers' reactions.

A Nationwide Internet Phenomenon

The sheer popularity of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 on its November 20th launch day caused significant internet slowdowns across Ukraine. Major internet providers, Tenet and Triolan, reported normal daytime speeds drastically reduced in the evening, directly attributed to the massive influx of simultaneous downloads. Triolan's Telegram announcement, as translated by ITC, cited "increased load on the channels due to the massive interest in the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R." as the cause.

Even after successfully downloading the game, many players encountered login and loading delays. This widespread internet disruption persisted for hours before resolving as downloads completed. The developers at GSC Game World expressed both pride and astonishment at this unprecedented event.

Creative director Mariia Grygorovych shared, "It was tough for the entire country, and the internet disruption was certainly a negative, but at the same time, it was incredible!" She continued, emphasizing the positive impact, "For our team, the most important thing is that we brought a little joy to people in Ukraine. We achieved something positive for our homeland."

This overwhelming popularity translated into impressive sales figures: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 sold a remarkable 1 million copies within just two days of its release. Despite acknowledged performance issues and bugs, the game's success was undeniable, particularly in Ukraine.

GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio operating from offices in Kyiv and Prague, faced numerous challenges bringing the game to market. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine caused multiple launch delays, but the team persevered, releasing the game in November. They remain committed to addressing the game's bugs and performance issues through ongoing updates, with a third major patch recently released.