Headline: Stalker 2's Popularity Strains Ukraine's Internet

The survival horror shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, proved incredibly popular in its native Ukraine, causing a significant nationwide internet slowdown. Let's delve into the launch day details and the developers' reaction.

A Nation Enters The Zone

The game's massive popularity overwhelmed Ukraine's internet infrastructure. On November 20th, launch day, internet providers Tenet and Triolan reported significant speed drops in the evening, directly attributed to the simultaneous downloads by countless Ukrainian players. Triolan's Telegram statement, as translated, explained the slowdown as a result of "increased load on the channels due to the massive interest in the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R."

Even after downloading, many players encountered login and loading delays. The internet disruption lasted for hours before resolving. GSC Game World, the developer, expressed a mixture of pride and surprise at this unprecedented event.

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

The game's phenomenal success is undeniable: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 sold a remarkable 1 million copies within just two days of its release. Despite performance issues and bugs, sales were exceptionally strong globally, particularly in Ukraine.

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