As the release date for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl comes closer, the Russian government has warned players in Russian territory that the game might be banned if it contains anti-Russian sentiments or justifies terrorism.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been delayed for roughly two years due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the developer, GSC Game World, was based in Kyiv at the time.
Luckily, despite the overwhelming odds, GSC Game World has managed to keep working on the game, and STALKER 2 has recently gone gold, making fans of the franchise very happy and excited to see what comes next. However, with the recent news released by the Russian government, the celebration might have to wait for some players.
As reported by VGC, in a recent interview with Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti, State Duma Deputy Anton Gorelki said that several strict measures could be implemented if the game justifies terrorism, features anti-Russian sentiment, or makes the government appear extremist. Among the potential measures discussed, there’s a complete ban on the title in Russian territory, which is bad news for the country’s inhabitants who are excited about the game, especially after STALKER 2 showed off its stunning 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.
Luckily, not everything’s bad news, as it was recently confirmed that STALKER 2 will support mods on both PC and Xbox systems, which is very exciting and opens a whole world of possibilities for players. The hype around the game is tangible, and many longtime fans of the franchise are very excited about getting their hands on the game on November 20.
With STALKER 2 pre-loading now available, many players are already downloading the whopping 147.6 GB file to get ahead and play the game without having to wait for hours upon its release. Whether the Russian government will find this title’s content worthy of banning and how it will affect its sales remains to be seen.
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By Gerardo Molina 15 November 2024
