According to recent reports, a group of Russian hackers going by the name “Vestnik TSS” have leaked unreleased game material related to the highly anticipated first-person shooter, STALKER 2. The hackers have threatened to release more material if their demands are not met. The Ukrainian game studio, GSC Game World, responsible for developing the game now faces a new challenge as it prepares for its 2023 release.
The hackers have demanded that GSC Game World changes its attitude towards players from Russia and Belarus, apologize for their perceived “unworthy attitude” towards ordinary players from these countries, and bring back RU-localization to the game, among other requests. In exchange for not releasing “tens of gigabytes” of unreleased game material, GSC Game World has until March 15 to meet the hackers’ demands.
The leaked material is said to include the full story, cutscenes, concept art, and global maps. As of yet, GSC Game World has not responded to the hackers’ ultimatum.
STALKER 2 has faced numerous obstacles during its development, including financial constraints and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has further complicated matters, with some developers working on the game while also fighting to defend their country.
Despite incidents like this being unfortunately common in the gaming industry, the timing of the ultimatum is particularly challenging for GSC Game World, given the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to release in 2023 on PC and Xbox Series X.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl is a first-person shooter survival horror game set in a post-apocalyptic world. It is a sequel to the STALKER series that started in 2007. The game features an open-world environment with dynamic weather, a day-night cycle, and radiation effects. Players can explore various locations such as abandoned buildings, underground tunnels, and mutant-infested forests.
The game’s story follows a new protagonist named Skif who joins one of the factions in the Zone, a contaminated area around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Players can interact with other characters, complete quests, and influence the outcome of the story through their choices. The game also has multiple endings depending on the player’s actions.
GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio that created the original STALKER games, is currently developing the game. The game was first announced in 2010 but was canceled in 2012 due to financial issues. It was revived in 2018 with a new engine and a new vision. The game is expected to release in December 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.