Stalker 2 facing a ban threat in Russia ahead of its release

Stalker 2 is another anticipated game release of 2024 which was hit by many delays. Now that the game is finally set to release on November 20, it once again faces another issue, this time a complete ban in Russia. The developers of the game, GSC Game World, is based in Kyiv and is regarded as one of the reasons.

“The game STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl may be officially banned in Russia, and Russian citizens may face criminal liability for distributing it,” said State Duma deputy Anton Gorelkin while talking to RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned domestic news agency.

Gorelkin further explained that these measures were taken not only because the game is made in Ukraine but also support their armed forces. “If illegal information, extremism, justification of terrorism, incitement of ethnic hatred, etc. is found in the game, then severe measures will be taken for its distribution, and violators will be held accountable,” he added.

People are even warned that those purchasing the game using a VPN or any other means will be considered as supporter of hostile forces. This comes as bad news for people who want to play the game in Russia, as they risk getting punished.

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Stalker 2 fans finally getting a solid release

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine also played a huge part in the game getting delayed, with first release planned back in late 2022. However, despite the situation, the developers managed to finish the game, and it will be available globally very soon.

Stalker 2 is a sequel for the long-running Stalker franchise, which as survival horror based around the fictional aftermath of the Chernobyl incident. While Russia is all set to outright ban the game, it won’t be as easy to play for regular people, as the game requires a whooping 150 GB installation. Preload for the game are now live, so it’s best to clear space and download before release.