The highly anticipated survival horror shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, achieved such phenomenal success in its home country that it temporarily overwhelmed Ukraine's internet infrastructure. This article delves into the game's launch, its impact, and the developers' reaction.
A Nation Enters The Zone
The massive popularity of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 on its November 20th release date led to a significant slowdown of internet speeds across Ukraine. Major internet providers, Tenet and Triolan, reported normal daytime speeds dramatically decreasing in the evening, directly attributed to the simultaneous downloads by countless Ukrainian players. Triolan's statement, as translated, 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 experienced difficulties logging in and slow loading times. The internet disruption persisted for several hours before resolving as players completed their downloads. GSC Game World, the developer, expressed both pride and astonishment at this unprecedented event.
Creative director Mariia Grygorovych shared, "It was tough for the whole country, and the internet outage was a negative consequence, but at the same time, it was incredible!" She added, "For our team, the most rewarding aspect is that we brought a little joy to people in Ukraine during a difficult time. We accomplished something positive for our homeland."
The game's immense popularity is undeniable, with sales reaching an impressive 1 million copies just two days after launch. Despite acknowledged performance issues and bugs, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 achieved remarkable global sales, particularly strong within Ukraine.
GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio operating from Kyiv and Prague, faced challenges in releasing the game due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which caused multiple launch delays. However, the team's dedication resulted in a November release. GSC remains committed to addressing bugs and optimizing performance through regular updates; a third major patch was released earlier this week.
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