S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Release Slowed Ukrainian Internet Because It Was So Popular

The highly anticipated survival horror shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, achieved phenomenal success in its home country, Ukraine, causing a significant nationwide internet slowdown. Let's delve into the details of this remarkable launch and the developers' reactions.

A Nation-Wide Gaming Phenomenon

The game's popularity overwhelmed Ukraine's internet infrastructure on its November 20th release date. Major internet providers, Tenet and Triolan, reported a dramatic decrease in internet speeds during the evening, directly attributed to the massive influx of simultaneous downloads. 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 successful downloads, many players experienced login and loading delays. The internet disruption lasted for hours before resolving. GSC Game World, the developers, expressed both pride and surprise at this unprecedented event.

Creative director Mariia Grygorovych shared, "It was tough for the whole country, and the internet slowdown was a negative aspect, but at the same time, it was incredible!" She further emphasized the positive impact, stating, "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."

This overwhelming popularity translated into impressive sales figures: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 sold an astounding 1 million copies within just two days of its release. Despite acknowledged performance issues and bugs, the game's global sales were exceptionally strong, particularly in Ukraine.

GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio with offices in Kyiv and Prague, faced challenges in bringing the game to market. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine caused multiple launch delays, but the team persevered, releasing the game in November. The studio remains dedicated to addressing the game's bugs and performance issues through ongoing patch releases, with a third major patch deployed earlier this week.