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

The survival horror shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, achieved phenomenal success in its home country, causing a significant nationwide internet slowdown. Let's delve into the launch details and developer insights.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Overwhelms Ukraine's Internet Infrastructure

A Nation Enters The Zone

The game's immense popularity in Ukraine resulted in a widespread internet disruption. On November 20th, launch day, Ukrainian internet providers Tenet and Triolan reported a dramatic drop in internet speeds during the evening, directly attributed to the simultaneous downloads by a massive number of Ukrainian players. Triolan's statement, as translated by ITC, explained the slowdown as a consequence 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 as players completed their downloads. GSC Game World, the developer, expressed both pride and surprise at this event.

Creative director Mariia Grygorovych shared, "It was tough for the whole country, and the internet slowdown is a negative, but at the same time, it's amazing!" She continued, emphasizing the positive impact: "For our team, the most important thing is that we brought a little joy to people in Ukraine. We accomplished something positive for our homeland."

The game's popularity is undeniable, with over 1 million copies sold within just two days of its release. Despite performance issues and bugs, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 sold exceptionally well globally, particularly in Ukraine.

GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio operating from Kyiv and Prague, faced challenges bringing the game to market due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which caused multiple launch delays. Despite these obstacles, the November release was a triumph. The studio remains committed to addressing bugs and optimizing performance through ongoing updates; the third major patch was released earlier this week.