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. The game's popularity overwhelmed the network infrastructure.
A Nation Enters the Zone
The game's November 20th launch saw a massive surge in simultaneous downloads, resulting in a dramatic decrease in internet speed across Ukraine. Major internet providers, Tenet and Triolan, confirmed the issue on their Telegram channels, attributing the slowdown to the overwhelming demand for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Even after successful downloads, many players experienced slow login times and difficulties accessing the game. The widespread internet disruption lasted for several hours.
GSC Game World, the Ukrainian developer, expressed both pride and surprise at the event. Creative director Mariia Grygorovych stated, "It was tough for the country, and the internet disruption was a negative, but it was also amazing!" She emphasized the positive impact on the morale of Ukrainians, highlighting the game's contribution to a sense of national pride and shared experience.
The game's popularity is undeniable. Within just two days of release, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 sold over one million copies globally, despite acknowledged performance issues and bugs. This remarkable success is particularly significant in Ukraine, the game's country of origin.
GSC Game World, operating from offices in Kyiv and Prague, faced numerous challenges during development, including delays caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite these hurdles, the studio successfully launched the game in November and remains committed to addressing bugs and optimizing performance through ongoing updates. A third major patch was released earlier this week.
