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 Ukraine, causing a temporary nationwide internet slowdown due to its immense popularity. Let's delve into the launch details and the developers' reactions.

A Nation-Wide Gaming Frenzy

The simultaneous download surge from thousands of Ukrainian players on November 20th, the game's release date, overwhelmed internet providers Tenet and Triolan. Both companies reported significant speed reductions in the evening, directly attributing the issue to the massive influx of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 downloads. Triolan's Telegram announcement (as translated by ITC) stated: "Currently, there is a temporary decrease in Internet speed across the board. This is due to increased channel load from the huge interest in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. release."

Even after successfully downloading, many players experienced slow login times and loading issues. 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 entire country, and the internet disruption is undeniably 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 home country."

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

GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio with offices in Kyiv and Prague, faced challenges 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 committed to addressing bugs and optimizing performance, recently releasing its third major patch.