Ukrainian Internet Slowed as 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2' Release Surges Popularity

The immense popularity of the survival horror shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, in Ukraine caused a significant nationwide internet slowdown. The game's November 20th launch overwhelmed Ukrainian internet providers Tenet and Triolan, leading to dramatically reduced speeds in the evening. Triolan attributed the issue to the massive surge in simultaneous downloads. Even after downloading, players encountered login and loading difficulties. The widespread internet disruption lasted for hours before resolving.

GSC Game World, the Ukrainian developer, expressed both pride and surprise at the event. Creative director Mariia Grygorovych commented on the overwhelming demand, stating that it was "a bad thing because the internet is important, but at the same time it's like whoa!" She emphasized the positive impact of bringing joy to Ukrainians during challenging times.

The game's success is undeniable, reaching one 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, operating from Kyiv and Prague, faced challenges due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which caused multiple launch delays. Despite these obstacles, the studio released the game in November and remains dedicated to addressing bugs and performance issues through ongoing updates, with a third major patch released recently.