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. This unexpected consequence highlights the game's immense popularity.

A Nation Online, All Playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

The game's November 20th launch overwhelmed Ukrainian internet infrastructure. Providers Tenet and Triolan reported a dramatic drop in internet speeds during the evening, directly attributed to the massive influx of simultaneous downloads. Triolan's statement, as translated, cited "increased load on the channels due to the massive interest in the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R."

Even after downloads completed, login and load times remained slow for many players. The internet disruption lasted for hours before resolving. GSC Game World, the developer, expressed both pride and surprise at this unprecedented event. Creative director Mariia Grygorovych commented, "It was hard for the whole country, and it's a bad thing because the internet is important, but at the same time it's like whoa! For us and our team, what's most important is, for some people in Ukraine, they feel a little bit happier than they were before release. We did something for our home country, something good for them."

Record-Breaking Sales Despite Challenges

The game's popularity is undeniable, with over 1 million copies sold within just two days of release. This remarkable achievement comes despite acknowledged performance issues and bugs.

GSC Game World, based in Kyiv and Prague, faced challenges in releasing the game, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine causing multiple delays. Despite these setbacks, the studio remained committed to its launch and is actively addressing reported bugs through regular updates, with a third major patch released recently.