Stalker 2: Coronary heart of Chornobyl is reportedly being focused by a Russian disinformation marketing campaign falsely claiming the post-apocalyptic shooter scans gamers’ computer systems with a purpose to assist the Ukranian authorities “find residents appropriate for mobilisation”.
As reported by 404 Media, the claims have been made in a one-minute video – stamped with a faux Wired watermark, however in actuality unconnected to the publication – that is being circulated on social media websites together with Telegram and despatched on to journalists’ inboxes.
The video falsely asserts “an embedded program was found in [Stalker 2]’s code that collects participant information and transmits it to [developer GSC Game World]’s servers”. It is claimed this information – mentioned to incorporate the machine title, IP tackle, and the present location of the participant – is “transmitted each second” with out the person’s data and handed to the Ukranian authorities, as a result of GSC “made a take care of the state” with a purpose to safe funding for Stalker 2. “It is higher to play utilizing a VPN or boycott this recreation on your personal security”, the video concludes.
404 Media says the video bears the hallmarks of an ongoing Russian disinformation marketing campaign, beforehand dubbed Operation Matryoshka, supposed to flood social media and journalists’ inboxes with “false tales that normally paint NATO nations and Ukraine in a nasty mild, waste reporters’ time, and make individuals mistrust information shops extra broadly.” Eurogamer has contacted GSC for touch upon the video at the moment being circulated.
As to why Stalker 2 is now being focused by a disinformation marketing campaign, that is doubtless right down to the sport having turn out to be one thing a logo of Ukranian resilience throughout Russian’s invasion of the nation (growth has continued all through the Russian bombardment, with some builders remaining in Kyiv whereas others have relocated to Prague), coupled with its current high-profile – and enormously profitable – launch throughout Xbox Sequence X/S and PC.
Stalker 2’s web site was beforehand blocked by the Russian authorities after GSC posted a message calling for an finish to its brutal invasion of Ukraine, and the studio has additionally been focused by Russian hackers who stole Stalker 2 growth materials and threatened it with blackmail. “We’re a Ukrainian firm,” GSC wrote on the time, “and like most Ukrainians, we’ve got skilled many issues which can be way more terrifying: destroyed homes, ruined lives, and the deaths of our family members. Makes an attempt to blackmail or intimidate us are utterly futile”.
Stalker 2 obtained a strong crucial reception when it launched final week, regardless of its important technical points – Eurogamer referred to as it a “compelling and sometimes busted survival shooter that frustrates and satisfies at alternating pitch” in our three star overview. Since then, GSC has pledged to repair the sport’s “tough edges”, beginning with a patch addressing over 650 points.
