Russian Fans Threaten to Leak Stolen Data from Ukrainian Game S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2
With the Russia-Ukraine tensions rising, and the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 nearing, it seems as if there is one more issue for GSC to deal with.
Recently, a group of Russian S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 fans claimed to have stolen a significant amount of data from the unreleased Ukrainian game, including a full story, cutscene descriptions, various concept art, global maps, and much more.
The group, called the Vestnik TSS, threatened to leak dozens of gigabytes of the game’s data if the game developers did not meet their demands.
Demands from the Hackers
The list of demands that were posted on VK.com, a Russian social networking site, revealed that the group was asking GSC Game World, the game developer, to change its attitude towards Russian and Belarusian players and bring back the Russian localization.
The group also demanded an apology for the unworthy attitude towards ordinary players from these countries and the unbanning of a user named NF Star (a member of Vestnik) in the company’s official Discord.
With all the serious demands out there, this one seems a bit odd, considering how one could simply create a new Discord profile.
The group gave the game developers until March 15th to make changes in the company’s policy towards acceptance of its fans, no matter where they come from, as well as the return of the Russian localization, if not by the release, then at least in the form of an add-on.
Consequences for the Developers
While there is no assurance that the data won’t be leaked even if the studio complies with their demands, the group claimed that it had not made all the material available to the public (right now), indicating its friendly attitude towards the developers.
The thing is that the situation is complicated by the fact that the game developers are Ukrainian, and there has been tension between Russia and Ukraine for many years. However, this is not the first time that Russian fans have demanded the return of Russian localization in games.
As for what all of this means, the leaking of game materials before the official release can be a significant setback for game developers. It can result in the game’s cancellation or postponement and cause financial losses. However, it is also a breach of privacy and can lead to legal consequences (more financial disturbances).
Were the Hackers Right in How they Presented their Demands?
The demands made by the group raise an important issue of respecting players from all countries and not letting politics interfere with gaming.
However, the game developers have the right to create their games in the way they see fit, and fans should respect that.
The situation with the stolen data from S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 is a reminder of the importance of respecting players from all countries and not letting politics interfere with gaming. The demands made by the group may have been well-intentioned, but they were not justified.
Let us hope that the game developers and fans can find a way to resolve the issue without any leaks or legal consequences. Till then, we will keep you informed of any developments as new information becomes available.
