Game STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl was developed by a studio based in Ukraine. Therefore, getting the game will indirectly support a country that is still at war with Russia.
In production for many years, STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl is finally getting ready for release on Xbox and PC. The game saw lively development, mainly due to war in Ukraine. So the GSC Game World studio was based in Kyiv for a long time before it had to move to the Czech Republic. The company even had to regret it the disappearance of one of its employeesVolodymyr Yezhov, engaged and died at the front. She was also hacked.
So shop around Stalker 2 means indirect support to Ukraine, which the Russian government understood. As reported Game cult in an article published on November 15, referring to the government press agency, Russia condemns the acquisition of the game on its lands, knowing that GSC Game World no longer sells its products there (there are many sneaky ways to acquire them, e.g. VPN or import).
Stalker 2 or the commercial launch imbroglio
“ I think Stalker 2 officially has every chance to be banned in Russia “, MP Anton Gorelkin confided. If found, criminal action could be taken against those trying to obtain it STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl transmits illegal messages – such as extremism, advocacy of terrorism, incitement to ethnic hatred, etc. » And Anton Gorelkin reminds that Western publishers are not behind Ukraine when Russian studios are blocked in their home country. In short, the launch of the game is marked by political conflict, which will obviously hurt Russian players.
Of course, STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl it is not censored in France and you can buy it without any problems. It will even be available in Xbox Game Pass from its launch date, planned for November 20, 2024.
However, if you want to further support Ukraine, you have a choice of distribution platforms. We are thinking of the Microsoft Store, as we were reminded page X (ex-Twitter) Xbox News for Korea November 18. The Epic Games Store is also an alternative, keeping in mind that the price of the game is the same everywhere: €59.99.
Why buy STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl for example on the Microsoft Store rather than Steam? On the issue of taxes. Valve takes between 20 and 30% of the revenue generated (the higher they are, the lower the tax) compared to 12% for the Microsoft Store (from August 2021) and the Epic Games Store. This means that GSC Game World will receive more money from you if you don’t buy the game on Steam. A great way to show your support for a company that has suffered greatly.
GamesPlanet confirmed to us via email “ that he is the official distributor of the game “and that he” fairly rewards publishers directly “, recalling that they had given them money at the start of the war to ” help them move and complete the game “. Get 20% off with code STALKER.