Kyiv-based developer GSC Game World has faced shortage of significant hurdles during the development of open world shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, brought about primarily by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and related issues are continuing to plague the developer even now. Recently, group of players in Russia illegally gained access to data from the game and threatened to leak it online, and GSC Game World has now issued a response in a statement on Twitter.
The developer says that it has been “enduring constant cyberattacks for more than a year” and that it has “faced blackmail, acts of aggression, hacks, attempts to hurt players and fans, and efforts to damage the development process, or the reputation” of the company, but adds that “attempts to blackmail or intimidate” it are “completely futile”.
The developer has also asked fans to ignore any potential leaks in the future, saying that distributing leaked outdated or work-in-progress data won’t be representative of the final game, and asks fans for patience.
“In the event of any leaks, we ask that you refrain from watching or distributing information about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl,” the developer writes. “Outdated or work-in-progress materials may dilute the impression of the final idea that we have put into the game. We encourage you to stay patient and wait for the official release for the best experience possible. We believe that you will love it.”
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is due out sometime this year for Xbox Series X/S and PC.