Stalker 2, the highly anticipated game from Ukrainian developer GSC Game World, has become a new focal point for Russian disinformation campaigns. Recently, journalists reported receiving a video purporting to come from Wired magazine, claiming that the game secretly collects data from players to assist the Ukrainian government in identifying citizens eligible for military service. According to the video, an embedded program within Stalker 2 gathers information on IP addresses, device details, and player locations, transmitting this data to the developers’ servers. The supposed motive? To aid Ukraine’s mobilization efforts as part of a funding arrangement between GSC Game World and the Ukrainian state. Viewers are urged to boycott the game or play using a VPN to protect their privacy.
However, none of this is true. The video is not from Wired, and the claims of data mining are baseless. Instead, the video comes from the same network of anti-Ukrainian trolls behind other recent disinformation campaigns, like those involving Matryoshka and Doppelganger. These trolls have a well-documented history of impersonating Western news outlets to spread propaganda that tarnishes Ukraine’s image, exacerbates Western skepticism toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and occupies the time of journalists and fact-checkers with false stories.
This recent campaign is just one example of the broader strategy employed by Russian disinformation networks. They flood journalists with a mix of absurd fake stories—such as one about a Ukrainian artist trying to cut down the Eiffel Tower or another claiming a looter tried to rob the Paris catacombs—and then push these stories across social media channels like Telegram. These bogus reports often go viral before they can be debunked, distracting media outlets and amplifying the disinformation.
Stalker’s role in this campaign is no coincidence. As one of Ukraine’s most successful video game franchises, Stalker has become an emblem of Ukrainian resilience. The series’ latest installment, Stalker 2, is particularly symbolic due to the circumstances surrounding its development. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, GSC Game World relocated its operations to the Czech Republic, and some developers even paused their work to fight against the invasion. Tragically, one of them, Volodymyr Yezhov, was killed in action. The very fact that Stalker 2 was completed and released amidst such adversity has made it a symbol of national perseverance.
It’s therefore unsurprising that Russian propaganda would target Stalker. What’s notable, however, is the specific call to action within the video urging viewers to boycott the game or play with a VPN. This part of the message seems aimed not just at Western audiences but also at Russian ones. The implication is that the Russian government is wary of its citizens engaging with content that might humanize Ukrainians or highlight their culture and struggles in a positive light.
Stalker is immensely popular in Russia, where even older generations are familiar with it. Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Stalker 2 was highly anticipated in the country. However, GSC Game World’s decision not to include a Russian-language version of the game sparked frustration and even led to leaks of console ports of the original games as a form of protest. By sowing confusion and fear about the game’s true nature, the Russian government aims to prevent its citizens from engaging with content that could challenge their perception of the Ukrainian people.
In conclusion, while Stalker 2 continues to stand as a testament to Ukraine’s resilience, it also underscores the extent to which Russian disinformation campaigns will go to manipulate narratives and sow division. This latest attempt, camouflaged as a public service announcement from Wired, is yet another chapter in a larger effort to undermine Ukraine’s culture and foster doubt within both domestic and international audiences.
