March 11th, a post on a Russian fan page for the stalker series bragged about hacking the developing stalker 2and began to threaten the game’s Ukrainian developers. Those developers have now responded and basically told them to go to hell.

The post and hack appear to be a response to the decision by the developers at GSC Game World not to localize the next shooter for the Russian market, and to the way Russian members of the series community are being treated. following the latest invasion of Ukraine by your country. year. Hackers ask GSC to “reconsider its attitude towards players from Belarus and Russia” and “apologize for the unworthy attitude towards ordinary players from these countries.”

Regarding the lack of a Russian localization, they write: “Fans are waiting for it from their official company. There is no need to spoil people’s game because of politics.”

The hackers say they have in their possession concept art, story details, maps and “much more,” totaling “tens of gigabytes” of data. They say that if GSC Game World has not responded by March 15, they will post these images and information on the Internet.

Well, GSC Game World, who a game developer was killed in action in December fighting the Russian invasion— have responded, just not in the way hackers probably expected. In a statement released todaysay the developers (their capitals, not mine):

RECENTLY, OUR EMPLOYEE’S ACCOUNT FOR A COLLECTIVE WORK APP WITH IMAGES WAS HACKED. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WAS CLAIMED BY A RUSSIAN SOCIAL NETWORK COMMUNITY. THEY THREATEN TO USE THE DATA OBTAINED FOR BLACKMAIL AND INTIMIDATION. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO HACK AND LEAK OUR DATA, INCLUDING PERSONAL INFORMATION. WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING CONSTANT CYBER ATTACKS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. WE HAVE DEALT WITH BLACKMAIL, ACTS OF AGGRESSION, HACKING, ATTEMPTS TO HURT PLAYERS AND FANS, AND EFFORTS TO DAMAGE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OR THE REPUTATION OF OUR COMPANY.

WE ARE A UKRAINIAN COMPANY AND LIKE MOST UKRAINIANS, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY THINGS THAT ARE SO MUCH SCARIER: HOUSES DESTROYED, LIVES RUINED AND THE DEATH OF OUR LOVED ONES. ATTEMPTS TO CHANT US OR INTIMIDATE US ARE TOTALLY FUTILE.

OUR UNBREAKABLE COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT OUR COUNTRY REMAINS UNCHANGED: WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT UKRAINE. AND THIS WILL NOT CHANGE IN THE FUTURE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

DESPITE THE ATTEMPTS TO BREAK OURSELVES, WE REMAIN STRONG AND BRAVE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN SOMETHING AND LOVE IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU HAVE TO DEFEND IT AT ALL COSTS.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. HOWEVER, THESE CHALLENGES ONLY ENCOURAGE US TO WORK EVEN HARDER BECAUSE

WE BELIEVE THE TRUTH IS ON OUR SIDE. EVIL WILL NEVER WIN.

IN CASE OF LEAKS, WE ASK YOU TO REFRAIN FROM VIEWING OR DISTRIBUTING ANY INFORMATION ABOUT STALKER 2: HEART OF CHORNOBYL. OUTDATED AND IN-PROGRESS MATERIALS CAN DILUTE THE IMPRESSION OF THE FINAL IDEA WE PUT INTO THE GAME. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP PATIENCE AND WAIT FOR THE OFFICIAL RELEASE FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE. WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE IT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST THANKS TO OUR LOYAL COMMUNITY. WE ARE OVERWHELMED BY THE RESPONSE AND SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM YOU. THANKS FOR THAT. OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GSC GAME WORLD TEAM.

OUR MISSION IS TO COMMIT ALL OUR STRENGTH AND PASSION TO REALIZE THE PROJECT AND DELIVER IT, DESPITE ALL THE OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD. YOUR SUPPORT IS OUR INSPIRATION.

GLORY TO UKRAINE.

SINCERELY,

THE GSC WORLD GAMING TEAM

That’s a “no”, then.