In a discussion within the Bulletin of the Same Stalker community, there is a dispute over responsibility for a test build leak of the shooter STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The group claims they are not a faction of Russian hackers, a point disputed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World, which has publicly denied involvement in leaking the early version. A social post on the platform in contact has amplified these claims, drawing attention to the controversy surrounding the test build release.
Visitors and players have repeatedly asserted that the team behind STALKER 2 is not aligned with Russia, and that the accusation of hackers is unfounded. The community participants argue that no concrete evidence has been provided to prove the defense, and that the statement about attacks lasting a year and a half is unsubstantiated in their view. The back-and-forth underscores the stress around a highly anticipated game and the sensitivity of any breach connected to its development.
According to Vestnik, the developers themselves at GSC Game World are said to be responsible for the leak, with claims that an early build was uploaded to the network without proper privacy settings. The group administrators allege that the compilation was shared via a torrent six days prior and that no external breach of the studio’s infrastructure occurred. If true, this would shift the conversation from a cyber attack to a misconfiguration or accidental exposure, which can happen when project files are not properly protected in the rush to share progress with testers and partners.
The first discoveries of the leak reportedly came from American data miners on Discord, who then alerted the wider community. Soon after, Vestnik participants traced the public-domain structure of the file to its source, noting the path that allowed others to access the materials. This sequence highlights how fast information can spread online once a preview build is inadvertently made accessible, and it raises questions about how studios manage internal builds and the timelines of public reveals.
The test build of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl appeared online on May 30, 2023. Initially the project data were encrypted to protect the content, but within a few days, curious observers managed to decipher the installer and run the game. By June 1, the GSC Game World team publicly commented on the leak, casting suspicion on Russian hackers and expressing concern about the security of their development environment. This moment reflects the fragile balance between early access, fan curiosity, and the risk of exposing unfinished work to a broad audience. The response from the studio suggests a drive to address the breach openly while clarifying the source of the exposure for fans and media alike.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is planned for release on PC and Xbox Series X|S, with additional availability through Game Pass. The rollout has been described as a phased launch, aligning with typical modern-day practice for major titles that aim to maximize reach across platforms. There is also an important note about regional sales: the game is not slated for official sale within Russia. This stance reflects the ongoing geopolitical and market considerations that publishers and developers navigate when distributing titles with sensitive or restricted contexts. Analysts and fans alike are watching how the game’s release strategy unfolds across North American and European markets, where anticipation remains high and the potential for further conversation about security incidents persists.