Recent reports indicate that Russia blocked the official site of the GSC Game World studio, the team behind STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl. The blockade was carried out by Roskomnadzor at the request of the prosecutor general’s office, with the agency noting the action as having begun as early as February 2022. The prohibition was issued under a specific provision of federal law governing information and information technology. Observers point out that the content appearing on the site’s main page about the situation in Ukraine likely triggered the block, highlighting the overlap between policy enforcement and regional events.
Earlier chatter among gaming communities claimed that GSC Game World was planning to relocate from its home country. A Czech journalist brought forward the assertion that the STALKER 2 team would settle in the Czech Republic, a move seen as a step to maintain uninterrupted development work on the project. If the team completes the transition, an official announcement might follow, signaling a strategic shift to continue production in a new region while preserving creative momentum.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl had been slated for release on December 8, 2022 for PC and Xbox Series S|X. Prior to these plans, progress on the project experienced pauses, and there were reports of the publisher restricting sales of the studio’s games within Russia. The evolving situation underscores how geopolitical dynamics can influence game development, distribution, and forward-looking plans for high-profile titles in the global market.