Russia Adds S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Studio GSC Game World to “Undesirable” List Over ‘Aggressive Russophobic Content’ Among Other Reasons

Russia has officially added S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC Game World to its list of “undesirable organisations,” according to a statement from the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office.

The move labels the Ukrainian studio as a threat to Russia’s constitutional order, security, and defense, meaning anyone in Russia with ties to GSC could face legal trouble.

GSC Game World, originally based in Kyiv, had to move its operations to Prague after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The war has hit the studio hard, with one of its developers, Volodymyr Yezhov, killed in combat in December 2022. The studio has also faced propaganda attacks from Russian sources and criticism from former Russian fans.

The company has actively supported Ukraine during the conflict, raising $800,000 for the military through a charity game sale and encouraging fans to contribute. Despite these actions, the Prosecutor General’s Office claims GSC has provided financial support to Ukraine’s armed forces and spread “a view of Russia as an ‘aggressor state,’ including the dissemination of materials discrediting to our country.”

The statement also alleges GSC’s management donated $17 million to Ukrainian military aid, though independent verification of that number is unclear.

The office’s criticism extends to the content of Stalker 2, accusing the game of promoting “Ukrainian narratives” and containing “aggressive Russophobic content.” Some gamers and reviewers, however, have expressed skepticism, noting that the game itself doesn’t appear overtly hostile toward Russia and that the removal of the Russian voice track may be the main issue.

This development adds to the growing tension between Russian authorities and Ukrainian creative companies. GSC’s situation highlights the risks Ukrainian studios face while producing work during the ongoing war.

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