Report: Stalker 2 Receiving Negative Reviews from Individuals Allegedly Paid by Russians to Damage Its Reputation

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been well-received by both the public and critics. However, its success has attracted some opposition, particularly from individuals in Russia. According to reports on social media, some Russians on Telegram are offering money in exchange for posting negative reviews of the game on Steam and TikTok.

This is likely due to the fact that Stalker 2 is developed by GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio, which has openly opposed Russia and its actions. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has led to tensions, with some of the game’s developers even joining the fight to defend their country against Russian forces.

As spotted by DualShockers, these buyers allegedly provide guidance on which aspects of the game to criticize, such as technical problems and bugs. While Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl does have some minor issues, the developers at GSC Game World are actively working to address them.

Currently, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, with 80% of the total 42,154 reviews being positive. Some negative reviews do not specifically address the points mentioned by the reviewers, but others clearly follow the suggested criticisms. Often, these reviews are very short and simply advise against purchasing the game due to its technical issues, which raises suspicions about their authenticity.

A recent post on the matter shared two examples of anti-Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl campaigns, including a price list and a template for negative reviews. Check the post below:

How russians fight Ukrainian video game 🫠 https://t.co/nDQKMOvyTA pic.twitter.com/gMWBVo6GIt

— Mariia Kramarenko (@KramarenkoMari3) November 24, 2024

However, the compensation being offered is relatively low—100 Russian ruble for a Steam review, which is just under $1 (0.92) at the current exchange rate.

At this time of writing, there has been no official statement from the developers regarding the situation, but as we get more information, we’ll make sure to keep you all informed here at MP1st.

MP1st’s review of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl gave it a score of 8 out of 10, stating, “If you’re a fan of the Stalker franchise, then Stalker 2 is going to be everything you’d hoped for and probably expected from it.

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