GSC Game World, the Ukrainian developer of the highly-anticipated game ‘STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl,’ has made an announcement. It was about systems being GSC game world breach, and game assets being stolen during the attack. The company claims that a “community from a Russian social network” was responsible for the hack. And is now blackmailing GSC Game World by threatening to release data for the upcoming game. The release is expected to release later this year.
Details of the GSC game world breach
According to the official statement posted on Twitter, an employee’s account for a collective work-with-images application was hacked. This let hackers to gain access to game assets. The company claims that this is not the first time. It has been targeted by cyberattacks, and it has been enduring constant cyber-aggression for over a year now. It is all with the aim of disrupting the game development process and harming its reputation.
Hacker’s demand
The hackers responsible for the breach have posted a message on the Russian social media platform VK. They were claiming to have stolen a “vast amount of STALKER 2 material. It includes the entire storyline, cutscene descriptions, concept art, global maps, and more. Samples of this material have already been released as proof of the data breach. Most of it is being withheld to be used for extorting the game publisher.
The hackers have demanded that GSC Game World reconsider its attitude towards players from Belarus and Russia, lift the ban of the ‘NF Star’ user from the game’s official Discord channel, and introduce Russian localization for the upcoming game, if not by its release, at least as an add-on.
The hackers have given the game publisher until March 15 to change its stance towards Russian and Belarusian players. Otherwise, they claim they will leak tens of gigabytes of data stolen from the company’s systems.
GSC game world breach response
In response to the breach, GSC Game World has asked the community not to watch or redistribute any data leaks. The company claims that the data stolen by the Russian hackers mostly concerns work-in-progress materials. It is not representative of the final product quality.
GSC Game World also emphasizes that the hackers’ attempts are futile. Its employees regularly face much more harrowing situations due to the prevailing war conditions in the country. The company encourages the community to stay patient and wait for the official release of the game.
Recap
The breach of GSC Game World’s systems and the theft of game assets by Russian hackers is a serious concern. The hackers’ demands for changes to the game’s policies and localization could potentially harm the company’s reputation. It can also impact its relationship with its players.
However, GSC Game World has given assurance that they’re doing everything in its power to prevent any further data leaks. Furthermore, the company is also working to ensure that the final product lives up to the expectations of its fans. The company has asked for patience and understanding during this difficult time and promises to deliver an unforgettable gaming experience with STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
