“One mistake, and it’s your last” — How STALKER 2 is teaming up with Ukraine emergency services to help protect children from landmines

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The team at GSC Game World, known for creating the upcoming STALKER 2 game – a sequel to their popular early 2000s survival-horror series – has partnered with Ukraine‘s State Emergency Service to educate children and teens about the risks of landmines.

According to a recent studio blog post, about 23% of Ukraine’s land is unsafe and needs to be cleared of landmines and other explosives left from the Russian invasion. A press release obtained by Windows Central highlights that Ukraine is now one of the most heavily mined countries globally, with teenagers between 14 and 17 years old facing a particularly high risk of injury or death from these explosives.

Even though data from UNICEF shows 80% of teenagers can recognize potential landmine dangers, this age group is also known for being impulsive and taking risks. That’s why GSC Game World and the SES are partnering, hoping to use the popular STALKER brand to provide education in a way that’s engaging and doesn’t feel like a lecture.

The game developers released a short, in-game cinematic for STALKER 2 featuring the main character, Skif. This video serves as a tutorial, teaching players about the risks of explosives and how to react if they encounter them. You can watch it here or by clicking the link below.

I’m seeing a lot of dangerous traps out here, and I need to emphasize this isn’t something to mess around with. Just now, I spotted a tripwire connected to a live grenade near a small soccer net. It’s a real explosive, not a stage prop. If I – or anyone – finds one of these, the rule is simple: don’t approach. Don’t even take a single step closer. Immediately turn around and walk away, treating it with the same caution you’d give an anomaly.

In the world of the STALKER game, “anomalies” are strange areas within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone that contain dangerous supernatural energy. These areas can instantly burn, melt, shock, or even destroy anything that comes into contact with them.

Explosives are very dangerous and often hidden, warns Skif. Even a small error could be fatal. If you see something that doesn’t look right – like wires, boxes, or even toys – don’t go near it. The safest thing to do is immediately turn around and go back the way you came, then call 101 to reach Ukraine’s fire and rescue services.

The public service announcement concludes with a final piece of advice: just like in life, The Zone doesn’t tolerate errors. True courage, it says, comes from being cautious.

The STALKER game series, developed by a Ukrainian studio and highly valued by many in Ukraine for its cultural impact, was a natural fit for this project with the SES.

I’ve always felt STALKER was uniquely Ukrainian – the whole vibe and the ideas behind it are so rooted in that post-Soviet era and Ukrainian history. But since Russia’s invasion in 2022, STALKER 2 has become something even more powerful – a real symbol of Ukraine’s strength and determination in the face of everything happening there. It’s amazing to see a game represent that kind of resilience.

From the beginning, the STALKER game series has been strongly connected to Ukraine, reflecting its history and the feel of the post-Soviet era. After Russia’s invasion in 2022, the upcoming game, STALKER 2, became a powerful symbol of Ukraine’s strength and determination.

I learned that a lot of the game was made during a really difficult time, right in the middle of the conflict. It was incredible to hear how the GSC team kept working even while facing missile strikes. Many of them also volunteered to help their neighbors, and some even fought on the front lines. If you want to truly understand how challenging it was to create STALKER 2, I highly recommend watching the studio’s documentary, “War Game.”

Considering everything, it’s great to see the impact of STALKER leading to some positive results. I highly recommend giving it a try, especially since it’s available on Xbox Game Pass for both Xbox and PC. If you prefer to buy it directly, it’s priced at $59.99 on those platforms, but you can find it for just $34.69 at Loaded (formerly CDKeys) with a significant discount.

The game will also be available on PlayStation 5 on November 20, 2025, one year after its first release. PlayStation owners who were frustrated by the game being exclusive to Xbox won’t have to wait much longer to experience it.

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2025-09-27 01:40