As a passionate gamer with a soft spot for the Stalker series, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness and disbelief each time this game finds itself entangled in Russia’s propaganda web against Ukraine. Having grown up playing these games, I have a deep affection for their world and the stories they tell.
Once again, Stalker has been drawn into a Russian propaganda effort targeting Ukraine. As per 404 Media’s report, reporters have noticed an unusual occurrence: a video supposedly from Wired falsely alleges that the game Stalker 2 is assisting the Ukrainian government in identifying citizens for mobilization by utilizing data-mining technology that cannot be deactivated.
The video states that within the game’s programming, a hidden piece of code was found. This code gathers personal data from players such as their IP address, name, device details, and location. According to the video, this information is being sent to the developers’ servers with an alleged purpose of assisting Ukraine’s government in identifying potential military conscripts. The video also suggests that viewers should either avoid playing the game altogether or use a VPN to mask their IP address when playing, as part of a supposed agreement between Stalker developer GSC Game World and the Ukrainian state.
None of which, of course, is true, and the video is not from Wired at all.
As a gamer, it appears this video originates from the same questionable source responsible for the Matryoshka and Doppelganger operations: trolls working against Ukraine disguising themselves as western news outlets to spread false narratives that tarnished Ukraine’s image and amplified western weariness of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This deceitful maneuver not only squandered the effort of journalists but also fact-checkers like myself.
The strategies employed in these campaigns involve creating a wave of misinformation – fabricating tales such as one claiming a Ukrainian artist aimed to fell the Eiffel Tower, another accusing a Ukrainian individual of attempting to burglarize the Paris catacombs, and numerous supposed images showing anti-Ukraine graffiti in various western cities. These false narratives are then sent to journalists for ‘verification’, while simultaneously, deceptive videos are shared on social media platforms like Telegram. This tactic floods media outlets with stories that require debunking, causing them to disseminate rapidly, even if ignored for fact-checking purposes.
It’s not unexpected that Stalker has caught the attention of Russia’s propaganda efforts. This video game series is one of Ukraine’s most recognized exports, and Stalker 2 in particular has come to symbolize the nation’s tenacity. Several developers from GSC halted work on the game to resist Russia following the invasion, and at least one—Volodymyr Yezhov—has lost his life during combat. The very fact that the game was released, despite the invasion and a compulsory move to Czechia, has made it a symbol of resilience.
Indeed, it’s clear that Russian propaganda is taking aim at the situation. However, what caught my attention was the section of the video that encourages viewers to either avoid the game altogether or use a VPN (which it incorrectly associates with Ukrainian war correspondent Roman Bochkala). This suggestion seems more geared towards Russians than Westerners, and I believe I understand the reasoning behind this.
In Russia, Stalker has garnered immense popularity, to the point where some conservative language instructors from the country are familiar with it. Before invading Ukraine, there was great anticipation for Stalker 2 among Russians, and GSC’s decision not to produce a Russian version of the game led to significant discontent. One passionate Russian fan even leaked previously undisclosed console versions of the original games as a sort of twisted demonstration.
It seems plausible that the Russian government might prefer their citizens not to engage with content that could remind them of the humanity in Ukraine or present Ukrainian culture and struggles positively. Videos like this one may also serve to deter former Stalker fans from playing Stalker 2, while simultaneously trying to mislead and confuse western views on Ukraine.
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2024-12-02 19:02