STALKER 2 Gets New Subtitle to Reflect Ukrainian Spelling
Ukrainian Developer GSC Game World first announced STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl in 2010. After a long period in development hell, the game resurfaced in 2018 and made waves during the Microsoft E3 Showcase last year. Unfortunately, the Kyiv-based studio was forced to suspend development due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the indefinite delay is to be expected given the situation in Kyiv, the war had a more surprising effect on the game’s development. Earlier today, STALKER 2’s developer changed its subtitle’s spelling from Heart of Chernobyl to Heartof Chornobyl.
STALKER 2 Development Put On Hold Until After Ukrainian Victory Against Russia, Says GSC Game World
“Chornobyl” is the Ukrainian spelling of the region’s better-known Russian name. The plant and surrounding Exclusion Zone where the STALKER games take place are located in Northern Ukraine. GSC Game World did not issue a statement regarding the change, though one can infer that it’s a way of protesting Russia’s aggression against the studio’s home country. Fans will notice STALKER 2’s new subtitle on the game’s Steam page and description, though some listings and promotional art still display the old Heart of Chernobyl subtitle.
The difference between the Russian “Chernobyl” and Ukrainian “Chornobyl” might seem insignificant to those not directly connected to the conflict. However, the long and often fraught relationship between Russia and Ukraine means that even minor linguistic differences become politicized. Many Ukrainians, for example, resent that foreigners often refer to their country as “The Ukraine.” They feel that saying “The Ukraine” implies that the country is merely a province or vassal state of Russia, despite existing as an
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