The wildly popular survival horror shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, caused a significant internet slowdown across Ukraine due to its immense popularity. The game's November 20th launch saw a massive influx of simultaneous downloads, overwhelming Ukrainian internet providers Tenet and Triolan. Triolan's official Telegram channel reported a noticeable drop in internet speed in the evening, directly attributed to the high volume of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 downloads. Even after successful downloads, many players experienced slow login times and other connectivity problems. The disruption lasted for several hours before resolving.

GSC Game World, the Ukrainian developer, expressed both pride and surprise at the event. Creative director Mariia Grygorovych commented on the widespread impact, stating that while the internet disruption was problematic, it also demonstrated the game's overwhelming success and positive impact on the morale of Ukrainian players during a challenging time.

The game's popularity is undeniable. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 achieved a remarkable one million copies sold within just two days of its release, despite reported performance issues and bugs. This success is particularly significant given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which caused multiple delays in the game's development. The Ukrainian studio, with offices in Kyiv and Prague, persevered, releasing the game last month and continuing to address issues with regular updates and patch releases, including a third major patch earlier this week. The game's impact, both positive and negative, on Ukrainian internet infrastructure highlights its considerable success and cultural resonance in its home country.