Stalker Developer GSC Game World Declared “Undesirable” by Russian Government

Ukrainian studio GSC Game World, best known for the Stalker series, has officially been added to Russia’s list of “undesirable organisations.”

GSC Game World, creator of Stalker 2, is branded undesirable by Russia | Image: Gaming Amigos

The announcement came through a press release from the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office, which claimed the studio poses a threat to Russia’s “constitutional order, defensive capacity, and security.” In practice, this means anyone in Russia maintaining ties with GSC could face legal consequences.

For those who’ve followed the studio’s journey, this move isn’t entirely surprising. GSC has been one of the most visible Ukrainian developers impacted by the war since Russia’s invasion in 2022. The company relocated from Kyiv to Prague after the conflict escalated, and tragically, one of its developers, Volodymyr Yezhov, was killed in action in December 2022. Since then, GSC has faced waves of propaganda attacks from anti-Ukrainian groups and criticism from former Russian fans.

The Prosecutor General’s Office accuses GSC of financially supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces and spreading narratives that portray Russia as an aggressor state. According to the statement, the studio allegedly donated $17 million to military assistance funds, which went toward buying attack drones, their components, and vehicles. While not completely inaccurate, as PC Gamer noted, GSC actually raised about $800,000 through charity game sales, urging fans to support Ukraine’s defense in the early days of the invasion.

Perhaps the most notable claim is tied to Stalker 2. Russian authorities argue the game promotes “Ukrainian narratives” and contains “aggressive Russophobic content.” However, players who have completed the game describe it as unexpectedly apolitical for a Ukrainian title developed during the war. The game's executive producer has also denied it's anti-Russian propaganda, stating there's "no direct impact" from real-world events on the story.

Up to now, the developers haven’t made any comments regarding the ban.