Russian Disinformation Campaign Claims Stalker 2 Is Used To Locate Ukraine War Conscripts

Apart from the bugs, Stalker 2 is an amazing game, but that's a statement Russia is unlikely to agree with. A bizarre new disinformation campaign that targets the title claims Stalker 2 is secretly being used by the Ukraine government to identify and locate conscripts for the war against Russia.

The campaign involves a video featuring what appears to be a watermark from tech publication Wired, writes 404media. The clip, which is spreading on Telegram and being emailed directly to journalists, claims that an embedded program was discovered in the code of Stalker 2 that collects player data and transmits it to the developer's servers.

The video goes on to claim that the information being collected on players includes device, name, IP address, and current location, and is transmitted every second. The reason for this data collection is to help the Ukrainian government locate citizens suitable for mobilization, apparently.

Sounds nuts to me.

So dont hold me to the veracity of the claims.

I'm sure people who know far more about it may be able to offer up some thoughts on the articles and claims.

The game is ok though, reminiscent of the first Stalker.

Still needs some serious bug fixes and updates imho.

www.techspot.com...
www.independent.co.uk...
www.eurogamer.net...

a reply to: andy06shake

Actually, seems quite plausible and easy to do for developpers.


The firm behind the game GSG Game World is Ukrainian, although "currently temporarily" based in Prague....

....because you know, "Look at me. LOOK AT ME" virtue signalling hypocrites are more than willing to send their compatriots to fight and die while they remain in their safe space in Prague....

So what’s the disinformation here? Everything layed out is highly plausible except for there being a whole bunch of young Ukrainians left setting around playing Stalker 2.

a reply to: andy06shake

a reply to: Tolkien

I'm surprised when software doesn't collect data in this day of age Tolkien.

Could indeed be possible.

Still sound nuts through.

a reply to: Athetos

So what’s the disinformation here?

It's in the title of the thread Athetos.

Need to take any issue you have with words to the author I'm afraid.

Everything layed out is highly plausible except for there being a whole bunch of young Ukrainians left setting around playing Stalker 2.

I would not imagine there are many young people left standing on either side, considering they have decimated entire generations of people or thereabouts with this war.

As to the premise of the thread, it is what it is.

I'm sure you can also read the veracity disclaimer in my second sentence.

And i suppose stranger things have been known to happen.

I mean the data your talking about is taken by almost every game and app and if someone wanted to use it for this purpose it would be quite easy.
a reply to: andy06shake

a reply to: Athetos

Indeed.

But to my knowledge, they dont use said data to track us all down so they can conscript our arse and send us to the front line.

They sell it to information brokers and/or use it for in-house purposes.

If this turns out to be true, "over the top" is how i would put it, pun intended.

The game is good though, you should try it if you like the old "Stalker".

Just mind and turn on a VPN to be safe.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: Tolkien

I'm surprised when software doesn't collect data in this day of age Tolkien.

Could indeed be possible.

Still sound nuts through.

So many improbable things have actually happenned in the last 10 years that I guess nowadays, incredibly, NUTS things DO happen...

SMDH.
Sigh....

a reply to: Tolkien

Well, when you're right..............you're right.

Kind of hard not to look out a window or turn on the TV and then argue otherwise.

The world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.

Hilarious really, just not in the funny ha'ha sort of way.

a reply to: andy06shake

If true, and I'm not saying it is or it isn't, I'd suspect that Russia are doing exactly the same.

a reply to: Freeborn

I dont think we know one way or the other what is or what isn't.

I also dont doubt you're correct.

Here is the thing through, i dont think they need game data to find people, when bank records/credit card transactions, rent and mortgage payments would suffice.

But you never know, and like others suggest we really dont know what the hell they do with most of the data we generate and sell or use for whatever purposes remains to be fully established.