The launch of the video game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylwhich is already a success, encourages illegal tourism in Chernobyl. The Ukrainian authorities were forced to communicate on the subject.
Available since November 20 on PC and Xbox, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl immerses players in the Zone, a location inspired by Chernobyl. The developers use this unwelcoming premise to create a dark, frightening and nihilistic atmosphere. Where we will have to navigate between radiation, ravaged animals and mutants.
Despite its obvious flaws, which can be explained by a miraculous development (the GSC Game World studio is Ukrainian), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a great success. A million copies have already been sold, a volume which does not take into account the figures achieved thanks to Xbox Game Pass. But this commercial performance apparently gave ideas to certain unconscious people, then ready to defy the prohibitions to visit Chernobyl.
Reminder: visiting Chernobyl is dangerous
This tourism phenomenon, also called “dark tourism” in reference to the morbid curiosity that emerges from it, was quickly addressed by the Ukrainian authorities, indicates the South China Morning Post in an article published on November 22. “ It was reported that several intruder adventurers, who attempted to illegally enter a prohibited area in search of thrills, were video game enthusiasts », indicated the customs officers. Everything suggests that they were trying to reproduce in real life what they experienced in the game – an obviously unconscious motivation.
And the authorities remind that the Chernobyl exclusion zone, corresponding to the most contaminated perimeter around the nuclear power plant (approximately 30 km), is “ closed to the public » et « subject to intense radioactive contamination “. This dangerousness does not frighten everyone, knowing that illegal entry into this territory is punishable by legal action.
The most daring did not wait for the launch of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl to try their luck, even if the invasion of Russia dampened their enthusiasm due to martial law. “ They are mainly Ukrainians who want to visit the Chernobyl zone and walk where we are not allowed », Indicates a source. But there are also foreigners, who are sometimes arrested. Before the war, tourist guides offered excursions, with all the risks that this implies (not to mention the moral issues).
