Links for the installation of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl appeared on torrent trackers ninety minutes after the game's official release. The circulating version lacks patches or fixes, leading to potential bugs and issues. The game is set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where players control a character named Skif. Lawmakers and public figures have taken notice of the game, and while there is no ban on purchasing it, many illegal content distributors have avoided hosting copies. Streamer Ilya Maddyson Davydov achieved a record for online viewership during his playthrough of the game.