GSC Game World, the Ukrainian studio behind STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, just sparked major controversy by filing a DMCA copyright claim that forced Steam to remove MISERY, an indie survival game developed by a 19-year-old solo developer. The takedown happened on November 7, 2025, pulling down one of Steam Next Fest’s breakout hits and igniting a firestorm of criticism from the indie game community and STALKER fans who are now review-bombing STALKER 2 in protest.
According to the developer, whose friend Kolya created MISERY independently, the DMCA claim alleges that MISERY violates STALKER intellectual property rights. But the developer insists this claim is entirely unfounded and unjust, stating that MISERY does not borrow, replicate, or incorporate any content, assets, narrative elements, characters, or code from STALKER. Every aspect was crafted from the ground up or legally obtained.
What Is MISERY
MISERY is a co-op roguelite survival game set in the fictional post-apocalyptic world of Zaslavie. The game features low-poly visuals and procedurally generated environments where players explore deadly anomalies and hunt for mysterious artifacts. It became one of the standout titles during Steam Next Fest and enjoyed strong success upon full release, currently ranking among the top releases on Steam based on player feedback and sales figures.
While MISERY shares some thematic DNA with STALKER – both are set in post-Soviet environments, feature PMCs exploring dangerous zones, and revolve around hunting artifacts – the gameplay is fundamentally different. STALKER is a moody, story-driven single-player shooter with immersive sim elements. MISERY is a procedurally generated co-op survival roguelite with lighter gameplay mechanics.
The aesthetics and art style are similar, drawing from the same Eastern European post-apocalyptic inspiration. But according to the developer, every asset including the world of Zaslavie, its lore, settings, models, sounds, music, and code was created independently or legally obtained. Nothing was directly copied from STALKER.
GSC’s Copyright Claim
GSC Game World filed a DMCA takedown notice with Valve claiming that MISERY violates STALKER property rights. The developer shared an image GSC provided as evidence, expressing disbelief that the comparison could justify a copyright claim. The specifics of GSC’s allegations haven’t been made fully public, but the studio apparently believes MISERY crosses the line from inspiration into infringement.
DMCA takedowns are powerful tools that can instantly remove content from platforms like Steam. When a copyright holder files a claim, the platform typically removes the content immediately to avoid liability, leaving the accused party to file a counter-notice and fight to get reinstated. This process can take weeks or months, during which the game remains unavailable for purchase and the developer loses revenue.
For a solo developer who just launched their first major game, this kind of takedown can be financially devastating. MISERY was selling well and building momentum. Now it’s completely unavailable, and there’s no guarantee when or if it will return to Steam.
The Developer Fights Back
The MISERY developer is not taking this lying down. They’ve already drafted a formal counter-notice and are determined to have the game restored on Steam as swiftly as possible. In their statement to the community, they emphasized that this takedown is not only unjust but also represents another instance of a large corporation attempting to stifle new intellectual properties and intimidate an independent developer.
The legal reality is that copyright protection doesn’t extend to ideas, themes, or general aesthetic concepts. You can’t copyright post-Soviet settings, anomalies, or artifact hunting as concepts. What you can protect is specific implementations – actual code, unique character designs, story beats, dialogue, music compositions, and other concrete creative expressions.
If MISERY truly created all its assets independently and only shares thematic similarities with STALKER, the counter-notice should succeed and the game should be restored. But proving that in a legal dispute takes time and potentially money for lawyers, which a 19-year-old solo developer may not have.
Community Backlash
The indie game community and STALKER fans have responded with fury. Some players are flooding STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s Steam page with negative reviews specifically because of this takedown. The review bombing represents frustration that a massive studio would strike down a solo developer’s passion project, especially one that clearly differentiates itself through its gameplay mechanics.
Critics point out the apparent hypocrisy in GSC’s actions. Other games like Chernobylite and Chernobylite 2 draw even heavier inspiration from STALKER and remain untouched on Steam. Those games are set in actual Chernobyl, feature anomalies and artifacts, and share even more obvious thematic connections. Yet GSC hasn’t filed DMCA claims against them. So why single out a small indie developer?
Some speculate that GSC may be more sensitive about competition right now given STALKER 2’s recent launch. The game released on November 20, 2024 with significant bugs and technical problems, forcing GSC to promise multiple patches to address rough edges. Player reception has been mixed, with many praising the setting and atmosphere while criticizing performance issues and game-breaking bugs.
If MISERY was gaining traction and positive reviews while STALKER 2 struggled with technical problems, GSC might have felt threatened by a game that captures similar vibes without the baggage. But that doesn’t legally justify a copyright claim unless actual infringement occurred.
The Bigger Picture
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions around what constitutes copyright infringement versus legitimate inspiration in game development. The industry has always built on ideas from previous games. Almost every successful genre or mechanic spawns countless games that iterate on those concepts. That’s how creative mediums evolve.
STALKER itself drew inspiration from the 1979 Soviet film Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky and the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The concept of anomalies, artifacts, and zones where reality breaks down came from that source material. GSC didn’t invent those ideas. They adapted them brilliantly into a video game context, but the core concepts were borrowed and transformed.
If that kind of iterative creative process is acceptable, then MISERY taking inspiration from STALKER’s themes while implementing them differently should also be acceptable. The line between inspiration and infringement can be blurry, but it generally comes down to whether specific creative expressions were copied rather than whether two games share similar vibes or themes.
GSC’s Difficult Year
It’s worth noting that GSC Game World has faced extraordinary challenges over the past few years. The Ukrainian studio was forced to relocate due to Russia’s invasion, suffered a major cyber attack from Russian hackers who tried to blackmail them, and endured multiple delays on STALKER 2. The game they finally released has been criticized for technical problems despite their best efforts under incredibly difficult circumstances.
GSC has also faced legal threats from Russia, where authorities warned that purchasing STALKER 2 could have criminal consequences because the studio supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The game was banned in Russia, and Russian lawmakers threatened anyone buying it through other means.
Given everything the studio has been through, it’s understandable if they’re protective of their intellectual property. But that doesn’t excuse what appears to be an overly aggressive DMCA strike against a solo developer who poses no real threat to STALKER’s market position or brand.
What Happens Next
The MISERY developer has filed a counter-notice and will keep the community updated on developments. If their counter-notice is valid and GSC doesn’t escalate to an actual lawsuit, Steam should restore the game within 10 to 14 business days according to standard DMCA counter-notice procedures.
However, GSC could choose to file a lawsuit to keep the game down, which would extend the legal battle significantly. Most companies don’t go that far unless they’re confident in their copyright claims, because failed lawsuits can result in paying the defendant’s legal fees and facing sanctions for frivolous litigation.
For now, MISERY remains unavailable on Steam, and a solo developer’s first major success is frozen in legal limbo. The community has rallied in support, but support alone won’t bring the game back. That requires either GSC backing down or the DMCA counter-notice process playing out successfully.
FAQs
What is MISERY?
MISERY is a co-op roguelite survival game developed by a 19-year-old solo developer named Kolya. It features low-poly visuals and procedurally generated post-apocalyptic environments set in the fictional world of Zaslavie. The game was one of the standout titles during Steam Next Fest.
Why did GSC Game World file a DMCA against MISERY?
GSC Game World claims that MISERY violates STALKER intellectual property rights. The specific allegations haven’t been detailed publicly, but GSC apparently believes MISERY crosses the line from inspiration into copyright infringement.
Does MISERY actually copy STALKER?
According to the developer, MISERY does not borrow, replicate, or incorporate any content, assets, narrative elements, characters, or code from STALKER. While both games share similar post-apocalyptic themes and Eastern European aesthetics, the developer claims every aspect was created independently.
When did the DMCA takedown happen?
The DMCA takedown occurred on November 7, 2025. Steam removed MISERY from the platform immediately following GSC Game World’s copyright claim, as is standard procedure for DMCA notices.
Will MISERY return to Steam?
The developer has filed a counter-notice and is fighting to get the game restored. If the counter-notice is valid and GSC doesn’t file a lawsuit, Steam should restore MISERY within 10 to 14 business days. However, the outcome is uncertain.
Why are STALKER 2 reviews being bombed?
Some players are leaving negative reviews on STALKER 2’s Steam page specifically to protest GSC’s actions against MISERY. The review bombing represents frustration that a large studio would strike down a solo indie developer’s game.
Has GSC filed DMCA claims against other similar games?
Apparently not. Games like Chernobylite and Chernobylite 2 draw heavy inspiration from STALKER and remain available on Steam. This has led to questions about why GSC specifically targeted MISERY, a small indie title.
Who develops STALKER?
STALKER is developed by GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio. They recently released STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl on November 20, 2024 after years of delays caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, studio relocation, and cyber attacks.
Conclusion
GSC Game World’s DMCA strike against MISERY has created a controversy that overshadows whatever legitimate copyright concerns the studio might have. A 19-year-old solo developer’s breakout indie success has been yanked from Steam, sparking outrage from the community and raising questions about how far inspiration can go before it becomes infringement. While GSC has faced incredible hardships and has every right to protect their IP, targeting a small indie game that shares thematic similarities but implements them differently looks like punching down rather than protecting a valuable property. The coming weeks will reveal whether this was a justified copyright defense or an overly aggressive move that damages GSC’s reputation more than it protects STALKER. For now, MISERY remains in limbo, and a solo developer who poured immense effort into an original creation watches their success disappear overnight thanks to a corporation with far more legal resources. That’s not a good look for anyone involved.