Steam scandal: Ukrainians call to ban Russian game on Hostomel fighting
Hostomel Airport (Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)
The release of a new video game about the early days of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has sparked a strong reaction among the Ukrainian gaming community. The project, “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes,” was developed by the Russian studio Cats Who Play, according to a Steam post.
Game about the battles for Kyiv
According to the project’s Steam page, the real-time strategy game is scheduled for release on March 24.
The developers claim the game is dedicated to the events of the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The campaign’s storyline features six missions recreating events around the Hostomel airfield.
Specifically, it covers the period from the Russian airborne landing at Antonov Airport to the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region at the end of March 2022.
How the developers describe the project
The game creators claim that modern video games can serve as a way to convey information about world events.
"The planet is full of wars - it’s a painful topic for everyone. After all, the world is structured in such a way that every day, we see the consequences of even distant conflicts. We see them on TV as news, we see them nearby as refugees. Modern games are not just entertainment - they are another form of media, another way to convey information, often even more effectively than the most detailed analytical articles or news segments."
The developers also stated that they aimed to accurately reproduce the events of those days, using video footage, photographs, and various documents.
Alternative title for the Russian audience
For the Russian audience, the project is planned to be distributed under the name “Gostomelskiye bogatyri”.
The description states that the storyline is based on events from the early period of the so-called “special military operation.”
According to the developers, the game was created using numerous surveillance camera videos, news reports, and testimonies from participants in the events.
Reaction of the Ukrainian community
The game’s Steam page sparked a wave of criticism among Ukrainian users. They are calling on Steam’s administration to remove the project, viewing it as a tool of propaganda.
After the game appeared on the platform, users also began urging other gamers to submit complaints through the dedicated form on the project’s page.
Developer reputation
The studio Cats Who Play has previously released projects related to military conflicts, including the games “Syria: Russian Storm” and “Syria Warfare: Return to Palmyra.”
The company also worked on the project Frontline, which depicts a fictional military conflict between Russia and the US.
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
Project “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes”
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