A new video game centered on the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has provoked significant backlash within the Ukrainian gaming community. Titled “Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes,” the project is being developed by the Russian studio Cats Who Play.
According to information available on the game’s Steam page, the release date for this real-time strategy game is set for March 24. The developers assert that the game focuses on events surrounding the invasion that began in 2022.
The campaign’s narrative includes six missions designed to replicate incidents around the Gostomel airport, specifically covering the timeline from the Russian airborne assault to the withdrawal of Russian forces from the area by the end of March 2022.
The creators of the game emphasize that modern video games can serve as a medium for conveying information about global events. They stated, “The planet is filled with wars—this is a painful topic for everyone. The world is structured in such a way that we see the consequences of even distant conflicts every day. We witness them on television in the news, and we see them around us in the form of refugees. Modern games are not just entertainment; they are another form of media, often more effective than the most detailed analytical articles or news reports.”
Furthermore, the developers claim to have meticulously recreated the events of those days by utilizing video recordings, photographs, and various documents.
For the Russian audience, the game is set to be released under the title “Гостомельські богатирі” (Gostomel Heroes). The description indicates that the storyline is based on events from the initial phase of what is referred to as the “special military operation.”
The project authors have stated that they reviewed numerous surveillance videos, news reports, and testimonies from participants to create the game.
The game’s announcement has led to a wave of criticism from Ukrainian users, who are urging Steam’s administration to remove the project, viewing it as a tool of propaganda. Following the game’s appearance on the platform, users have also begun encouraging fellow gamers to file complaints through a designated form on the project’s page.
The reputation of Cats Who Play has been scrutinized, as the studio has previously released titles related to military conflicts, including “Syria: Russian Storm” and “Syria: Return to Palmyra.” The company also worked on a project titled “Frontline,” which depicts a hypothetical military conflict between Russia and the United States.
The release of 'Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes' has ignited controversy among Ukrainian gamers, who perceive the game as propagandistic. The developers, Cats Who Play, have a history of creating military-themed games, raising concerns about the game's narrative and intent.