The developers behind STALKER, GSC Game World, have suddenly forced Steam to take down a solo dev project called Misery over alleged copyright violations. While both games share similar aesthetics, art styles, and post-Soviet theming, does that really justify a full takedown?
The Copyright Claim Against Misery
Earlier today, the co-op rogue-lite survival game Misery was suddenly delisted from Steam following a copyright claim by GSC Game World. The game had been available for some time before the takedown, gaining a small but loyal following. As of writing, Misery remains unavailable, with the solo developer voicing frustration on their official Discord — stating they plan to fight to get the game back up and running.
Misery’s Unique Take on a Familiar World
It’s true that both titles share some DNA. They’re set in Russia, feature PMCs exploring deadly anomalies, and revolve around the hunt for mysterious artifacts. Misery clearly takes inspiration from STALKER, but it spins that formula into something different — a procedurally generated world built for co-op survival rather than a moody, story-driven singleplayer shooter.
Despite the shared tone and atmosphere, Misery sets itself apart with its low-poly visuals and lighter, rogue-lite gameplay. Still, fans aren’t happy. Some have flooded S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s Steam page with negative reviews, angry that a massive studio would strike down a solo dev’s passion project — especially after taking over a year to deliver new content themselves.
A Larger Issue at Play?
With so few details confirmed, it’s hard to make sense of GSC’s move. Other games like Chernobylite 1 & 2 draw even heavier inspiration from STALKER, yet remain untouched on Steam. So why single out Misery? Is this really about copyright, or is there something else going on behind the scenes?
For now, Misery remains in limbo. Keep an eye on our other games section as this story develops.