Released on November 20th in a compromised and poorly optimized condition (primarily on PC), STALKER 2 nonetheless received sympathy from much of the press and fans of the series who rallied support for the game and the Ukrainian developers at GSC Game World. These developers maintained that the game was not buggy and that mid-range reviews were given by testers who had not downloaded the day-one patch, reviewing the game without the critical fix. Despite this stance, the game received multiple updates from the developers during the review period. Following a 130 GB patch just two days before the end of the review embargo, and another 50 GB patch the night prior, the Ukrainian studio now presents its first major update, version 1.0.1. This update addresses over 650 bugs, enhances optimization, and improves enemy AI. However, it is evident that it will still take months for the game to reach an acceptable state, as currently, it remains a poorly recommended version.
STALKER 2, released on November 20th with a number of initial technical issues (particularly on PC), received support from both press and fans despite these challenges. Developers GSC Game World maintained that the game was not as problematic as some mid-range reviews indicated, suggesting that lower scores were due to reviewers not applying the day-one patch. Nonetheless, multiple updates were released during the review period, including a 130 GB patch two days before the embargo expired and another 50 GB update on the night preceding it. The first major update, version 1.0.1, addresses over 650 bugs, enhances optimization, and improves enemy AI. However, it is acknowledged that it will likely take several months for the game to reach an acceptable state, as ongoing issues continue to result in poor recommendations.
AI Corrections: Correction of blocked and dying NPC groups near the shelter during live broadcasts. Fix for the issue where Burer could drop mission objects from the player’s hands. Added missing sound effects for Burer’s Telekinesis ability. Fixed occasional NPCs getting stuck and failing to reach mission locations, which could prevent interaction with the NPC or progression to the next mission stage due to inactive NPC behavior. Addressed performance drops/potential memory insufficiency crashes in hubs and dense NPC locations during long gaming sessions. Corrected issue where NPCs move toward position A or start flying after death. Fixed problem with NPCs not recognizing if a covered target is under fire, forcing them to shoot for cover.
STALKER 2, released on November 20th with several initial issues, received support from both the press and fans due to its development by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World. Despite the developers’ assertion that mid-range reviews were unjustified as reviewers did not use the day-one patch or subsequent updates—including a significant 130 GB update just days before the review embargo—multiple updates have been issued during the review period. The first major update, version 1.0.1, addressed over 650 bugs, improved optimization, and enhanced enemy AI. However, it is acknowledged that several months are still needed for the game to reach a satisfactory state, as current performance remains poorly recommended. This patch focuses on AI corrections, including fixing NPC behavior during broadcasts, preventing item drops, adding sound effects, resolving stuck NPCs, improving performance in dense areas, and correcting NPC post-death movements and target recognition.
Fixing optimization issues: The problem with non-player characters (NPCs) and mutants becoming invisible to the player while aiming has been corrected. Additionally, an issue with shooting visual effects not displaying under certain camera angles has been resolved.
We have also fixed around 100 distinct crashes, including potential memory leaks and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION issues.
Audio and Sound Corrections: Fix for the issue where combat music continued playing after a fight was over.
And 7 minor audio and sound bugs.
Balance Adjustments: The cost of repairing weapons and armor has been reduced. There is a significant increase in the cost of artifacts (resulting in higher revenue from sales). The cash reward for most missions has been increased by two to three times. Armor and weapon improvements have been introduced at beginner difficulty levels. Mutant damage has been moderately reduced at beginner difficulty, with no further balance changes planned for mutant health as mentioned in the Combat Balance section. Player weapon damage has been reduced by 23% at beginner difficulty. Armor durability has been increased by 12.5%. A silencer accessory for PTM has been added to a specific reserve in the lower zone. Selling prices for exoskeletons have been adjusted, making them more expensive to sell. Improved weapons now also have fixed selling prices. The Hercules consumable has been rebalanced: the player speed debuff has been removed and effect parameters have been increased, allowing players to carry more weight after consumption.
Additional minor bug fixes.
Combat Balance Adjustments: The weight of certain mission objects, including scanners, has been decreased. Bloodsucker damage has undergone slight rebalancing. The rank offering protection against Bloodsucker attacks has been reduced, leading to increased firearm damage effectiveness. Out-of-combat health regeneration for Bloodsuckers has also been lowered. Health values for Controller, Burer, Boar, and Meat enemies have been moderately decreased. Headshot damage to Boars now equals 100% of body shot damage. Damage from leg shots to both Boars and Meat has been enhanced. The close-range melee distance for close-range weapons has been significantly extended. Additionally, the knife’s close-range melee range has been slightly increased.
Entry Deadzone: Increase in dead zones of the controller
Characters: Eye and teeth corrections on NPC models. Minor corrections to NPC and animation models.—STALKER 2, released on November 20th with notable optimization issues and bugs, particularly on PC, received support from press and fans due to its development by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World. Despite the developers’ assertion that the game was not as problematic as reviewers suggested—and that these mid-range scores were likely a result of testing without the day-one patch—multiple updates were released during the review period, including a 130 GB patch just days before embargo lift and a subsequent 50 GB update. The first major post-release patch, version 1.0.1, addresses over 650 bugs, focusing on AI improvements, optimization issues, audio corrections, balance adjustments, combat tweaks, and various minor fixes. While this update significantly enhances the game’s performance, experts acknowledge that it will take several months for STALKER 2 to reach a satisfactory state, as it remains far from fully optimized and bug-free in its current form.
STALKER 2, released on November 20th with notable optimization issues and bugs, received support from both the press and fans for its Ukrainian developers, GSC Game World. Despite the developers’ assertion that the game was not as problematic as some critics claimed, they continued to update it during review periods, issuing a 130 GB patch two days before the review embargo expired and another 50 GB patch on the night preceding the embargo’s conclusion. The latest major update, version 1.0.1, addresses more than 650 bugs, enhances AI behavior, improves optimization, and resolves various performance issues, audio problems, and crashes. However, it is acknowledged that further updates will be necessary over several months to achieve an acceptable state.Key improvements in the 1.0.1 update include:- Over 20 corrections to AI behavior, such as fixing NPCs getting stuck or behaving improperly during missions and enhancing Burer’s Telekinesis sound effects.- Fixes for numerous optimization issues, including invisible NPC/mutants and visual glitches with shooting effects.- Over 100 distinct crash fixes, addressing memory leaks and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION errors.- Adjustments to audio and sound, such as stopping combat music from playing after fights end.- Balance changes: reduced repair costs, increased artifact sale prices, boosted mission rewards, and adjustments to beginner difficulty weapon/armor improvements and mutant damage.- Combat balance modifications: weight reduction for certain objects, Bloodsucker damage rebalancing, controller, Burer, Boar, and Meat health reductions, and alterations to headshot and leg shot damage against Boars and Meat.- Controller deadzone increase and various character model corrections, including adjustments to NPC eye and teeth.
STALKER 2, released on November 20th with several bugs, received support from both the press and fans due to its Ukrainian developers at GSC Game World. Despite the developers’ claims that the game was not significantly buggy, numerous updates were released during the review period, including a 130 GB patch two days before the embargo ended and another 50 GB patch the night prior. The first major update, version 1.0.1, addressed over 650 bugs, optimized performance, and enhanced enemy AI. This update resolved various issues such as NPCs getting stuck, performance drops during prolonged play sessions, visual glitches, audio problems, balance adjustments, combat rebalancing, and corrections to character and animation models. Despite these efforts, the game still requires several months to reach an acceptable state due to ongoing bugs and poor optimization. The extensive list of patches includes fixes for AI issues such as blocked NPC groups, Burer behavior, telekinesis sound effects, memory insufficiency crashes, and more. Other areas addressed include visuals, audio, weapon/armor costs, mutant damage balance, and minor bug fixes across various game systems.
Game Settings and Menus: Adjustments have been made to make the illegible text at the bottom of the shader compilation screen legible. A fix has also been implemented for the issue where the “Nvidia Reflex Low Latency” option was not being saved after subsequent game launches.
STALKER 2, which was released on November 20th in a suboptimal condition, received support from both the press and fans due to its Ukrainian developers, GSC Game World. Despite initial perceptions that it wasn’t heavily plagued with bugs, multiple updates were issued during the review period, including two significant patches just before and after the embargo ended. The first major update, version 1.0.1, addresses over 650 bugs, improves optimization, and enhances enemy AI, focusing on issues such as NPCs getting stuck, performance drops, incorrect sound effects, and weapon balancing. Other fixes include audio issues, crash corrections, balance adjustments to combat mechanics, character model corrections, cinematic bug fixes, and menu setting improvements. However, it is acknowledged that the game will require further development time to reach an acceptable state.
Interactive Objects: Resolved physics-related issues affecting destructible and movable objects, including those that were floating in the air. Corrected interaction prompts with glass doors in SIRCAA’s interior courtyard to eliminate step-by-step procedure blockages. Addressed missing interior doors in Laboratory X-11’s elevator.
And other minor bugs.
Primary and Secondary Missions:
Resolution of numerous mission blockages and bugs encountered under specific conditions has been achieved. Key fixes include: Correction of missing interaction with dead blind dogs in the Night Hunter mission. Completion of unfinished objectives in the Find and Seek mission. Resolution of multiple issues in the Round Trip mission, including one where the artifact couldn’t be found. Breaking the dialogue loop with Zotov during the Haystack Needle mission. Overcoming progression blockages in the Price of Answers mission, particularly issues with bandits after a broadcast and absence of the Heavy Key item. Correcting mission waypoint markers for NPC locations in the Trailblazer mission. Fixing door-related problems in the Seeking a Guide and Secondary Agitation missions. Addressing the issue where cinematics don’t start during the Good Old Days mission. Resolving Lodochka’s absence from Quiet Camp during the Good Old Days mission. Correcting an issue in Good Old Days where Lodochka becomes aggressive after being given the transmitter. Now, it is possible to cut power in the flooded area during the Last Drop of Blood mission. Resolution of multiple issues in the Brink of Abyss mission, including inactive NPCs, blocked doors, and stalled monolith attack progression. Overcoming progression blockers in the Minor Incident mission, particularly issues with Bayun’s collar and locked doors. Addressing performance drops and misleading objectives in the Pursuit of Past Glory mission. Fixing issues in the Visions of Truth mission, including stuck NPCs and blocked progression after dialogues. Resolving stuck cinematics and blocked progression in the Dangerous Visitors, Gray’s Last Hunt, and Eternal Radiance missions. Adjusting NPC and enemy appearance behaviors in the Border Zone and Escape from Cage missions. Modifying missions like Down Below, Budmo!, and Big Score to resolve stuck NPCs, misaligned markers, and missing dialogue options.
STALKER 2, released on November 20th with numerous bugs and optimization issues primarily on PC, received support from press and fans due to the Ukrainian developers’ efforts at GSC Game World. Despite initial claims that the game wasn’t buggy and reviewers hadn’t used the day-one patch, multiple updates were released during the review period, including a 130 GB patch just two days before embargo end. The first major update, version 1.0.1, addresses over 650 bugs, improves optimization, and enhances enemy AI, though it is acknowledged that the game will require more time to reach an acceptable state.Key fixes in Patch 1.0.1 include:- AI Corrections: Fixes for NPCs blocking, dying, or getting stuck; Burer dropping items; sound effects for Telekinesis; performance drops during long sessions; NPCs moving or flying after death; and recognizing covered targets.- Optimization improvements: Fixes for invisible NPCs/mutants, shooting visual effects not displaying under certain camera angles, and over 100 distinct crashes with memory leaks and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION issues.- Audio and Sound Corrections: Fix for combat music continuing after a fight.- Balance Adjustments: Reduced repair costs, increased artifact sale revenue, raised mission rewards, lowered mutant damage in beginner difficulty, decreased player weapon damage, and increased armor durability. Also added a silencer accessory for PTM.- Combat Balance Adjustments: Weight reductions for certain objects, slight Bloodsucker damage adjustments, decreased protection against Bloodsucker attacks, reduced out-of-combat health regeneration, and modifications to various creature health and damage values.- Character, Movie, Game Settings & Menus, Interactive Objects, and Primary/Secondary Mission fixes address a wide array of bugs and issues encountered in the game.Despite these significant improvements, it is noted that the game will still need months to reach an acceptable state.
Open World Experience: Correcting stretched or missing limbs on humanoid corpses. Fixing missing quick travel routes, particularly to the Toadstool concrete center. Resolving issues related to speakers, quick travel, and NPC interactions in various locations such as scientists’ bunker and chemical plant. Adjusting hostile NPC behavior during arena missions, including bandit tactics and increased combat ammunition against the tyrant. Correcting mission progression issues in Black Sheep and The Key to Freedom missions.
And around 50 other issues have been resolved.
Player Orientation, Equipment, and Weapons: A bug has been fixed that allowed players to sell items to the merchant for more money than their actual value. Issues with PDA, inventory, and accessories blocking interactions with artifacts have also been resolved. The behavior of the flashlight after saving/loading has been addressed. Problems with grenade type selection, compass marker overlaps, and missing mission markers have been corrected. Inconsistencies in weapon and armor upgrade effects, including price and upgrade inversions, have been fixed. User interface behavior has been improved, and the duration of “Point of No Return” indicators during the Down Below mission has been extended. Additionally, a bug allowing players to sell mission items using a controller has been resolved.
And approximately 50 minor anomalies.
Voiceover and facial animations: Missing facial animations for Sava in the Hot on the Trail mission and Mugwort in The Eternal Shining mission have been restored. Corrected missing voice lines during the Let No One Leave Unsatisfied mission. Adjusted radio call effects so that NPC voices accurately reflect distance during communication.
And several other issues have been fixed.
World: Addressing shimmering textures in various locations, including the sphere, military base, and chemical plant. Resolving movement issues, particularly instances of getting stuck at certain spots during missions such as “Once More Unto the Breach” and “A Tough Awakening”. Correcting spawn points for artifacts in specific areas. Improving NPC behavior during encounters. Adjusting voice volume during storms to enhance audio balance.
