Stalker 2's first big patch targets main quest blockers and crashes as GSC Game World assures fans it'll "make every effort to constantly improve" the shooter

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
(Image credit: GSC Game World)

After releasing five days ago, Stalker 2 was met with mixed reviews citing issues with bugs and drops in performance - thankfully, however, developer GSC Game World says it's got a big patch in the works.

As our own Stalker 2 review describes, the long-awaited shooter is phenomenally fun - but is also sadly "riddled with bugs that range from immersion-busting to game-breaking." That's what GSC Game World's upcoming patch aims to resolve, with fixes for everything from crashes to visual problems. Announcing the new update in a post on Steam, the devs reveal that it's set to release sometime "during the week to come - both on PC and Xbox."

"The game has been out for several days now (it’s still surreal to say that), and we’ve been following your feedback in all possible forms carefully," writes the studio. "To the more than one million stalkers in the Zone, thanks for playing - that means the world to us. We are sure you have things to handle in the Zone, but so do we." The devs then detail some of the patch's changes, starting with fixes for crashes due to memory allocation and rendering failures.

GSC Game World also lists "gameplay and balance adjustments," including fixes to NPCs' behavior and weapon prices. The team is also tackling a plethora of cutscene and visual issues, from missing facial animations to inconsistencies. Some soft lock fixes, user interface improvements, and "notes to be addressed in future updates" are detailed, too, including resolutions for analog stick dead zones and A-Life system bugs.

There's more to come after this initial big update, according to the devs. "We want to reassure you once more that we will make every effort to constantly improve your Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl experience," explains GSC Game World. "We are truly grateful for your feedback and suggestions for improvement." It looks like those "Mostly Positive" ratings may rise up to "Positive" soon after all, with devs taking reviews on board.

Baldur's Gate 3 dev says Stalker 2's commercial success is proof of a "seismic shift behind so much" and players are "hungry for hyper-engaging, focused experiences"

Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

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