The long-awaited S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally out, and the team at GSC Game World is beyond excited to have you exploring the Zone. With over one million stalkers now in the game, your feedback has been invaluable to us, and we want to thank you for your continued support. We’re already working on the first major update, which will be available soon on PC and Xbox platforms.

The game’s launch has been surreal, and while you’ve been busy surviving and exploring, we’ve been closely monitoring your comments and suggestions. This upcoming patch will focus on fixing some of the most critical issues and improving your overall experience. So, let’s dive into what’s coming in the next update.

Patch Highlights: What to Expect in the Next Update

The upcoming patch for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will include a variety of bug fixes, gameplay adjustments, and visual improvements to enhance your experience in the Zone. Here’s what’s coming your way:

Crash Fixes

• Memory Allocation Failures: We’ve fixed several crashes caused by memory allocation issues, especially around rendering, skeletal meshes, and quest-related cutscenes. These fixes should improve the stability of the game, particularly during key moments.

Main Quest Progression Fixes

• Quest Blockers: Some of you experienced bugs that blocked progression in the main quests. We’ve addressed issues like NPCs getting stuck in objects, incorrect quest markers, and problematic cutscenes.
• Quest Revision: We’ve worked on revising main quests such as Visions of Truth and A Minor Incident to ensure smooth transitions, making sure players don’t encounter roadblocks that prevent them from progressing.

Gameplay & Balance Adjustments

• Weapon Pricing: We’ve adjusted the prices of weapons with upgrades to make them more in line with their value. Weapons with attachments were previously priced too high compared to their unmodified counterparts.
• NPC Behavior Improvements: NPCs will now behave more realistically during Emissions, especially when they’re lacking shelter. This should make the environment feel even more immersive.

Cutscene & Visual Fixes

• Facial Animations: We’ve fixed issues where facial animations would occasionally go missing during cutscenes, as well as NPC placement issues that caused visual inconsistencies.
• Visual Stability Enhancements: Expect improved visual effects, including fixes for detached heads, clothes clipping, and other minor visual glitches.

Softlock Fixes

• Trade Screen Issues: A common issue where players were unable to close the trade screen after putting ammo in the wrong slot (especially when using a gamepad) has now been resolved. This fix should prevent frustrating softlocks during trading.

User Interface (UI) Improvements

• Quest Notifications: We’ve fixed a bug where quest notifications wouldn’t display correctly during dialogues. Now, you’ll have clear guidance when progressing through missions.
• Interaction Prompts & Text Corrections: Missing interaction prompts and incorrect text have been addressed, ensuring that your UI is more intuitive.

Looking Ahead: Future Fixes and Features

While the upcoming update will tackle a lot of critical issues, we’re also planning future improvements based on your feedback:

• Analogue Sticks Dead Zones: We are aware of the bug affecting analog stick dead zones, which impacts the precision of controls. This will be fixed in a future patch.
• A-Life System: Some of you have noticed issues with the game’s A-Life system — the dynamic behavior of NPCs and the living world around you. We’re actively working on fixes for this to improve the game’s immersion.

Our Commitment to Improvement

At S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, we’re committed to making your experience in the Zone as enjoyable and immersive as possible. The first patch is just the beginning, and we’ll continue to listen to your feedback, fix bugs, and improve the game. We’re grateful for your patience and dedication to the game.

Thank you again for joining us in the Zone, and we can’t wait for you to dive back into S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 once the update rolls out!

Stay tuned for more updates, and keep exploring the heart of Chornobyl!

Stay Connected
For more updates, be sure to check our official website and social media channels regularly. Your feedback helps us improve S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and we can’t do it without you!