STALKER 2 Gets Gigantic Update Right Before Launch

STALKER 2 Gets Gigantic Update Right Before Launch

Key Takeaways

  • GSC Game World rolled out a pre-release STALKER 2 update on November 18, two days ahead of the immersive sim’s debut.
  • The update is nearly 140GB in size, and essentially replaces the majority of the game’s original preload build.
  • The pre-release patch is exclusive to the Xbox Series X/S, as STALKER 2 isn’t available to preload on PC.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming experience under my belt, I must say that the news about STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s pre-release update has left me both intrigued and slightly bewildered. On one hand, it’s exciting to see such a highly anticipated game receiving an update so close to its release, suggesting a level of polish and dedication that is often missing in the industry.


The highly anticipated game titled “STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl” has received its inaugural update. Although the game isn’t released yet, this substantial update will only pique the curiosity of those who have preloaded “STALKER 2“.

After approximately six years of creation and four significant setbacks, at least one of which can be linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, STALKER 2 has reached its final production stage in early November 2024. This eagerly anticipated immersive game is slated for release on Wednesday, November 20.

The video game titled STALKER 2, due for release soon, received a massive update on November 18 from developer GSC Game World. This update is quite substantial, weighing approximately 138.9GB. For context, the initial preload of STALKer 2, released on November 11, was 146.7GB in size. Reports on social media from Xbox users who have already downloaded the update indicate that this patch primarily replaces rather than adds to the game’s existing files. As a result, it is expected that STALKER 2 will require around 150GB of storage space once the pre-release patch has been installed.

First STALKER 2 Update Is Limited to Xbox Consoles

The update for the game can only be downloaded on Xbox Series X and Series S systems. However, the PC version of STALKER 2 (which will be accessible through Steam, Xbox Store, and Epic Games Store) hasn’t been made available for preloading yet. If the update incorporates any changes applicable across multiple platforms, they will most likely be implemented in STALKER 2’s initial PC build on its release day. GSC Game World did not provide a list of changes (changelog) to go along with this patch, which is typical for pre-release updates.

On November 20th at 8am PST / 11am EST / 5pm CET, STALKER 2 is set for a worldwide simultaneous release. If you’re an Xbox Series X/S owner eager to dive into the game promptly, it’s recommended that you verify if your console has already installed the pre-launch update. This might be necessary, especially for those without high-speed internet connections. In most instances, this installation may have taken place automatically, given that modern Xbox consoles can download updates even when they’re turned off. To enable this feature, navigate to Settings > System > Updates and check the box for “Keep my games and apps up to date”.

Hey there fellow gamer! I’ve got some exciting news for us STALKER 2 enthusiasts – GSC has confirmed that the PC version is going to be quite a challenge for our rigs. To enjoy this game at its full potential, with a smooth 60fps and stunning 1440p resolution, they’re recommending we pack a punch with hardware like the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti or the Radeon RX 6800 XT. And that’s not all – they think we might need a whopping 32GB of RAM to keep things running smoothly. To top it off, an Intel Core i7-11700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor should do the trick! So, let’s make sure our gaming setup is battle-ready for STALKER 2!

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2024-11-20 00:23