STALKER 2 To Get Important Feature Missing From Its Day-One Version

STALKER 2 To Get Important Feature Missing From Its Day-One Version

Key Takeaways

  • GSC is working on adding controller stick deadzone settings to STALKER 2.
  • The absence of this feature, paired with the game’s lack of a default deadzone offset, prevented many controller players from enjoying STALKER 2 at launch due to stick drift.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief and anticipation upon hearing that STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl will finally be getting controller stick deadzone settings. The initial launch left me, and many others like me who prefer controllers, feeling rather frustrated due to the game’s lack of this essential feature.


As an eager fan, I’m thrilled to hear that the developers at GSC Game World have confirmed they will be adding controller stick deadzone settings for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. For those, like me, who prefer to play immersive sims with a controller, the absence of this feature in the initial release has made it challenging to fully immerse ourselves in the game. This update is sure to enhance our gaming experience!

Stick drift, a phenomenon when a gamepad’s analog stick sends a signal to move even when the player isn’t touching it, is among modern gaming’s biggest annoyances. One of the most common ways the industry has been dealing with this issue involves granular deadzone settings, which let users set the stick radius within which all input is ignored. However, such solutions are typically not system-wide and depend on developers to implement them on a per-game basis.

Following the launch of STALKER 2 on November 20, some players using controllers were met with unexpected challenges due to the lack of deadzone settings and a default deadzone offset in the game. This was problematic for many fans as it affected their gaming experience, particularly those whose controllers have minimal stick drift. GSC Game World acknowledged the issue on November 21 via a post on the official STALKER 2 Discord server and later reiterated this on Reddit, indicating they are working to address the situation.

There’s Currently No Time Frame for STALKER 2’s Controller Deadzone Settings

The Ukrainian developer hasn’t given an exact schedule for when they’ll add the controller deadzone settings to STALKER 2, but it’s expected to come to both the PC and Xbox versions eventually. For now, console owners who also have compatible PC peripherals might want to note that the game can be played on the Xbox Series X and S using a mouse and keyboard in the interim.

In the game STALKER 2, some players have raised concerns beyond the missing default stick deadzone offset and related settings with the controls. Specifically, PC gamers have expressed dissatisfaction over how the game manages quick access consumable slots, which are limited to only two keys that can be simultaneously pressed and held for up to four different items. Critics argue that this controller-inspired system is unwarranted for mouse and keyboard users, as the F1–F4 function keys could have been used effectively in the same role, similar to their use in the original three STALKER games.

Despite some potential technical hiccups, the debut of STALKER 2 turned out to be quite impressive, drawing in more than 110,000 players simultaneously on Steam just hours after its release. Given that it was unveiled mid-week, it’s reasonable to expect this immersive game to surpass its current peak concurrent player count over the weekend of November 23.

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2024-11-21 17:43