STALKER 2 Reveals Fixes Coming in Future Update

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Key Takeaways

  • The first post-release STALKER 2 update is coming on the week of November 25.
  • The patch will introduce fixes, improvements, and changes related to crashes, quest progression blockers, gameplay balance, visual glitches, and more.
  • Controller deadzone settings and fixes for STALKER 2’s A-Life system issues won’t be part of the upcoming update, but both are promised to be on the way.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation as I await the first post-release update for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Having been through countless game launches, I’ve learned to be patient when it comes to patches, especially for games as ambitious as this one.

In a recent announcement, GSC Game World has disclosed several bug fixes and modifications that will be incorporated into the initial post-launch update for “STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl“. The anticipated update for “STALKER 2” is set to be released towards the end of November 2024.

On November 20th, the fourth installment in GSC’s immersive sim series, STALKER 2, became available for purchase both online and in physical stores. By this time, the game had already undergone several updates, with the most recent one nearly overhauling the preload build on Xbox Series X/S. However, only those who received a review copy of the game could experience the enhancements brought about by these updates firsthand.

Regarding the initial post-launch update for “STALKER 2”, developer GSC Game World announced on Saturday, November 23 that it will be released during the week of November 25. The update will be available for both the Xbox and PC versions of “STALKER 2” simultaneously. In this update, GSC plans to address various issues such as crashes, quest progression, gameplay balance, visual problems, and user interface elements.

The upcoming update for STALKER 2 is set to address several issues causing it to crash, as well as various bugs that hinder progression of the main quest. These issues include NPCs getting stuck in terrain or objects, faulty quest markers, and glitched cutscenes. Additionally, the patch will rectify a peculiar bug that can cause a soft-lock if ammo is placed incorrectly while using a gamepad in the trading interface, making it impossible to exit the menu.

Upcoming STALKER 2 Update Won’t Address All Known Issues With the Game

The update won’t resolve all the problems in the game that GSC has identified since November 20th. One issue yet to be addressed is the absence of controller stick deadzone settings in STALKER 2, a feature the developer has announced but not specified a release date for. This can make it difficult to control the game effectively on day-one, especially for controllers with even minor stick drift due to the lack of a default deadzone offset.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed some ongoing issues with the A-Life system in Stalker 2 that the developers at GSC are working hard to resolve. From what I’ve experienced so far, it seems like enemies tend to pop up way too close to me, which can be quite disruptive and takes away from the immersive experience I was hoping for. The good news is that they have confirmed they’re working on improvements for the A-Life system, but these updates won’t be included in the initial patch aimed at addressing Stalker 2’s launch issues.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Late November 2024 Update: Preliminary Patch Notes

  • Crash Fixes, including:
    • Issues and memory allocation failures, which previously caused the game to exit unexpectedly, particularly around rendering, skeletal meshes, and quest-related cutscenes.
  • Main Quest Progression Fixes, including:
    • Several bugs blocking the main quest progression, NPCs getting stuck in objects, incorrect quest markers, and issues with quest cutscenes.
    • Revision of the main quests (like Visions of Truth or A Minor Incident) to ensure smooth transitions, avoiding rare cases of players not being able to proceed further.
  • Gameplay & Balance Adjustments, including:
    • Fixing the price of the weapons with upgrades installed compared to their value without attachments.
    • NPCs behavior, including the way they act when lacking a shelter during the Emissions.
  • Cutscenes & Visual Fixes, including:
    • Rarely missing facial animations, misplaced NPCs, and visual inconsistencies like detached heads and clothes clipping.
    • Quality and stability improvements of the visual effects.
  • Softlock Fixes, including:
    • Issue where players were unable to close the trade screen after putting ammo in a wrong slot while playing on a gamepad.
  • User Interface Improvements, including:
    • Quest notifications now showed correctly during dialogues.
    • Corrected texts and missing interaction prompts.
  • Noted to be addressed in future updates:
    • Analogue sticks dead zones bugfixes.
    • A-Life system bugfixes.

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2024-11-24 00:04