By Engine revamp and plenty of extras
- written by Robert Ramsey
The creators of STALKER, GSC Game World, have once again confirmed their commitment to delivering an extensive slate of upgrades for STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl before 2025 draws to a close.
Many of these refinements are expected to land near the release window of the PS5 edition announced back in early July, with the port also slated for a launch sometime before year’s end.
At the top of the list is a substantial leap in the game’s underlying tech. As the studio states on Steam: “Our primary near-term focus is migrating the build to Unreal Engine 5.5.4. This introduces fresh assets and utilities that will enrich the Zone, but above all—leveraging the newest UE5 optimisations promises noticeably steadier performance and fewer crashes.”
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STALKER 2 ran into notable optimisation hiccups upon its November launch on PC and Xbox Series X|S. While most of the more severe hitches have since been ironed out, news of further engine-driven stability gains is always welcome.
Other upcoming tweaks and new content include…
- Brand-new exploration gear
- Numerous gameplay balance adjustments
- Extra ambient open-world encounters
- Fully-fledged new story missions
- An additional weather system
- A fresh ‘master’ challenge setting
- Lengthened day-night cycle duration
- A complete loot overhaul
- Revised stamina and energy mechanics
- A more ‘immersive’ display preset
- Modernised user-interface elements
Do bear in mind that GSC Game World doesn’t entirely promise every bullet point before 2025 ends — they concede that timelines may shift — yet that remains the goal. Fingers crossed the studio’s roadmap rolls out without major setbacks.
Eager to dive into STALKER 2 on PS5? Sound off in the comments below.
[source store.steampowered.com]
Robert (or Rob if you’re feeling brief) is an assistant editor at Push Square and a lifelong PlayStation devotee since the 90s, when Tekken 2 pulled him headlong into gaming. He still competes in fighters religiously, yet RPGs carry his heart—The Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales, you name it. Some say he’s spent far too many hours in them.