STALKER 2 Gets Huge Patch With 1200 Fixes

STALKER 2 has just rolled out its most extensive patch to date, featuring over 1200 changes and fixes that tackle nearly every issue plaguing the game. Dive in to discover the highlights and what they enhance.

STALKER 2 Patch Fixes Over 1200 Issues

Balance Fixes, Better Performance, Tweaks To Main and Side Quests, and More

Horror-themed action and immersive sim S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, also known simply as STALKER 2, has launched Patch 1.3, promising an enhanced gameplay experience. Fans can now venture back into the revamped Chornobyl Exclusion Zone with over 1200 tweaks and improvements. These updates address various aspects from gameplay enhancements like combat mechanics and balance changes to fixing main and side quests, alongside numerous bug fixes and performance upgrades for greater immersion.

Developers GSC Game World have meticulously documented every change in the full patch notes, which are available on the game’s official website. For those eager to jump straight into the action or who don't have time to sift through extensive notes, the key highlights are summarized on the game’s Steam community page.

Key highlights of the patch include combat improvements such as smoother AI pathing for mutant enemies and enhanced ambush behaviors, adding an extra layer of challenge for players navigating the Zone’s hostile terrain. The Archiartifacts have also been rebalanced, with significant adjustments to the Weird Kettle, which now provides a debuff corresponding to the type of food consumed, removing the previous randomization.

Several game-breaking bugs have been resolved, including a bug that allowed players to permanently stack the effects of unequipped artifacts, numerous glitches that blocked story or quest progression, and issues with NPCs, such as missing guide NPCs or NPCs obstructing player movement.

GSC Game World remains committed to continuously improving the game, following a somewhat turbulent and buggy launch. At the end of the patch notes, they encourage players to submit feedback to the game’s Technical Support Center whenever they encounter an "unexpected anomaly," allowing the team to "take a closer look at it to annihilate and destroy the danger to the Zone."

Huge Patches Are Normal For STALKER 2

While 1,200 bug fixes for Patch 1.3 might seem substantial, it's par for the course for STALKER 2 and GSC Game World, who have a history of releasing sizable update patches. The previous Patch 1.2 brought over 1,700 fixes, so many that the Steam community page couldn't list them all. However, Patch 1.1 outdid them all with a massive 110 GB of patch content and 1,800 fixes.

With each major update delivering at least 1,000 fixes, the developers have their work cut out for them. However, the number of fixes required is steadily decreasing with each new patch, indicating ongoing improvements and fewer issues to address.