GSC Game World has launched the first official patch forStalker 2and it brings more than 650 fixes. As well as fixing some smaller issues, patch 1.0.1 is said to remedy some of the game-breaking bugs that have beset the survival horror since its November 20 launch. GSC has also said that the patch fixes some balancing issues, including the nerfing of the infuriating Bloodsuckers.
A mixed launch
Stalker 2has had a mixed launch. The title was first announced in 2010, following the launch ofCall of Pripyat. However, GSC was shut down a year later before reopening to launchCossacks 3in 2014. In 2018, the team once again stated they were working on aStalkersequel, titledStalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl.
Since then, the Ukrainian studio has been hit by pandemics and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which brought on the unfortunate death of a developer working on the game. In light of the invasion, GSC moved its headquarters to Prague, a huge process in itself, but the new offices then suffered a fire in 2023. They also had cyber attacks and a massive data leak to contend with. ThatStalker 2launched at all is something of a miracle. And, in this regard, it’s perhaps not surprising that the game was plagued with bugs.
Despite the bugs,Stalker 2has enjoyed good reviews. It currently has a critic review of 73 out of 100 on Metacritic, and 7.9 out of 10 for user reviews. It has been praised for its gritty and atmospheric game world. While some reviews stateStalker 2’sChernobyl is lifeless, that hasn’t been the experience of most players, especially not those with a history of playingStalkergames.
It is worth noting that a lot of reviews were based on a prerelease version of the game. GSC was adamant that the game needed a day 1 patch to even be playable. As such, they didn’t send out review copies to the gaming press.
At the same time, several stores started selling copies of the game prior to its embargo date. Desperate to get reviews up as early as possible, journalists bought and reviewed copies of the game before it officially launched. This bypassed the day 1 patch, which brought some critical fixes. Notably, reviews that came a few days later were less critical of bugs.
Patch updates
The day 1 patch didn’t fix everything, though. And, that is immediately obvious when you consider that thefirst major post-launch patch, 1.0.1, includes more than 650 fixes. This does include some minor changes, but also resolution to some huge issues. The patch was released on November 29 on Steam, PC, and Xbox, and, according to GMC, it included:
The patch was quickly followed up, a day later, by patch 1.0.2 on Steam, bringing a handful more fixes and patches, remedying some mission bugs.
To all stalkers who continue to explore the Zone in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2: Heart of Chornobyl — Patch 1.0.2 on PC (Steam, Epic Store, GOG) is now available for download. It will also be available for download on Xbox and Microsoft Store soon.The patch brings fixes for crashes and…pic.twitter.com/V4wcIBFAvW
What’s next?
GSC Game World previously admitted that the launch had rough edges while stating they would be launching patches to fix issues. At the same time, they also promised free in-game content. The team hasn’t announced when the free content will be made available but has said they plan to make an announcement later in December when they launch a detailed roadmap.
WhileStalker 2may have disappointed a lot of day-one gamers, it has still sold more than a million copies. And, if you consider the likes ofCyberpunk 2077andNo Man’s Sky, those games suffered equally challenging launches and have gone on to become highly acclaimed titles after multiple improvements and patches.
