STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Releases Important New Update for November 2025

With the release of the PlayStation 5 version, GSC Game World has launched Update 1.7 for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. This update addresses many problems and adds several improvements to make the game more enjoyable. It’s exciting news for STALKER 2 fans, as the game is now available on PlayStation 5, bringing it to a wider audience.

Despite a very difficult development process – including delays, financial problems, and the war in Ukraine – the team behind STALKER 2 managed to launch a successful game. It sold extremely well and attracted a large player base on Xbox and PC. Now that the game is also available on PlayStation 5, the studio has the potential to reach even more players and achieve further success.

Update 1.7 is a significant improvement for STALKER 2, addressing over 90 crashes and boosting the game’s performance. It also includes many quality-of-life enhancements. Key improvements include more realistic enemy behavior, with different groups battling for control of areas, giving players new ways to approach combat. The update also makes stealth easier, as players are now better hidden by plants and other scenery.

The game has received several updates, including a redesigned user interface and inventory system with a new radiation bar and five quality levels for items. A new “Master” difficulty has been added for experienced players, but it removes manual and automatic saving, relying instead on checkpoints at key moments and when traveling between major areas. The developers at GSC Game World advise players that this update may cause issues with modifications (mods) and suggest disabling them if performance problems occur.

This update is especially crucial for players now experiencing STALKER 2 on PlayStation 5. After a year of being exclusive to Xbox, the game is now available on PS5, and early reports show it runs much better with Update 1.7 installed. Without this update, PS5 players have been encountering numerous technical issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Essentially, Update 1.7 acts as a launch patch for the PS5 version, resolving crashes, bugs, and generally improving the game’s stability.

The future looks promising for STALKER 2. GSC Game World recently shared with fans that the game is in much better shape than it was a year ago, thanks to numerous updates, improvements, and bug fixes. They’ve also confirmed that all future updates and content will be released on all platforms simultaneously. The PS5 version will include special features like haptic feedback and gyro aiming, and PS5 Pro owners will enjoy enhanced global illumination and weather effects.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Update 1.7 Patch Notes

AI and Combat System

Now, NPCs and even mutants fight for control of points of interest, checkpoints, and locations (except for hubs). They also fiercely defend their lairs and territories from particularly annoying neighbors – stalkers. Should you rush into the thick of the battle or stay out of it? It’s up to you!
With update 1.7, it has become harder for enemies to spot you in tall grass or reeds and to aim through bushes. Shootouts in swamps will finally be fair! Now you can use the vegetation to its fullest, but be careful: the closer you get to the enemies, the higher the risk of being spotted.
Fixed some issues with incorrect NPC locations.
Improved AI response to player hostile actions.
Optimization of NPC behavior during ejection.
Fixed an issue where A-Life NPCs would sometimes move to the side after detecting an enemy.
Fixed an issue where A-Life NPCs would not move after loading a save made on the way to the shelter.
Fixed an issue where NPCs could take damage from explosions while behind multiple walls.
Fixed an issue where some boars appeared as human NPCs near Malachite, causing the game to crash.
Fixed an issue where the controller could attack zombified NPCs under control.
Fixed an issue where NPCs would not react to Gauss Cannon shots hitting near them.
Adjusted the combat behavior of bandits in the prologue.
Fixed mutant death animations in some specific cases.
Fixed an issue where NPCs would not return to their destination point after a sudden battle.
Fixed an issue where random neutral stalkers would become enemies of the player character.
Fixed an issue where NPCs would get stuck in a loop when drawing weapons.
Fixed an issue where NPCs could not shoot at a player after they crawled too close while crouching.
Fixed an issue where mutants could change position while jumping in mid-air.
Fixed an issue where some NPCs were not hiding from the ejection and were dying in the Zalissia location.

BUGFIXES, CRASHES, AND OPTIMIZATIONS

Fixed an issue where the player could die instantly after fast moving
Fixed visual issues with anomalies.
Fixed an issue where the player could not mount the x8 scope on the Mark I EMR.
Fixed an issue where upgrades for the M860 were not displayed.
Fixed an issue with mutants having a delayed reaction when killed.
Fixed an issue where the game could freeze at the beginning of a release.
Fixed an issue where the game would freeze if Skiff was knocked over by mutants while sitting by a campfire.
Fixed an issue where backup files were sorted randomly after reopening the backup menu.
Fixed an issue where the cursor would become uncontrollable after placing a custom marker with a gamepad.
Fixed an issue where notifications about receiving records would remain on the screen indefinitely.
Fixed an issue where if Numpad 5 and 2 were assigned to move forward/backward, camera rotation up/down would also be activated.
Fixed an issue where some steel shells on the ground appeared completely black.
Fixed an issue where some metal objects would change color when approached.
Fixed an issue where the modified buttons for using the PNB did not work during dialogues.
Fixed an issue where aim assist would turn off after opening the pause menu.
Fixed an issue where the player could not activate the NVG using the mouse wheel while climbing a ladder.
Fixed an issue where the psi effect remained after leaving the danger zone for some users.
Fixed an issue where some players could become immortal after a certain mission.
Fixed an issue where a very loud water sound effect could be heard around NDICHAZ and around swamps.
Reduced resource consumption before cutscenes begin.
Optimization of performance when the projectile hits the surface.
Optimization of pomegranate productivity.
Fixed an issue that caused performance issues for objects inside anomalies.
Fixed an issue where a lantern would appear above the head of a PNB NPC.
Fixed infinite loading on saves made in the bar.
Fixed the inability to make two saves in a row after overwriting or deleting the previous one.
Fixed an infinite loading screen on saves made on the Noon base.
Fixed an issue where aim assist would not work after loading a save.
Over 90 crashes fixed.

OPTIMIZATION

This list only highlights a few of the improvements we’ve made. We’ve also done a lot of behind-the-scenes work to boost performance on all devices, in every setting, and with all graphics options.

Optimized foliage meshes (performance changes may be especially noticeable in the Red Forest).
Optimized leaf materials.
Optimized Rostock buildings (architecture polygons and collision improvements).
Optimized buildings in the Arc region (architecture polygons and collision improvements).
Streaming optimization in the most intensive locations (Zalisya, Rostock, Terikon).
Optimized lighting in Terikon, Zalissy, NDICHAZ, Rostock.
Optimized NPC skeletal meshes.
Optimized grooms.
Optimized and adjusted skeletal meshes.
Optimized refresh rate of simulated components.
Optimized updating of elements used in contextual actions.
Optimized clothing simulation.
Optimized animation update.

MAIN STORYLINE, SIDE MISSIONS AND OPEN WORLD

Fixed an issue where Skew’s body would become inaccessible to the player if he was killed without initiating dialogue during the mission Needle in the Haystack
Fixed an issue where the player could access the first floor of the Chemical Plant from the roof and could not exit during the Cage Escape mission .
Many immersion fixes for the School of Life mission .
Fixed an issue where Scar was missing from the X17 lab during the mission Images of Absolute Truth .
Fixed an issue where all dialogue with Varan would be blocked if the player lost reputation after accepting the mission Deal with the Devil .
Fixed an issue where the player could receive a higher reward after completing a quest from Molfar.
Fixed an issue where the quest to kill a bloodsucker remained active after being killed during the Nightingale Hunt mission .
Fixed an issue where the player could not continue the mission The Treasured Desire .
Optimized resource consumption for the cutscene with Dalin and Korshunov in room D2 during the mission The Desired Desire .
Fixed an issue where the quest would not complete after receiving the basement coordinates during the Poppy Field mission .
Fixed an issue where the player could not receive a cash reward from the Nightingale after giving him a dog collar during the Dog Facility mission .
Fixed an issue where a Guard squad could die from ejection during the Answers Are Expensive mission .
Fixed an issue where the weather would not change after a certain stage in the game.
Design improvements for many locations.
Fixed an issue where Zhuzha and Gonta could not start a fight in a scene if the last Snork was killed close to Gonta.
Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented Richter from initiating dialogue during the War Mole mission .
Fixed an issue that caused Agatha to disappear after dialogue during the mission The Treasured Desire .
Fixed an issue that prevented the quest from being completed during the mission Final Preparations .
Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented the completion of the Happiness for All mission .
Fixed an issue that prevented dialogue from starting during the Valley of the Shadow of Death mission .
Fixed an issue that prevented Scar from initiating dialogue during the Eternal Shine mission .
Fixed an issue that prevented Degtyarev from initiating dialogue during the War Mole mission .
Fixed an issue that prevented dialogue from starting during the Legends of the Zone mission .
Fixed an issue where Richter would not move during the mission A Hard Awakening .
Fixed an issue where Dalin could be absent during the Guardians of Order mission .
Fixed an issue where Scar was missing from the Depot during the Invisible Threat mission .
Fixed an issue where the player’s camera would permanently lock after one of the encounters in the Zone.
Fixed an issue where the Signal of Hope mission would not cancel after starting the Good Old Days mission .
Fixed an issue with the inability to start a new stage during the Dead Frequency mission .
Fixed an issue that prevented the cutscene from starting during the Return to Terrikon mission .
Fixed an issue that caused the player to get stuck in dialogue with Gonta.
Fixed an issue that prevented bandits from spawning during the Fatty Scum mission .

SUPPORT FOR MODIFICATIONS

Support for detecting and notifying mod conflicts: in-game pop-up window with a list of conflicting mods
Detailed conflict dump (with information about exact conflicting CFG nodes) in AppData – Mod conflicts.csv
Selective download (Zone Kit is divided into several parts: The Lesser Zone Kit, Zone Kit Editor, Cutscenes, World Map)

With the Zone Kit, you can customize STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl to your liking! Create new content like animations, weapons, and gameplay mechanics, or modify what’s already there. Official mod support is here, letting you share your creations and use mods made by other players. Find and download mods from Steam Workshop and Mod.io. If you’re interested in making your own, download the Zone Kit here: store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/stalker-2-zone-kit

OTHER UPDATES

The detector size in the inventory has been changed to 1×1.
Fixed an issue where the NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency option could be disabled after restarting the game.
The visual effects of artifacts and items have been slightly reworked.
Fixed 3D audio with Dolby Atmos for headphones and other spatial plug-ins for Windows.
Added an option to mute headshot sound.
Improved voice clarity near NPCs.
Added icons for partially hidden caches on the map.
A few more weapon attachments have been placed throughout the Zone.
Improved font readability for Japanese, Chinese, and Korean languages.
Some tutorials have been improved.

2025-11-20 17:07