“GSC has sabotaged my save”: STALKER 2 player gets hilariously blocked by an NPC who won’t get out of a doorway — even after days of waiting

"GSC has sabotaged my save": STALKER 2 player gets hilariously blocked by an NPC who won't get out of a doorway — even after days of waiting

What you need to know

  • GSC Game World’s highly anticipated open-world survival shooter STALKER 2 has finally come out on Xbox and Windows PC, but it’s got its fair share of issues.
  • Some of the game’s bugs are more serious in nature, though many are relatively inconsequential and quite funny.
  • One of the latter glitches is a bug in which NPCs can get stuck in doorways permanently, preventing players from moving through. One such issue has affected the military game YouTuber OperatorDrewski, who’s uploaded screenshots and clips of it on social media.
  • In them, a Freedom stalker named Mark Joint is seen standing in a door for days on end, refusing to budge no matter what OperatorDrewski does. Thankfully, there’s another door he can use nearby to get in and out of the building he’s in.

As a long-time fan of the Stalker series and a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent navigating through the treacherous landscapes of Chernobyl, I must say that the latest addition to the franchise, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, has not disappointed. Despite its share of issues, it remains a captivating and immersive experience that harks back to the original games’ charm.


Although STALKER 2 by GSC Game World, the latest release, isn’t nearly as faulty as the original STALKER games upon their launch, it still encounters its own set of glitches and problems on both Xbox and Windows PC. Severe issues like a malfunctioning dynamic AI simulation system called A-Life or missing controller deadzones on Xbox are significant concerns that the developer is diligently addressing promptly. However, there are also minor, even amusing bugs popping up during gameplay in The Zone, providing an unexpected and unplanned comedic element to the experience.

One of the latter mishaps has been encountered by the military game YouTuber OperatorDrewski, who’s recently shared a few clips and screenshots of an NPC from STALKER 2’s Freedom faction blocking a doorway and refusing to budge — even after days of waiting. You can watch one of them in the embedded social media post below, in which the stalker comically stands vigil for days on end as hardbass EDM music plays. Cue the “DOOR STUCK! DOOR STUCK!” jokes.

Following my comments on problems in STALKER 2’s A-Life system, OperatorDrewski shared on Twitter that GSC blocked his progress by placing an unmovable Freedomer character in front of a door in his save game. He can’t push the character and it hasn’t moved for days. The Freedomer doesn’t seem to eat or sleep either. Despite the frustrating situation, OperatorDrewski continues to express fondness for the game. In a subsequent video titled ‘HELP,’ he is seen attempting various ways to get past the stuck character without success.

It appears that no one can block a door as efficiently as the renowned Mark Joint. Initially, I assumed OperatorDrewski was stuck behind a human roadblock, destined to spend forever waiting for him to move, knowing that shooting him would provoke numerous NPCs around him. However, one of the videos reveals a fortunate turn of events: there’s another clear exit door close by within the same building he’s in. Even if such an alternative wasn’t available, he could have simply reverted to a previous save file.

Despite having to navigate a longer route each time you wish to engage with NPCs within the building, I find it quite endearing due to the humor it provides. Reminders of such challenges are familiar from 2007’s STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl, where groups of Duty Stalkers would congest a shipping container serving as the only passage through the partition separating Rostok base from the Wild Territory area. Seeing a similar occurrence in 2024’s STALKER 2 brings back fond memories.

As a researcher delving into the latest installment of this game series, I’ve noticed a recurring issue that harks back to the original – NPC stalkers inexplicably struggling to lie down comfortably in beds, much like the predicament seen frequently in Call of Pripyat from 2009. While it appears less frequent in Heart of Chornobyl, be prepared for unexpected scenes such as an NPC seeming to float above their bed or inadvertently clipping into the bedframe.

"GSC has sabotaged my save": STALKER 2 player gets hilariously blocked by an NPC who won't get out of a doorway — even after days of waiting

I’d be quite content if these little charming bugs stayed in STALKER 2 indefinitely, but they might not stick around for much longer. In fact, GSC Game World is planning to roll out the game’s first patch this week to tackle a variety of problems. They’ve assured us that more updates will follow to squash any remaining issues.

While waiting, feel free to monitor the rapid release of STALKER 2 mods post-launch. There are already numerous ones addressing performance matters, and I wouldn’t be shocked if some more pop up with bug fixes as well. A mod like UETools might help you bypass issues such as NPCs blocking doorways, since it offers a console command for passing through walls and characters (“noclipping”).

The highly anticipated game, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. This year, it’s been recognized as one of the top games for both Xbox and PC platforms. With an MSRP of $59.99, it’s a significant investment, but currently, you can find a discount at CDKeys. Additionally, you can play it via Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

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2024-11-26 02:09