‘They listened! They listened!’: Stalker restores Soviet monument after angry fans tanked its Steam reviews, and they couldn’t be happier

by

After fans cratered the Stalker trilogy’s Steam reviews to ‘Mostly negative’ in the hours immediately following launch, GSC Game World has released patch 1.0.1 for its “fully remastered and optimised” trio of original Stalker games. This one promises fixes for crashes across multiple platforms, issues with the games remembering what the hell your settings are and, crucially, “Fixed issues with missing geometry on several levels.”

Instead of getting excited about it right away, the important aspect is which geometry has been restored in the Stalker remasters that were released last Tuesday. However, upon release, fans did express their discontent. They criticized the blurry graphics (something I didn’t find problematic even after 20+ hours of playing Shadow of Chornobyl), problems with adjusting settings, and, most notably, the absence of a Russian audio setting and the omission of Soviet landmarks from the games.

It appears that GSC is changing their stance regarding one of those two matters. Patch 1.0.1 has brought back the monument/sign that was removed earlier, which stands near the Chornobyl power plant itself and reads (in Russian) “ChAES in the name of VI Lenin.” Fans are thrilled about this change, with one popular post on the Stalker subreddit exclaiming, “They listened! They listened! They listened!” The user continues by stating that while there are still some issues with the Enhanced Edition, they’re glad the developers are working to fix the game and not ignoring feedback.

1) One individual expresses their excitement: “It’s amazing they paid attention… but I’m thrilled they did, they made the right decision.”

2) Another commenter agrees: “Absolutely, these landmarks are integral to the Zone and its time-warp history. There’s no need to dismantle them. Well done, GSC,” they say.

Fans seem quite pleased, and since GSC has stated they will keep working on refining the trilogy, there might be solutions soon for the blur problems and any remaining Soviet artifacts. However, it’s unlikely that Russian audio will return—for valid reasons—but a key aspect of the Zone’s charm lies in its timelessness: the Soviet relics significantly contribute to this feeling.

According to GSC, they value your feedback and are diligently addressing major concerns. Their aim is to make your return to the Zone an exceptional experience. Frankly, I found the remasters to be the ideal way to enjoy these timeless games. With more improvements like these, they’re quickly moving towards becoming all-time favorites.

Fans seem quite content, and since GSC has pledged to keep refining the trilogy, we might expect solutions soon for the visual glitches and any remaining Soviet artifacts. However, I’m skeptical that the games will restore Russian audio—for valid reasons—but a key aspect of the Zone as a setting is its detachment from time, and the Soviet relics play a significant role in maintaining this feel.

As a fellow Stalker, let me tell you, your feedback matters to us at GSC, and we are tirelessly working on resolving the most pressing issues in the game. Our aim is to make your return to the Zone an extraordinary experience. Frankly, I thought the remasters were already top-notch for enjoying these timeless classics. But with more fixes like these? We’re not just enhancing the games, we’re elevating them to the status of all-time greats.

2025 Games: This year’s anticipated new titles

Best PC Games: Our top pick classics

Free PC Games: A free gaming extravaganza

Best FPS Games: Superior shooting experiences

Best RPGs: Magnificent epic journeys

Best Co-op Games: Enhanced teamwork adventures

Read More

2025-05-23 16:47