Unveiling STALKER 2's schedule for the remaining months of 2025 - preparations for the exclusion zone promise surprising developments
The post-apocalyptic first-person shooter, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, has been making waves since its release on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud, Windows PC (Epic Games Store and Steam), and is now available on various digital platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, GOG, Game Legends, and CDKeys. The game is also available on Xbox Game Pass.
The developers, GSC Game World, have announced a series of updates and improvements planned for the rest of 2025. Here's a breakdown of what players can expect:
Engine Upgrade and Optimization
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to receive an upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.5.4, aimed at improving optimization, stability, and performance. Although the exact date for this upgrade hasn't been specified, it's expected to happen this year.
A-Life System Updates
Significant improvements are coming to the A-Life system, including better NPC vision mechanics, updated NPC and mutant combat behavior, and general technical enhancements to the zone’s ecosystem.
New Gear Additions
Players can look forward to new gear additions such as various night vision devices and binoculars.
PS5 Launch
On November 20, 2025, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl will launch on PS5 and PS5 Pro, featuring PS5-exclusive features and enhancements for PS5 Pro.
Zone Kit Updates
The Zone Kit is being updated from Phase 1 to Phase 2, including Audio modding (Wwise), Narrative tools, improved compatibility of various mods, enhanced Blueprints Modification Support, and technical improvements and optimization.
Additional Updates
Other updates include local save backup restoration, further optimized and "anomalies" fixing, and a multiplayer mode, which is currently in development.
Holiday Event and Expansions
GSC Game World has also announced a Discord Holiday Event and two major expansions for STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The expansions will introduce new Anomalies, missions, a new weather scenario, a Master difficulty preset, an extended day/night cycle, Stashes loot rework, Stamina and energy drink rework, Immersive display mode, Player equipment UI update, and more UI updates and improvements.
Price Drop
For those who haven't yet had a chance to play, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is now available for US$47.10 on Amazon, making it an affordable addition to any gaming collection.
In summary, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is receiving updates throughout 2025, with a focus on optimization, A-Life system improvements, new gear additions, and the much-anticipated PS5 launch. This roadmap reflects GSC Game World’s commitment to ongoing improvements, but also notes that some update timings may shift due to major engine upgrades.
| Date | Event/Update | Details | |---------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------| | Throughout 2025 | Unreal Engine 5.5.4 upgrade | Optimization, stability, performance gains | | Throughout 2025 | A-Life system updates | NPC vision, combat tweaks, mutant balance | | Throughout 2025 | New gear additions | Night vision, binoculars | | November 20, 2025 | PS5 and PS5 Pro launch | PS5 exclusive features and enhancements |
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