Stalker 2’s Big Patch Fixes A-Life, Game Profitable

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s Major Patch 1.1 and Profitability

GSC Game World’s Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has received its first major patch, addressing over 1800 issues. This update significantly improves the game’s A-Life system, a key element responsible for the natural behavior of NPCs.

A-Life Improvements and More

Patch 1.1 focuses heavily on A-Life fixes and AI enhancements. The A-Life 2.0 system, designed to make the game world feel alive and dynamic, was previously criticized for feeling scripted. The patch aims to remedy this by increasing NPC encounters, improving navigation, and making them more proactive in expanding territory and attacking. The patch also includes:

• AI improvements for both NPCs and enemies
• Increased rewards for several missions
• A fix for an infinite money exploit
• Performance improvements in densely populated areas
• Numerous crash fixes and performance optimizations

GSC Game World announced the game has also become profitable. Studio owner Maxim Krippa confirmed at least two expansions and multiplayer are planned, though details remain scarce. The full patch notes are available on Steam.

Initial Launch Challenges and Developer Response

Stalker 2 faced criticism at launch for performance issues. Despite this, GSC Game World’s CEO, Ievgen Grygorovych, stated that delaying the release was not feasible due to the immense workload and fatigue of the team. Creative director Mariia Grygorovych acknowledged the imperfections but emphasized the game’s soul and passion.

The developers expressed gratitude for player support and feedback, promising continued work on the game to address further issues.