STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl was a rough ride at launch in 2024, but beneath all the bugs and performance hiccups, it’s a gem. GSC Game World has been grinding away since then, and their 2025 roadmap reveals some pretty cool stuff coming to the irradiated wasteland.
GSC is moving STALKER 2 over to Unreal Engine 5.5.4, preparing to improve optimization and overall performance. Alongside that, they’ll launch phase two of the Zone Kit, which means modders will get better tools for audio and storytelling. If you’re into mods, this could be a game-changer.
What else? Quite a bit. New anomalies will show up, along with new missions from both old and new characters. There’s a new weather scenario on the way, plus a Master difficulty preset for those who want a more formidable challenge. Day and night cycles will stretch out longer, and stashes will get a loot rework. Stamina and energy drinks won’t feel the same either, thanks to some adjustments. Player equipment UI is getting a facelift, and there’ll be an interesting display mode for better atmosphere. Oh, and if you’re paranoid about saves, local save backup restoration is coming.
There’s even a tease of a special Discord Holiday Event. That’s a nice touch to keep the community engaged during the year.
On the console front, STALKER 2 is heading to PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro in late 2025. The PS5 Pro version should bring some upgrades thanks to the beefier hardware. A firm release date might drop at Gamescom’s Opening Night Live since the game will be playable on PS5 Pro there. Pretty neat timing, huh?
GSC did mention that some mission targets might shift beyond 2025 if the Zone gets unstable again. That’s kinda fitting for a game all about unpredictable radioactive zones.
