S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl launched earlier this month after numerous delays. Developer GSC Game World has wasted no time addressing bugs and performance issues, releasing a substantial update for Xbox and PC platforms. This patch tackles over 650 bugs, significantly improving gameplay experience and stability.
This first major update addresses a wide range of issues, from crashes and memory leaks on PC to progression blockers that hindered players’ journeys through the Zone. Let’s delve into the comprehensive list of fixes implemented in this update.
AI Enhancements
Numerous AI improvements have been implemented, enhancing the behavior and interactions of NPCs and mutants. These fixes include:
- Preventing NPCs from becoming trapped and perishing near Shelter during Emissions.
- Addressing an issue where the Burer could knock mission items out of the player’s grasp.
- Adding missing sound effects for the Burer’s ‘Telekinesis’ ability.
- Ensuring NPCs reliably reach mission locations, preventing interaction and progression issues.
- Fixing performance drops and potential crashes in populated areas during extended play sessions.
- Correcting instances of NPCs assuming unnatural poses or levitating after death.
- Refining NPC combat behavior, enabling them to accurately assess cover and avoid shooting into obstacles.
- Over 20 additional AI-related fixes.
Optimization and Stability Improvements
This update also focuses on optimizing performance and enhancing overall game stability. Key improvements include:
- Fixing the appearance of invisible NPCs and mutants while aiming down sights.
- Correcting fire visual effects rendering issues at certain angles.
- Addressing approximately 100 crashes, memory leaks, and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION errors.
Audio and Sound Refinements
Audio and sound bugs have also been addressed, further immersing players in the Zone’s atmosphere. Fixes include:
- Preventing combat music from continuing after combat has ended.
- Seven other minor audio and sound bug fixes.
Gameplay Balance Adjustments
Several balance adjustments have been implemented to refine the gameplay experience, including:
- Reduced repair costs for weapons and armor.
- Significantly increased the value of artifacts.
- Increased monetary rewards for most missions by 2-3 times.
- Improved armor and weapon buffs on Rookie difficulty.
- Decreased mutant damage on Rookie difficulty.
- Reduced damage to the player’s weapon by 23% on Rookie difficulty.
- Increased armor durability by 12.5%.
- Added a silencer attachment for the PTM to a specific stash in the Lesser Zone.
- Adjusted the sell prices for exoskeletons and upgraded weapons.
- Rebalanced the Hercules consumable, removing the player speed debuff and increasing carry weight capacity.
- Additional minor bug fixes.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is available now on Xbox and PC.
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Combat Balancing Refinements
Further adjustments have been made to combat balance, ensuring engaging and challenging encounters:
- Reduced the weight of certain mission items, including scanners.
- Slightly rebalanced Bloodsucker damage, strike protection, and HP regeneration.
- Reduced HP for Controllers, Burers, Flesh, and Boars.
- Adjusted Boar damage values for headshots and limb shots.
- Increased damage to Flesh from limb shots.
- Significantly increased weapon melee distance.
- Slightly increased knife melee distance.
Gamepad Input Improvements
Gamepad input has been enhanced with increased dead zones for improved control and responsiveness.
Character Model and Animation Fixes
Character models and animations have received attention, with fixes including:
- Corrected eye and teeth rendering on NPC models.
- Minor fixes to NPC models and animations.
Cutscene Enhancements
Cutscenes have been polished and refined with several improvements, such as:
- Added missing footage to TV displays in the final cutscene.
- Fixed a deer animation issue in the opening cutscene.
- 20 other cutscene bug fixes.
Game Settings and Menu Improvements
Game settings and menus have been improved for better usability:
- Adjusted unreadable text in the Shader Compilation screen.
- Fixed the “Nvidia Reflex Low Latency” option not saving.
- 10 other minor menu issue fixes.
Interactable Object Fixes
Interactable objects have been refined to eliminate inconsistencies and improve gameplay flow:
- Fixed physics issues with destructible and movable objects.
- Fixed interaction prompts with glass doors in the SIRCAA inner yard.
- Added missing inner doors to the X-11 laboratory elevator.
- Additional minor bug fixes.
Quest and Mission Refinements
A significant number of quest and mission bugs have been resolved, ensuring a smoother gameplay experience. Some notable fixes include resolving progression blockers in various missions, addressing NPC behavior and dialogue issues, and correcting objective markers. Over 120 issues related to main quests, side missions, and encounters have been addressed.
Open World Enhancements
The open-world experience has been improved with fixes for graphical glitches, fast travel routes, and NPC interactions in various locations. Approximately 50 issues have been addressed.
Player Guidance, Gear, and Weapon Fixes
Fixes for player guidance, gear, and weapons include addressing issues with selling items, PDA and inventory functionality, flashlight behavior, grenade selection, and weapon/armor upgrades. Around 50 minor issues have been fixed.
Voiceover and Facial Animation Corrections
Missing voice lines and facial animations have been restored in specific missions, and radio call effects have been improved for better audio immersion.
World Environment Improvements
Flickering textures, movement issues, artifact spawn points, NPC behavior, and audio balance during storms have been addressed, fixing approximately 50 bugs related to the game world.
This comprehensive update demonstrates GSC Game World’s commitment to refining S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. These extensive bug fixes and improvements contribute significantly to a more stable and enjoyable gameplay experience.
