Update 1.7 for STALKER 2 Heart of Chornobyl delivers one of the most extensive patches yet, introducing Master Difficulty, Expedition Mode, and an overhauled A-Life system that reshapes faction control, NPC behavior, and enemy encounters. Combat feels more dynamic with improved vision logic, realistic detection in vegetation, and refined flanking and retreat behavior. Significant updates also enhance equipment stats, stamina, anomalies, and controller aiming, while Immersive Mode and new weather scenarios further deepen the atmosphere.
The patch includes sweeping bug fixes across AI, quests, environments, UI, animation, audio, and world interaction, accompanied by major performance and optimization improvements across numerous regions and systems. With expanded mod support, selective downloads, additional features, and system refinements, Update 1.7 marks a pivotal upgrade for the entire STALKER 2 experience.
Full Patch Notes
Highlights
- Fixes and improvements to the A-Life system
- Master Difficulty added
- Expedition Mode added
- Can only be selected at game start
- NPC vision and combat updates
- Inventory and equipment stat revisions
- Stamina and sprint rework
- New anomalies added
- Controller aim improvements
- Immersive Mode
- Light rainy weather scenario
- SD cards with coupons
AI and Combat
- Numerous A-Life fixes and improvements
- Factions now expand or lose territory dynamically
- Points of interest, checkpoints, and locations now contested by NPCs and mutants
- Improved stealth detection in tall grass and reeds
- Reduced accuracy of enemies shooting through bushes
- Improved flanking logic and retreat behavior
- Updated NPC combat distance selection
- Adjusted combat animation timings
- New mutant death animations
- Fixed issues with inhabitant placement areas
- Improved AI reaction to hostile actions
- NPC behavior improvements during Emissions
- Fixed NPC movement issues after detecting enemies
- Fixed A-Life NPCs not moving after loading saves made en route to shelter
- Fixed incorrect explosion damage behind walls
- Fixed visual error where Boars appeared as humans near Malachite
- Fixed Controllers attacking Zombified and Raised NPCs
- Fixed lack of reaction to Gauss rifle shots
- Adjusted bandit combat behavior in the Prologue
- Fixed mutant death animation inconsistencies
- Fixed NPCs not returning to destination after sudden combat
- Fixed neutral Stalkers turning hostile
- Fixed weapon draw animation loop
- Fixed NPC inability to shoot player at close crouched range
- Fixed midair positional changes during mutant jumps
- Fixed NPCs not hiding from Emissions in Zalissya
- Additional precision fixes to NPC behavior
Bug Fixes, Crashes, and Performance
- Fixed instant death after fast travel
- Fixed Vortex anomaly visual issues
- Fixed Mark I EMR rifle x8 scope installation
- Fixed missing M860 magazine adapter display
- Fixed delayed mutant reaction to shotgun kills
- Fixed freeze during Emission start
- Fixed unresponsive title after Skif knockdown at campfire
- Fixed random sorting of backup files
- Fixed cursor control after placing custom marker with gamepad
- Fixed infinite note notifications
- Fixed numpad key binding issue affecting camera rotation
- Fixed steel casing and metal object color errors
- Fixed NVG input binding during dialogue
- Fixed aim assist disabling after pause menu
- Fixed NVG activation via mouse wheel on ladder
- Fixed persistent psy effect after leaving danger zone
- Fixed unkillable player state
- Fixed loud water sound in Swamp regions
- Optimized pre cutscene resource usage
- Performance optimizations for projectile impacts and grenade damage
- Fixed anomaly item performance issues
- Fixed flashlight appearing above NPC heads with NVG
- Fixed infinite loading at 100 Rads Bar
- Fixed save creation issues and consecutive save failures
- Fixed infinite loading at Noontide base
- Fixed aim assist not functioning after load
- Fixed over 90 crashes
Optimization
- Optimized foliage meshes and materials
- Improved performance in Red Forest
- Optimized architecture meshes and collision in Rostok and Duga
- World streaming optimizations in Zalissya, Rostok, Slag Heap
- Lighting optimizations across multiple regions
- NPC skeletal mesh optimizations
- Groom optimizations
- Adjusted skeletal mesh budgeting and morph targets
- Reduced tick rate on non visible components
- Optimized contextual action items
- Improved cloth simulation
- Improved animation updates on world placed skeletal meshes
Main and Side Quests, Open World
- Fixed Squint becoming inaccessible in A Needle in a Haystack
- Fixed Chemical Plant softlock in Escape from the Cage
- Numerous immersion updates for A School of Life
- Fixed missing elements in X17 Lab for Visions of Truth
- Fixed Varan dialogue exclusion after reputation loss
- Fixed reward exploit with Warlock tasks
- Fixed Nightingale’s Hunt bloodsucker objective not clearing
- Fixed progression blockage in Wishful Thinking
- Optimized D2 cutscene resources
- Fixed cellar discovery objective in The Poppy Field
- Fixed missing Nightingale reward in Dogfight
- Fixed Ward assault squad death during Emission in Answers Come at a Price
- Fixed weather not transitioning
- Level art and design improvements across multiple locations
- Fixed Zhuzha and Gonta argument trigger
- Fixed Down Below dialogue issues
- Fixed disappearing elements during Wishful Thinking
- Fixed teleport hall objective in The Last Step
- Fixed Monolithian combat objective in Happiness For Everyone
- Fixed multiple dialogue trigger blockers
- Fixed missing Dalin, Scar, and other NPCs in several missions
- Fixed camera lock on Baturin
- Fixed mission cancellation issue between A Sign of Hope and Just Like the Good Old Days
- Fixed journal stage trigger for Dead Frequency
- Fixed Sawmill cutscene start failure
- Fixed dialogue lock with Honta
- Fixed missing bandits in A Big Score
Mod Support
- In game mod conflict detection and notification
- Detailed conflict CSV dump in AppData
- Selective download support
- Lesser Zone Kit
- Zone Kit Editor
- Cutscenes
- World Map
Other Updates
- Detector inventory size changed to 1×1
- Fixed NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency reset after reboot
- Revised visuals for artifact and consumable effects
- Fixed 3D audio behavior with Dolby Atmos and spatial plugins
- Added option to disable headshot sound
- Improved NPC voice clarity at close distance
- Added icons for partially looted stashes
- Increased number of available weapon attachments
- Improved font readability for Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean
- Improved tutorials
STALKER 2 Heart of Chornobyl is a large-scale first-person shooter blending survival horror, RPG systems, and immersive simulation design. Set within a massive 64 square kilometer recreation of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, the game follows stalker Skif as he navigates hazards, factions, anomalies, mutants, and branching storylines. The game launched on November 20, 2024 for PC via Steam, Epic, and Microsoft Store and Xbox Series X/S, including Xbox Game Pass at launch, with the PlayStation 5 version scheduled for release on November 20, 2025.
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