Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl had a rocky start when it launched earlier this month, with players quickly reporting bugs and performance issues. Developer GSC Game World wasted no time addressing the community’s concerns, releasing multiple patches in quick succession. The third patch, update 1.0.3, has now landed and brings fixes for crashes, memory leaks, and other gameplay issues.
What’s in update 1.0.3?
The latest patch varies in size, coming in at around 20GB on PC and a lighter 7.91GB on Xbox Series X/S. While it doesn’t feature headline-grabbing changes like the earlier patch with 650+ fixes, it makes essential improvements. Key fixes include:
- Resolving crashes and memory leaks.
- Adjusting controls for smoother gameplay.
- Fixing issues with main missions and side missions.
- Improving balance and AI behaviour.
- Addressing a major bug that caused save files to disappear after a hard reboot.
GSC thanked players in its patch notes, promising more updates to polish the experience further. “We will continue reading your feedback and fixing ‘anomalies’ as they appear,” the studio wrote.
Related news: STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl gets two impressive major patches
A rough launch but steady progress
Stalker 2 debuted to a mix of praise and criticism. Critics applauded its immersive atmosphere and narrative but pointed out serious technical flaws. In their review, one outlet noted, “The bugs hurt the game’s playability quite badly, even if they’re sometimes amusing.”
Despite these hurdles, the game has maintained a strong player base. It sold over 1 million copies within days of release, showing just how eagerly awaited the sequel was.
A controversial spotlight
The game’s popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond gaming circles. Recent reports suggest Stalker 2 has been targeted by a Russian disinformation campaign, spreading false claims about the game scanning players’ computers for the Ukrainian government. GSC has not commented directly on the allegations but remains focused on improving the game for its community.
What’s next for players?
With three patches released in under a week, GSC seems committed to ironing out the game’s flaws. Players can expect continued support as the studio works to make Heart of Chornobyl the post-apocalyptic masterpiece it aims to be.
If you’re exploring the Zone, be sure to keep an eye out for future updates—and maybe avoid any suspicious anomalies along the way.
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