Recently, the STALKER 2 developers at GSC Game World gave all visitors to gamescom 2023 a chance to try out an older version of the shooter and at the same time showed a trailer for the current version; That’s why there are somewhat simplified graphics, as promised. to improve for release.
Studio representatives also said that STALKER 2 is finished in terms of content; now the game is in the polishing stage. We decided that now is the best time to compile all known information about the shooter into one material.
Gameplay and mechanics of “Stalker 2”
The basic formula of the game has not changed from the previous parts (this is a first-person shooter), but it has grown with new features and has become much deeper.
Players will still be able to explore the world, trade with NPCs, search for artifacts and equipment, interact with factions, fight mutants and bandits, upgrade their equipment, and complete tasks.
Meeting mutants in the open world.
Photo: GSC Game World
In STALKER 2, the survival elements will take a significant step forward from the original. Players must monitor hunger, sleep and radiation levels. If the character’s needs are not satisfied in time, his stamina will decrease, hallucinations and other negative effects will appear.
You will also need to be more careful with your equipment. Weapons and armor wear at a rate, so they must be repaired so that they do not fail at the most inopportune moment.
One of the anomalies
Photo: GSC Game World
The process of searching for artifacts has also become more complex and sophisticated. Access to some of them will now be blocked by anomalous fields and archanomalies. Here you cannot get by with ordinary screws, so the nature of each phenomenon will have to be studied. As in previous games in the franchise, artifacts will impose various positive and negative bonuses on the main character.
The shooter will also feature a dynamic climate change system.
Additionally, the developers shared that at first, only a portion of the capabilities associated with creating custom mods will be available to enthusiasts. Over time, the authors of the game promised players to give them more freedom in this regard.
Weapons in Stalker 2
The arsenal of STALKER 2 will be expanded: more than 30 types of firearms will be offered. On each of them, players will be able to install a sight, stock, silencer, extended magazine and other modifications. They will also allow you to upgrade the merchants’ weapons.
Moment of shooting in the warehouse.
Photo: GSC Game World
For example, in one case the damage dealt will increase, and in the other, the rate of fire. It will be possible to customize the appearance by choosing cosmetic skins that do not affect the gameplay in any way.
The game will definitely feature the Scorpion, different variations of the AK, SVD, Vintorez, Remington 700, RPG, Grom, IWI Carmel, TOZ-34, PKP Pecheneg, MP-5, PM and a gauss pistol.
Open world of “Stalker 2”
The total open world area in STALKER 2 is 64 square kilometers. By comparison, the entire world of the previous three games in the series (Shadows of Chernobyl, Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat) is only 8.2 square kilometers, almost eight times smaller.
The beauty of the open world.
Photo: GSC Game World
If we take other games as an example, the open world area in The Witcher 3 is 52 square kilometers, and in Red Dead Redemption 2 it is 75 square kilometers. It’s also worth noting that they aim for seamless transitions between locations.
STALKER 2 will include both familiar ones from previous parts and new ones. Among them are places such as the Duga radar station, the Iron Forest, the Red Forest, Azimuth, Cordon, Landfill, Swamps, Zaton, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat, the Rostok plant, Radar, ATP, Newcomer Village , Cooling Towers, “Korogod”. ” and “Cement Plant”.
Graphics and technology of “Stalker 2”.
GSC Game World places special emphasis on the fact that development is taking place in Unreal Engine 5. The shooter will use the latest engine technologies: advanced global illumination (Lumen) and a high level of detail of objects regardless of the distance (Nanite).
Beautiful fields in the renders of “Stalker 2”
Photo: GSC Game World
In addition, the creators of the title promise fast downloads. The study notes that the most important technology when creating objects and locations is photogrammetry, and capturing movements and faces is an integral part of game development.
This is what Evgeniy Grigorovich, director of GSC Game World, had to say about Unreal Engine 5:
After the release of Unreal Engine 5, we started working with Epic Games to introduce new technologies into our game and realized that the engine would allow us to do whatever we wanted. Its functions were the basic components needed to successfully complete the game.
The cult life simulation technology A-Life, which was one of the main features of the previous installments, will also return to the shooter. The developers have completely redesigned the mechanics, so the behavioral model of each monster and character has become even more thoughtful, so the open world will feel much more alive.
Game engine graphics.
Photo: GSC Game World
For example, mutants can form flocks and migrate to places with more favorable living conditions, NPCs can travel freely around the world, and factions can engage in turf wars and start firefights with each other.
The plot of “Stalker 2”
The plot of the sequel will continue the events of the original trilogy. The protagonist will be the stalker Skif, a new character in the universe. The hero will have to unravel the mystery of the “Heart of Chernobyl” and save the Zone from great danger.
Scientists at the Chernobyl Anomalous Zone Research Institute (NIICHAZ) play a special role in the story. Additionally, characters from previous parts of the series will appear in STALKER 2.
The video is available on the Xbox YouTube channel. The video rights belong to GSC Game World.
According to the developers, the game will offer a non-linear story with multiple endings. It should be noted that it will take around 100 hours to complete the main story campaign and it will not be possible to view all the content at the same time.
The fact is that, depending on the decisions made, the player will have access to some missions, while others will be closed. The player’s actions will affect not only the fate of individual characters and events, but also the game world as a whole.
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Mutants and groups of “Stalker 2”
In STALKER 2, players will be able to see both familiar mutants from previous installments and new ones. In several trailers and screenshots they have already appeared: blind dogs, meat, crow, controller, burer, bloodsucker, pseudodog and wild boars.
Mutant named Bayun
Photo: GSC Game World
Among the new species in the game will appear a psi deer that can create its own ghosts and summon lesser creatures. Additionally, a merman, a patient, a mimic, a brainbuster, anther, a poltergeist, a gravid, and other monsters were mentioned in the leaked files, but it is possible that not all of them will be included in the final version.
Mutants will also be divided into types. This means that creatures of the same species will be visually different depending on their habitat. This is likely to affect its features as well.
This is what the “Duty” fighter looks like in the sequel
Photo: GSC Game World
As for groups, in STALKER 2 you can expect the appearance of “Bandits”, “Monolith”, “Duty”, “Freedom”, free stalkers, mercenaries and military. Among the new ones are “Varta”, “Noon”, “Flame” and “Spark”.
All organizations pursue their objectives and achieve them in different ways. The same leaked files mention some type of moral system for each of the groups, but it is not yet clear what it influences.
Stalker 2 multiplayer
STALKER 2 will offer not only single player, but also multiplayer. According to information on the official website, the developers will add the online component soon after the game is released in the form of a free update. There are no details at this time.
The video is available on GameSpot’s YouTube channel. The video rights belong to GSC Game World.
In the three previous installments of the series, multiplayer mode was also present. It offered players four modes: “Free for All”, “Team vs. Team”, “Search for an Artifact”, and “Capture an Artifact”.
“Stalker 2” release date and system requirements
STALKER 2 will launch in early 2024 for PC and Xbox Series, and Game Pass subscribers will receive the game for free. According to old leaks, the game’s exclusivity will only be three months, so the PS5 launch could happen very soon.
Officially, “Stalker 2” will not be released in Russia. The game will also not have Russian dubbing, but will have Russian subtitles.
STALKER 2 Minimum System Requirements
Processor: Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580 RAM: 8 GB Disk space: 150 GB
STALKER 2 Recommended System Requirements
Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RAM: 16 GB Disk space: 150 GB.
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