Summary
Recent comments from the lead producer ofSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylstrongly suggest that the long-awaited survival horror game might launch without a 60fps mode on Xbox Series S. This update comes just over a week afterSTALKER 2was confirmed to run at 60fps on Xbox Series X, potentially putting Series S users at a big disadvantage when it comes to gameplay and overall smoothness.
STALKER 2has faced one of the most arduous development journeysin the history of the games industry, but the highly anticipated survival horror first-person shooter is finally set to release on November 20 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. As the direct sequel to 2009’s critically-acclaimedCall of Prypiat, there’s a lot of excitement surroundingSTALKER 2, especially with it being a day one Game Pass launch. To help players catch up on the story so far, developer GSC Game World also ported the originalSTALKERgames to PS4, Switch, and Xbox One via theSTALKER: Legends of the Zonetrilogy earlier this year.
With launch mere months away,STALKER 2put up a strong showing at Gamescom 2024, debuting a new trailer as well as having playable demos available on the show floor. Xbox Series X builds confirmed a slick 60fps framerate, but it seemsSTALKER 2’s performance on Series S may not be quite as smooth. GSC lead producer Slava Lukyanenka revealed in a Gamescom interview thatSTALKER 2builds on Series S were averaging 25fps amid optimization efforts.Lukyanenka then clarified in a recent tweetthat they misspoke in the interview, stating thatSTALKER 2is currently averaging 35fps on Series S.
STALKER 2 Will Target “At Least” 30fps on Xbox Series S
In the same tweet thread, Lukyanenka confirmed that the team is aiming to launchSTALKER 2on Xbox Series S at a baseline 30fps performance target across the board. This very likely means that Series S users will miss out on a 60fps performance mode forSTALKER 2at launch, although further optimization could allow GSC Game World to include a 40fps mode for 120hz displays. ConsideringSTALKER 2is a graphically stunning titlebuilt on Unreal Engine 5, though, a stable 30fps target would be very much in line with the budget Xbox console’s capabilities.
At the opposite end of the performance spectrum, those looking to max outSTALKER 2in every way will definitely need a beefy PC to do so. Thankfully, Nvidia and MSI are teaming up to launch a4070 Ti Super themed aroundSTALKER 2ahead of the game’s launch in November, so anySTALKERfans looking to upgrade their PCs have the perfect opportunity to snag a graphics card that reflects their devotion to the series.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Chornobyl Exclusion Zone has changed dramatically after the second massive explosion in year 2006. Violent mutants, deadly anomalies, warring factions have made the Zone a very tough place to survive. Nevertheless, artifacts of unbelievable value attracted many people called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who entered the Zone for their own risk striving to make a fortune out of it or even to find the Truth concealed in the Heart of Chornobyl.EPIC NONLINEAR STORY IN SEAMLESS OPEN WORLDTake over a role of the lone stalker and explore photorealistic seamless open world in a 64-km² radioactive zone with a variety of environments that reveal post-apocalyptic atmosphere from different angles. Make your way through the Zone to define your destiny as you choose your paths within highly branching epic story.VARIETY OF ENEMIES AND HUNDREDS OF WEAPON COMBINATIONSMeet members of different factions deciding who of them worth your friendship and who deserve a bullet. Engage intense gunfights with a variety of enemies that follow different tactics trying to outsmart you. Choose your preferable firearms from 30+ types of weapons with numerous modifications that allow creating hundreds of distinctive lethal combinations.
