S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Update News Annoy Xbox Players About the Big PS5
Lately, there has been this whole flurry in the gaming communities concerning S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl. Most of the Xbox players have been feeling a bit scorned because a great update is coming right as the PlayStation 5 version releases. Once an Xbox and PC game, it will now be upgraded heavily with the PS5 launch slated for the end of 2025.
GSC Game World, the developer, has promised an S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 PS5 update within 2023. Moving to Unreal Engine 5.5.4 for this game boasts of smoother performance, better stability, and more advanced graphics development. I did play the game when it launched with the tag Xbox, and while I found the atmosphere amazing, so many frame drops and bugs could be detected. Thus, I wished to hear about this upgrade because it was something I really wanted during the launch.
The game has received many patches in the past, but moving to Unreal Engine 5.5.4 is a different affair by itself. People should start expecting better lighting and more realistic effects of the environment alongside faster loading times. This is not just because the improvements will coincide with the release of the PS5; it is also that with the improvements from last year, Xbox S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 fans will always feel short-changed.
Not focused on just graphics improvement. GSC Game World plans to update the game with new missions, open world events, and new gear for survival. The game should seem more alive with the new weather system and longer day-night cycles. They are also adding a master difficulty mode for players seeking the most challenging experience.
The core systems will see some changes. Loot and stamina mechanics will prompt a more strategic mentality within gameplay, while the UI will see a redesign aimed at a more immersive experience. For those with ultra-high-end monitors, there will also be new display settings. Combat should feel more balanced, and progression should be smoother.
GSC says that these improvements to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 are part of their planning for 2025, though that schedule might change. Barring any hiccups, the PS5 version will likely be the best polished on the consoles, which is hard for Xbox players who have loyally backed the game from day one to stomach.
But then again, these won’t be the first instances of something like this. Many games in the past have inexplicably launched first on Xbox and then later on the PlayStation, but with newer or better graphics, perks, or performance boosts attached to the latter. Game developers would always say these improvements just came as part of ongoing enhancement, but it still doesn’t feel fair among early adopters.
To be fair, GSC has quite a long time to clean up the game with months of feedback, as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 for PS5 has been scheduled much later. But many of the Xbox fans are still suffering from performance issues; the news of better graphics for another platform is a frustration.
One common topic now is about cross-platform games. When a launch date is very far ahead or on a specific platform, the game version, such as its graphics or performance, would often be better than that of the first one that was released. The same is true in times like today, where the Xbox vs. PS5 debate is already pretty nasty because of updates like this.
Of course, GSC denies the abandonment of Xbox Series X|S users. Most probably, all of these S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 patches are set to roll out to all systems in due course. Still, PlayStation fans will be treated to the fills of improvements first, in their final polished state.
For now, it remains one of the best action survival shooters of the last couple of years. This game fairly attracted a true fan following despite its quite rough launch due to its hauntingly open world, realistic gunfights, and deep storylines. With this big update, the game might finally reach the level GSC aimed for from the get-go. The only question is- will Xbox players be allowed the same access at the same time as PS5 owners, or will they have to wait while others benefit from the full experience? You may also be interested in: Mario 40th Anniversary: What Nintendo Could Bring for Switch 2
