The STALKER 2 modding community quickly mobilized after the game’s launch, already releasing dozens of mods for the PC version, a few days after the game’s release. The changes range from gameplay balancing to performance improvements.
Although STALKER 2 has been available for less than a week, There are already over 80 mods on the Nexus Mods platform unofficial for the PC version of the game. This quick response from the community reflects the long tradition of modding the STALKER series, with fans who immediately got to work to customize and improve the gaming experiencewith some of them leaving messages of support for the developers, given the troubled work they have done over the last few years.
The STALKER 2 community proved to be close-knit and incredibly close to the developers.
The most popular mods so far they focus on performance optimizationlike “Stalker Optimizer” which achieved almost 80,000 downloads in a few days. This mod aims to reduce stuttering and improve shader compilation, potentially increasing framerate by 5-10 FPS without compromising visual quality.
Other changes many downloads concern gameplay balance, such as reducing the health of mutants or lowering equipment repair costs. These interventions face some criticism from players regarding some overly punitive aspects of the original game.
At the moment the mods they are only available for the PC version of STALKER 2but the developers at GSC Game World have confirmed that support will also arrive on Xbox Series X|S in the future. No precise timing was provided, but this is still good news for console players who will be able to benefit from the community’s creations.
It should be emphasized that many of the current mods are compatible with both the Steam and Microsoft Store/Game Pass PC versionsexpanding the audience of users who can use them. The installation instructions may vary, so it is always advisable to carefully read the instructions provided by the authors of each mod.
Although the first mods mainly focus on specific adjustments and optimizations, it is expected that More ambitious projects will be implemented in the coming monthssuch as major overhauls or expansions that add new game systems and mechanics.
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This type of mod kept the STALKER series alive in the 15 years that passed between the release of Call of Pripyat in 2009 and the new chapterwith creations like STALKER: Anomaly giving fans new ways to experience the game. With the potential offered by the new STALKER 2 graphics engine, it is likely that modders will give life to even more ambitious and innovative projects.
The commercial success of STALKER 2 (here is our review), which has already exceeded one million copies sold between PC and Xbox (and we strongly advise you to get it back on Amazon), provides a solid player base to fuel the modding scene. This achievement is especially notable considering that the game is also available on Xbox Game Pass.
The developers of GSC Game World they thanked the players for their support and confirmed that they are working on various improvements and fixessuch as the optimization of the A-Life 2.0 AI system. The combination of official support and community creations promises to further enrich the STALKER 2 experience in the coming months.
Source: www.tomshw.it
