S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has hit a big milestone, selling over one million copies—although the game’s launch hasn’t been all smooth sailing, with players mixed on their reactions due to technical glitches and missing features.
The game is set in the spooky Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and has been praised for its intense atmosphere and solid gameplay. Players have highlighted the better gunplay, animations, and user interface compared to the series’ earlier games.
Nevertheless, many players face serious performance hiccups. There are widespread reports of crashes, lag, and overheating on different PCs. Some players have even lost their save files because of these tech problems.
No wonder it feels a bit crowdy in the Zone. A million copies were sold, and much more stalkers joined the artifact hunt with Game Pass.
— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) November 22, 2024
This is just the start of our unforgettable adventure. The Heart of Chornobyl emanates stronger with each of us.
Thank You, stalkers! ☢️ pic.twitter.com/zslF7I8vR1
A big complaint among fans is the missing A-Life system, a signature feature of the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games. This AI-driven system used to create a lively, unscripted world. Its removal or glitchy state has left many old fans bummed out, as they now deal with more scripted, random occurrences instead of the expected natural interactions.
The team at GSC Game World has admitted to these problems and promised to fix them. It’s important to remember that the game’s developers had to overcome major hurdles, like moving because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This situation has led some players to buy the game as a way to support the developers, despite knowing about its current issues. One user shared, “With S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, people probably wanted to back the devs regardless of the game’s finish, seeing as they’re dealing with the war in Ukraine.”
The gaming community is still divided on the game but it might be a solid recommendation once the last bugs have been eliminated.
