Developer GSC Game World still has a lot planned for The Zone this year and has presented a new roadmap for 2025.
Stalker 2 has been well on its way to overcoming its launch issues for the past nine months. The planned implementation of the new roadmap is a big step in this direction, not least thanks to a surprising engine update.
Stalker 2 switches to new version of Unreal Engine 5
Via Steam, GSC Game World presented its roadmap for the last two quarters of 2025. The most important announcement: Stalker 2 will be switching to Unreal Engine 5.5.4.
In addition to new features and tools for the Zone, the studio expects the engine upgrade to deliver “better stability and performance” for the entire game.
Other new features:
- Night vision devices and binoculars
- Updates for NPCs and mutants
- New anomalies
- New missions from old and new friends
- New weather scenario
- New difficulty level “Master”
- Extended day/night cycle
- Revision of the loot stash
- Revision of stamina and energy drinks
- Immersive display mode
- Update of the character user interface
- Improvement of the user interface
- Restoration of local save files
- Optimization of anomalies
- Improvements to the modding tool (Zone Kit)
In addition, the PS5 and PS5 Pro versions of Stalker 2 are still pending release.
Fans haven’t been expecting this
Many players on Reddit are pleasantly surprised by the roadmap. “Engine update? I definitely didn’t have that on my bingo card,“ writes Gold_Dog908.
“That’s crazy. If they can pull it off, it’ll be fantastic,” explains FishySardines99 and for BergSplerg‘s most important wish for the game has come true.
Stalker 2 was not in good technical condition when it was released, which was also reflected in our test rating. However, as you can read in the follow-up test linked above, several updates have already improved the game. With its ambitious roadmap, especially the engine update, the game could perhaps earn a few more plus points.