## What changed
## Bug Fixes
- **Artifact spawning** — Fixed multiple artifacts spawning in the same location
- **NPC shelter pathing at Cement Factory** — Fixed NPCs unable to reach shelter during Emissions
- **NPC shelter pathing in Zalissya** — Fixed NPCs unable to reach shelter during Emissions
- **Mutant spawning at Plant location** — Fixed issue causing massive mutant hordes to spawn in the Garbage region
- **Heart of Chornobyl artifact** — Fixed players obtaining this artifact from regular anomalies instead of intended sources
## Other Changes
- **Mutant models** — Optimized performance across multiple mutant models
- **DualSense controller** — Adjusted dead zone settings for PC
## Overall
The patch addresses artifact and enemy spawning issues, NPC pathfinding problems during Emissions, and includes performance optimization and controller adjustments.
Fixed an issue where multiple artifacts could spawn in one place.
Optimized multiple mutant models.
Fixed an issue where NPC could not find a way to the shelter during an Emission at the Cement Factory location.
Fixed an issue where NPC could not find a way to the shelter during an Emission in Zalissya.
Fixed an issue that could cause massive mutant hordes to spawn at the Plant location of the Garbage region.
Adjusted dead zone settings for DualSense controller on PC.
Fixed an issue where the player could obtain the Heart of Chornobyl artifact from the regular anomalies.
## What changed
## Bug Fixes
- **Mod incompatibility fail-safe** — introduced mechanism to allow launching the game when mod incompatibility occurs
- **Power lines** — fixed disappearing on approach
- **Ward NPC teleportation** — fixed Ward teleporting in player's view after killing noontiders during Wishful Thinking mission
- **Ward soldier assistance** — fixed Ward soldiers failing to help Skif hold position during Assault On The Duga mission
- **PDA performance** — fixed massive performance drop when opening PDA with Shadows set to Epic
- **Sprint while overweighted** — fixed player being able to sprint while carrying excess loot
- **Texture flickering** — fixed staircase texture flickering after cutscene in Back To The Slag Heap mission
- **Visual artifacts** — fixed on Richter during cinematic in The Price Goes Up mission
- **Skif's hands shadows** — fixed during cutscene in Back To The Slag Heap mission
- **Weapon attachments** — fixed player being able to use attachments from trade window
- **Settings display** — fixed settings values displaying incorrectly after auto-detect or reset features
- **Ground artifacts** — fixed artifacts spawning underground
- **DualSense controller** — fixed several dead zone settings issues
- **Crashes** — fixed various crash issues
## Overall
This patch addresses numerous gameplay, performance, and visual issues including NPC behavior problems, UI glitches, and controller configuration problems.
Introduced fail-safe mechanism for cases where mod incompatibility prevents users from launching title
Fixed an issue where the power lines could disappear on approach.
Fixed an issue where the Ward NPC could teleport in the player's field of view after killing noontiders during the Wishful Thinking mission.
Fixed an issue where the Ward soldiers could not help Skif to hold position during the Assault On The Duga mission.
Fixed a massive performance drop on opening PDA while the Shadows option is set to Epic.
Fixed an issue where the player could sprint while overweighted with loot.
Fixed an issue where the player could observe texture flickering on the staircase after the cutscene during the Back To The Slag Heap mission.
Fixed an issue where the player could have visual artifacts on Richter during the cinematic in the The Price Goes Up mission.
Fixed shadows on Skif's hands during the cutscene in the Back To The Slag Heap mission.
Fixed an issue where the player could use weapon attachments from the trade window.
Fixed an issue where the settings values could be displayed incorrectly after using the auto-detect or reset settings features.
Fixed an issue that could cause artifacts to spawn under the ground.
Fixed several issues with dead zone settings for the DualSense controller.
## What changed
**Gameplay & Features**
- **Master Difficulty & Expedition Mode** — new difficulty level selectable only at game start
- **Immersive Mode** — new immersive gameplay option
- **Light Rainy weather scenario** — added weather type
- **SD Cards with coupons** — new item type
- **NPC Vision & Combat Update** — improvements to NPC detection and combat behavior
- **Stamina and sprint rework** — revised stamina and sprint mechanics
- **Inventory & Equipment Stats Update** — changes to inventory and equipment systems
- **Controller aim improvements** — enhanced aiming on controller
- **New anomalies** — added anomaly types to the Zone
- **Detector item size** — changed to 1x1 in inventory
- **Headshot sound toggle** — added option to disable headshot audio
- **Partially looted stash icons** — added map markers for partially looted stashes
- **Mod conflict detection** — in-game popup showing conflicting mods with detailed dump file
## Balance
- **Stealth in vegetation** — enemies now have difficulty detecting players in tall grass or reeds and are less accurate shooting through bushes, but proximity increases detection risk
- **Mutant audio** — added sounds audible up to 100+ meters outside player's field of vision to help identify danger direction
- **Weapon attachments** — more placed around the Zone
- **NPC faction control** — factions can now expand into and lose control of territories; points of interest, checkpoints, and locations are contested between factions and mutants
- **Voiceover clarity** — improved when speaking close to NPCs
- **Font readability** — improved for Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean languages
- **Tutorial improvements** —
Fixed an issue when game could freeze during the emission start.
Fixes and improvements to the A-Life system
Master Difficulty & Expedition Mode (This difficulty level can only be selected at the beginning of the game)
NPC Vision & Combat Update
Inventory & Equipment Stats Update
Stamina and sprint rework
New anomalies
Controller aim improvements
Immersive Mode
Light Rainy weather scenario
SD Cards with coupons
Numerous fixes and improvements to the A-Life system, so now factions can expand control over new territories. This means they may also lose control over their lands if they fail to defend them. Various points of interest, checkpoints, locations (but not hubs) are in contest between different NPCs and… mutants! They also want to defend their lairs and territories from their very unfriendly stalker-neighbours.
With Update 1.7, enemies have real problems detecting you in tall grass or reeds, and are much less accurate when shooting through the bushes. Swamp shootouts will feel fair at last! You can now use the greenery to your full advantage, but be cautious – the closer you are to an enemy, the more likely you are to be spotted.
Fixed some issues with specific NPC inhabitant areas.
Improved AI reaction to player's hostile actions.
NPC behavior during Emission optimization.
Fixed an issue that caused NPCs to occasionally move to the side after detecting an enemy
Fixed an issue when A-life NPCs didn't move after loading a save that were made on their way to shelter.
Fixed an issue when the NPCs could get damage from explosions while being behind several walls.
Fixed the issue when some Boar mutants could look like Human NPCs near the Malachite, causing the game to crash.
Fixed the issue when Controller could attack Zombified and Raised NPCs.
Fixed the issue when the NPCs weren't reacting to the shots from Gauss rifle that were landed near them.
Adjusted Combat behavior of bandits in Prologue mission.
Fixed death animations for mutants in some specific cases.
Fixed the issue when the NPCs weren't returning to their stay destination point after the sudden combat.
Fixed the issue when the random neutral Stalkers were becoming the enemy to the Player character.
Fixed an issue that caused NPCs to get stuck in a weapon draw animation loop.
Fixed an issue when NPCs were unable to shoot the Player after they get too close to them while crouched.
Fixed an issue where mutants could change their position during jump midair.
Fixed an issue when some NPCs were not hiding from the emission and die from in Zalissya location.
Fixed an issue when player was able to die instantly after fast travel.
Fixed visual issues for Vortex anomaly.
Fixed an issue when Player was unable to install x8 scope to Mark I EMR rifle.
Fixed an issue when magazine adapter for M860 was not displaying.
Fixed an issue with delayed reaction of the mutants when killing them by using shotgun.
Optimized Rostok buildings (Architecture meshes and collision improvements).
Optimized Duga region buildings (Architecture meshes and collision improvements).
World streaming optimizations on most intense locations (Zalissya, Rostok, Slag Heap).
Optimized Lighting on Slag Heap, Zalissya, SIRCAA, Rostok.
Optimized NPCs skeletal meshes.
Optimized Grooms.
Optimized and adjusted Skeletal Mesh budgeting.
Optimized usage of Morph Targets.
Optimized Tick Rate of simulated Components by prioritizing visible primitives with higher screen size.
Optimized update of items used in Contextual Actions.
Optimized Cloth Simulation.
Optimized animation update of placed in world Skeletal Meshes.
Fixed an issue when Squint dead body and becomes inaccessible to the Player if he was killed without starting the dialog during the A Needle in a Haystack mission.
Fixed an issue when Player was able to get to the first floor of the Chemical Plant from the roof and unable to exit during Escape from the Cage mission.
Multiple immersion fixes for A School of Life mission.
Fixed an issue when Scar was missing in X17 Lab during Visions of Truth mission.
Fixed an issue when all dialogues with Varan were excluded if Player lose his reputation after accepting the Deal with the Devil mission.
Fixed an issue when Player was able to get higher reward after completing a job task from Warlock.
Fixed an issue when Kill the bloodsucker objective was still active after killing the bloodsucker during Nightingale’s Hunt mission.
Fixed an issue when Player was unable to proceed through the "Wishful Thinking" mission.
Optimized resources consumption for the cutscene with Dalin and Korshunov inside D2 room during Wishful Thinking mission.
Fixed an issue when objective Discover the location of the cellar was not completing after receiving of cellar coordinates during The Poppy Field mission.
Fixed an issue when Player was unable to get a money reward from Nightingale after giving him the dog collar during the Dogfight mission.
Fixed an issue where the Ward assault squad could die from Emission during the Answers Come at a Price mission.
Fixed an issue where the weather could not change after some point in the game.
Level art and design improvements for multiple locations.
Fixed an issue where Zhuzha and Gonta were unable to start arguing in scene if the last snork was killed close to Gonta.
Fixed an issue that occasionally prevented Richter from starting dialogue during the Down Below mission.
Fixed an issue that caused Agatha to disappear after the dialogue during Wishful Thinking mission.
Fixed an issue that prevented completion of the Get to the Teleportation Hall objective during The Last Step mission.
Fixed an issue that occasionally prevented completion of the Fight off the Monolithians objective during Happiness For Everyone mission.
Fixed an issue that prevented Richter from starting dialogue during the Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death mission.
Fixed an issue that prevented Scar from starting dialogue during The Eternal Shining mission.
Fixed an issue that prevented Col. Degtyaryov from starting dialogue during the Down Below mission.
Fixed an issue that prevented Dark from starting dialogue during the Legends Of The Zone mission.
Fixed an issue where the backup files could be sorted randomly after reopening the backup menu.
Fixed an issue where the cursor could not be controlled after placing a custom marker using gamepad.
Fixed an issue where the notifications about receiving notes could remain on the screen infinitely.
Fixed an issue where, if the Numpad 5 and 2 keys were assigned to move forward/back, rotating the camera up/down would also be triggered.
Fixed an issue where some steel casings lying on the ground could appear totally black.
Fixed an issue where some metal objects could change their color on approaching.
Fixed an issue where the changed input binding for NVG did not work during the dialogs.
Fixed an issue where the aim assist could turn off after opening the pause menu.
Fixed an issue where the player could not activate NVG via mouse wheel while climbing a ladder.
Fixed an issue where the psy effect could remain after leaving the dangerous area for some users.
Fixed an issue where some players could gain unkillable state after some points in the game.
Fixed an issue where a very loud sound effect of a running water could be heard around the Swamp area under SIRCAA and around the Swamps region.
Reduced resources consumption before cutscenes start.
Performance optimization regarding the projectile hitting the surface.
Performance optimization of damage dealt by grenades.
Fixed an issue that caused performance issues with item objects inside anomalies.
Fixed an issue that caused Flashlight to appear above the head of NPC with NVG.
Fixed infinite loading on the save that were made in 100 Rads Bar.
Fixed the impossibility to make two saves in a row after overwriting or deleting the previous save.
Fixed Infinite loading screen on saves made on Noontide base.
Fixed an issue when aim assist was not functional after loading of saved game.
Fixed over 90 crashes.
Optimized Foliage Meshes (changes in performance may be particularly noticeable in the Red Forest).
Optimized Foliage Materials.
Fixed an issue where Richter didn't run the Cabin during A Tough Awakening mission
Fixed an issue when the Dalin could be missing during the Law And Order mission.
Fixed an issue when the Scar is missing at Rostok Depot during An Invisible Threat mission.
Fixed the issue when player's camera could be locked on the Baturin forever after one of the encounters around the Zone.
Fixed the issue when the A sign of Hope mission wasn't cancelling after the start of Just Like the Good Old Days mission.
Fixed the issue with impossibility to start a journal stage to Kill Shterev during the Dead Frequency mission.
Fixed an issue that prevented the cutscene at Sawmill from starting during Back To The Slag Heap mission.
Fixed an issue that caused a player to stuck in dialogue with Honta.
Fixed an issue that prevented bandits from appearing during A Big Score mission.
Mod conflict detection and notification: in-game popup with the list of conflicting mods
Detailed conflict dump (with information about exact conflicting CFG nodes) in AppData - Mod conflicts.csv
Selective Download (Zone Kit is separated into multiple chunks: The Lesser Zone Kit, Zone Kit Editor, Cutscenes, World Map)
Detector item size in inventory changed to 1x1.
Added additional mutant sounds, which can now be heard at a distance under 100 meters, and sometimes even further, outside of Skif's field of vision. Attentive stalkers will now find it easier to determine where danger is coming from.
Fixed an issue where the NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency option could disable after the title reboot.
Slightly reworked visuals for artifacts and consumables effect influence.
Fixed 3D audio with Dolby Atmos for headphones and other spatial plugins for Windows.
Added the option to disable headshot sound in option.
Improved the voiceover clarity when talking too close to NPC.
Added icons for partially looted stashes on the map.
Placed a bit more weapon attachments around the Zone.
Improved readability of fonts for Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean languages.
Improved some tutorials.
Fixed an issue when title was becoming unresponsive if Skif was knocked down by mutants while sitting near the campfire.