GSC Game World has released a brand new Stalker 2 roadmap that covers the second quarter of the year, and it promises more fixes to the game's A-Life system, plus lots of other new features and tweaks.
A-Life, which is the name GSC Game World gives to the system that governs its NPCs' ambient behavior, has been the subject of some controversy since Stalker 2's launch, with numerous updates attempting to address some of its most critical issues.
That hasn't changed in the new roadmap, which promises "A-Life/AI updates" in Q2. These updates consist of "persistent" improvements to the system, as well as "smarter human combat", mutants eating corpses, and more.
It's not all about A-Life, though. The new Stalker 2 is also promising the release of a beta modding SDK (software development kit), allowing you to make your own Stalker 2 mods. A closed beta will also be held with mod makers to test out the feature.
Also on the list are features like mutant loot, the ability to skip the game's shader compilation, and an increase to the player's stash window, as well as two new weapons. Naturally, this all sits alongside "further stabilization, optimization, and 'anomalies' fixing" (i.e. bugs).
The next-gen update to the Stalker: Legends of the Zone trilogy, which was promised for 2025 back in December, is also scheduled for this quarter, although it may well get delayed again.
GSC Game World says this roadmap, which is the first of a new three-monthly cycle, will help Stalker 2 to "become the game we imagined - and you deserve".
In case you're unfamiliar with Stalker 2, it's the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic 2007 FPS Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl (which still maintains the old Russian spelling of the town's name, unlike the sequel).
Like the first game, Stalker 2 has you exploring the Chornobyl nuclear exclusion zone (albeit a heavily fictionalized version of same), seeking out anomalies and artifacts while also grappling with disparate factions.
Stalker 2 is available right now for PC and Xbox Series X|S. You can read our very own Robert's review of the game here.
