The rollout of updates for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 continues at a breakneck pace, with Patch 1.03 dropping today as a hefty 37GB download on GOG and a more manageable 23GB on Steam. This update comes hot on the heels of the 1.02 patch released just days earlier. While both updates address critical bugs and performance issues, the much-anticipated A-Life 2.0 system remains a major sticking point for fans.

Patch 1.02 & 1.03 Breakdown

Patch 1.02 was a smaller update focused on fixing main quest blockers, ensuring previously unplayable missions could now proceed. However, Patch 1.03 is much larger, addressing various bugs and performance issues, including:

• Fixes for common Unreal Engine crashes (“Low-Level Fatal Errors”).
• Resolution of a bug where missing save files weren’t displayed correctly.
• Improvements to mouse aiming on PC, with mouse smoothing and acceleration now disabled by default.
• Adjustments to camera and aiming sensitivity, making gameplay feel more responsive.
• Several quest-specific fixes, including NPCs dying unexpectedly during “On the Edge” and a faction’s unintended pursuit during “In Search of Past Glory.”

These patches reflect a consistent commitment by GSC Game World to polish the game post-launch. However, Xbox and Microsoft Store players are experiencing a delay of 5-7 hours for updates, a trend seen with all patches so far.

The A-Life Conundrum

The most significant and ongoing issue is the incomplete implementation of A-Life 2.0, a system designed to simulate a dynamic, living world. GSC’s CEO recently revealed that technical challenges—primarily related to performance optimisation—have forced the system to remain largely disabled. Key quotes from an interview with IGN detail how A-Life struggles with resource demands, leading to bugs like NPCs spawning mid-air or outside the player’s range.

For now, GSC has implemented a “Band-Aid fix,” spawning NPCs closer to players to simulate activity, but this workaround doesn’t replicate the full scope of the intended dynamic world. The optimisation challenges, coupled with bugs, mean A-Life remains broken and its future uncertain.

A Rocky Path to Optimisation

Developers are balancing performance issues with content fixes, which isn’t easy given the resource-heavy nature of NPC simulations. The game is particularly taxing on CPUs, often leading to frame rate drops in areas populated by many NPCs. Until A-Life can function as intended, players must contend with these limitations.

The Controversial Steam Listing Change

Adding fuel to the fire, GSC removed mentions of A-Life from the STALKER 2 Steam page shortly before launch. While this raised suspicions, the marketing director clarified that the decision was made for clarity, not to mislead players. They acknowledged how bad it looked, given the feature’s current state, but claimed it wasn’t an intentional cover-up.

GSC has committed to fixing A-Life and plans to reinstate it on the Steam page once it’s operational. However, no timeline for the fix has been provided. In the meantime, players can expect frequent updates to address ongoing bugs and optimisation issues.

While GSC deserves credit for continuing development amid extraordinary challenges like a pandemic and war, STALKER 2 remains a work in progress, leaving fans eagerly awaiting a fully realised version of the game