Backside line: The primary three Stalker titles: Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Name of Pripyat, will obtain substantial updates on Could 20. The improved editions characteristic upgraded graphics and quite a few quality-of-life enhancements. Veteran gamers will obtain the up to date variations totally free for every title they already personal on Steam or GOG.
GSC Sport World has shared particulars concerning the long-awaited enhanced editions. These embody up to date system necessities which, whereas considerably greater than these of the unique releases, really feel modest by at this time’s requirements.
Visible enhancements embody god rays, dynamic screen-space reflections, international illumination, new water shaders, improved skyboxes, upscaled textures, and better polygon counts.
The person interface has additionally been refreshed, with full gamepad assist and different usability enhancements. Whereas the in-game content material and AI stay unchanged, GSC Sport World has addressed quite a few bugs – one thing longtime Stalker followers have come to count on.
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Since these remasters are based mostly on video games initially launched in 2007, 2008, and 2010, fashionable mid-range and mainstream PCs ought to run them simply. At 1080p on low settings, even older GPUs just like the Nvidia GTX 960 and AMD Radeon RX 560 can nonetheless obtain 60 fps.
For 4K gameplay, a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or Radeon 6800 XT is really useful. Relying on VRAM necessities, GPUs just like the RTX 3070, 4070, or the upcoming 5060 Ti might provide related efficiency. FSR upscaling is supported, however not DLSS or XeSS. Regardless of the improved visuals, storage calls for stay modest, with every sport requiring solely round 10 GB.
Sadly, shifting to the improved editions means Stalker’s in depth modding neighborhood must begin from scratch, as present mods and save information will not be suitable. Nevertheless, the brand new variations embody Steam Workshop assist for simpler mod set up and won’t substitute the unique variations.
Homeowners of Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, or Name of Pripyat will see the improved editions seem as separate video games of their Steam or GOG libraries after they go stay on Could 20.
For brand new gamers, the up to date titles will likely be accessible individually for $20 or as a $40 bundle, each of which embody the unique variations.
The hassle to revisit the traditional Stalker video games started final 12 months, when GSC Sport World launched the first-ever console ports in a bundle titled Stalker: Shadows of the Zone Trilogy for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Swap. Subsequent week’s replace brings the improved bundle to Steam, GOG, the Epic Video games Retailer, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Sequence consoles.
