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 function upgraded graphics and quite a few quality-of-life enhancements. Veteran gamers will obtain the up to date variations without spending a dime for every title they already personal on Steam or GOG.
GSC Recreation World has shared particulars concerning the long-awaited enhanced editions. These embrace up to date system necessities which, whereas considerably larger than these of the unique releases, really feel modest by right now’s requirements.
Visible enhancements embrace god rays, dynamic screen-space reflections, world illumination, new water shaders, improved skyboxes, upscaled textures, and better polygon counts.
The consumer interface has additionally been refreshed, with full gamepad help and different usability enhancements. Whereas the in-game content material and AI stay unchanged, GSC Recreation World has addressed quite a few bugs – one thing longtime Stalker followers have come to anticipate.
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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 beneficial. 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 recreation requiring solely round 10 GB.
Sadly, transferring to the improved editions means Stalker’s intensive modding neighborhood must begin from scratch, as current mods and save recordsdata will not be suitable. Nevertheless, the brand new variations embrace Steam Workshop help for simpler mod set up and won’t change 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 once they go reside on Could 20.
For brand spanking new gamers, the up to date titles might be out there individually for $20 or as a $40 bundle, each of which embrace the unique variations.
The hassle to revisit the traditional Stalker video games started final 12 months, when GSC Recreation World launched the first-ever console ports in a bundle titled Stalker: Shadows of the Zone Trilogy for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Change. Subsequent week’s replace brings the improved package deal to Steam, GOG, the Epic Video games Retailer, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Collection consoles.
