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After a substantially buggy launch, GSC Game World has consistently released major patches for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl to fix the open-world survival game and make it better than ever. While we personally loved our time with the game on launch, the game has only improved, but there are still major issues.
One issue with the game is the still-busted A-Life mechanic, the way that the game handles the NPCs and enemy behaviours across the zone. Completely absent from the game on launch, GSC has added the feature back piecemeal update-by-update, but major improvements are coming soon.
Stalker 2 A-Life improvements are still coming
As explained in the game’s Q2 2025 roadmap, A-Life improvements are a key focus of the next four months of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl updates, as well as the release of the beta mod kit. While update 1.4 added smarter human combat and better A-Life integration, GSC has stated that more improvements are coming soon.
When asked by fans whether the game’s 1.5 update will include better A-Life functionality, the studio explained: “Yes, we were [sic] working on some important A-life improvements, so stay tuned!”
Additionally, GSC has stated that the Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl mod kit is current in its “final” stages of development before its beta release. With this in mind, both the game’s mod kit and the improvements to A-Life will be released sometime during June, unless there’s a surprise delay at the studio.
Alongside the improvements to the second mainline game, the studio has also promised improvements to the recently released remasters of the series’ original trilogy. After a highly negative reception from fans due to blurry visuals, censored content and new bugs, the studio has committed to improving the new Enhanced Editions with a series of patches.
For more Stalker coverage, read about how the sequel’s in-development expansions will offer “fresh perspectives” on the Zone, or read about the two new weapons coming to the game in the aforementioned 1.5 update.
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