Just a few weeks after its debut on PlayStation 5, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will receive a major free content update, adding fresh quests, characters and a fresh hub, as well as additional weapons.
In the post on Blog about PlayStationUkrainian Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World announced the fresh update and noted that it will be “completely free for all owners of the game,” so anyone who has previously played on PC and Xbox Series X/S should expect additional content as well.
Xbox owners who played the shooter via Xbox Game Pass when it originally launched in November 2024 may need to check if they still have access to it, as Stalker 2 disappeared from the subscription catalog last month, causing quite a stir.
New content is on the way to STALKER 2: https://t.co/VGavXyDygk
⚬ 8 solid tasks
⚬ 7 locations to discover
⚬ 6 characters with their own stories
⚬ Unique weapon
⚬ Creation Center pic.twitter.com/P1bkNJW5H7— PlayStation (@PlayStation) December 15, 2025
“Weird things are starting to happen near Malachite in the western part of the map,” GSC says of its fresh questline. “Research teams sent by scientists reported a signal disrupting their regular PDA communication. Upon hearing it, pursuers suffered headaches, nosebleeds and hallucinations.”
This all sounds like something engaging, if potentially deadly, worth investigating. The set includes eight missions, seven locations to explore, six additional characters to meet, and a fresh rifle to master: the GP37V2. You will also get the chance to establish a fresh center in the Burnt Forest region.
GSC has previously promised that its 2025 development roadmap will include fresh gameplay features and story missions, as well as continuous technical improvements – such as a move to the latest version of Unreal Engline. What’s memorable is that Stalker 2 launched in a certain state, although GSC has pledged to continue working to turn things around.
“Underneath the technical problems that plague Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl lies extraordinary greatness,” IGN wrote in our Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl reviewgiving it 8/10. “It turns out to be a refreshingly brutal shooter that tries to draw you in with its incredible atmosphere and leave you rapt at the end of this long, arduous journey.” Read more at how Stalker 2 changed everything for the studio in the face of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s news editor. You can contact Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
