Stalker 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Stalker 2 across the outlets.
Steam Machine review: A singular living room PC that's more expensive than I'd like, but too special not to loveThe new Steam Machine offers a unique and compact living room PC experience, though its high price point is a significant drawback. Despite performance limitations compared to more expensive custom builds, it excels in quiet operation, small form factor, and seamless integration with SteamOS and the Steam Controller, making it a compelling, albeit costly, option for a dedicated home entertainment PC.
Steam Machine: the big tech questions answeredThis article addresses key hardware questions surrounding the Steam Machine, collaborating with RPS for expert insights. It discusses value for money compared to building a PC, performance longevity, 4K gaming expectations, and customizability options. The piece also touches on modding capabilities, Windows installation, and thermal performance, concluding that the Steam Machine offers a quiet and safe living room PC experience.
The future of European publishing is diversity, not concentration | OpinionDespite financial struggles at major European publishers like Ubisoft and Embracer, the continent's game publishing sector is thriving with smaller, focused companies. These firms prioritize creative niches, sensible scale, and long-term stability over rapid growth, producing successful titles across various genres and demonstrating a diverse and healthy industry landscape.
PC Specification Requirements of the Most Graphically Demanding GamesThis article discusses the PC hardware requirements for graphically demanding games, highlighting how advancements in PC technology and game development necessitate powerful components. It details the specifications needed for titles like Starfield, Forza Horizon 5, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Baldur's Gate 3, and others, emphasizing the impact of resolution, frame rates, and advanced graphical features like ray tracing on system demands.
Steam Now Tracks Playtime for Non-Steam Games Like STALKER 2 | HappyGamerSteam has begun tracking playtime for games added as non-Steam shortcuts, a feature previously exclusive to titles purchased on the platform. This change, discovered by users adding games like STALKER 2 from GOG, suggests Valve is aiming to make Steam a more comprehensive hub for all gaming activity, regardless of purchase origin. The move raises questions about data collection and could intensify competition among digital distribution platforms.
Steam Quietly Starts Tracking Your GOG and Epic Games Playtime | HappyGamerSteam has quietly updated its platform to track playtime for non-Steam games added to a user's library, including titles purchased from GOG and Epic Games. This change aims to position Steam as a central hub for PC gaming, regardless of where games are purchased, by offering unified playtime tracking and improved user experience features.
Our Steam Controller second opinion: what works, what doesn't, and what Valve should add for the next oneThis second opinion piece offers a detailed look at Valve's Steam Controller, with reviewers James and Julian sharing their experiences. While acknowledging some minor technical hiccups and wishing for better non-Steam launcher integration, both find the controller comfortable, functional, and a strong contender for PC gaming, even suggesting it could be Valve's most impactful hardware release.
Something for the Weekend – 18/04/26This week's gaming news includes the reveal of Metro 2039 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and Masters of Albion launching into Early Access. Updates were announced for Battlefield 6, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, Fortnite Save the World, and STALKER 2. Several games received reviews, including Pragmata with a 9/10 score, and new trailers were released for 007: First Light and Northgard: Battleground.
Free Content for All STALKER 2 PS5 Players in Newest UpdateGSC Game World has released a free content update for STALKER 2 on PlayStation 5, adding a new story-focused questline centered around exploring the X-Lab. The update also includes fixes for mutant overpopulation and mission cancellation issues, along with new loading screens. The studio also teased its first major DLC expansion planned for summer.
What are we all playing this weekend?Several gaming news staff members share their weekend gaming plans, ranging from continuing playthroughs of games like Atomfall and Starfield to starting new experiences with Skull Horde and Neverway. Some are revisiting classic Pokémon titles with Nuzlockes, while others are preparing for upcoming releases or enjoying driving simulators.
During a memory crisis do you really need fast memory for PC gaming? No, no you do notThis article analyzes the impact of DRAM speed on PC gaming performance, concluding that slower DDR5 memory is generally acceptable for most users, especially when the GPU is the primary bottleneck. While some games like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Counter-Strike 2, Spider-Man Remastered, and Hogwarts Legacy show performance differences, the impact is often minimal or can be mitigated by adjusting graphics settings, making it a viable cost-saving measure for budget-conscious builders.
Look, 16 GB of RAM is absolutely fine for PC gaming in 2026. Though there are some caveats to that...This analysis investigates whether 16 GB of RAM is sufficient for PC gaming in 2026, testing various memory-intensive games with both 16 GB and 32 GB configurations on high-end and mainstream GPUs. While 16 GB proved adequate for many titles, especially with ample VRAM, multitasking or playing extremely demanding games like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Star Citizen may still benefit from 32 GB.
Road to Vostok Has Already Secured Its Production Budget for "Years and Years"Road to Vostok developer Antti Leinonen announced that the hardcore survival shooter has secured its entire production budget for many years to come due to its successful launch. The game achieved Top Seller status in numerous countries and maintains a Very Positive review rating on Steam. Road to Vostok is currently available on PC via Steam Early Access and is expected to remain there for 2-4 years.
Here Are Promising New PS5 Games Announced at Xbox EventMicrosoft's Xbox Partner Preview event showcased several new games coming to PlayStation 5, including Artificial Detective, Moosa: Dirty Fate, and Grave Seasons. Other announced titles include Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Serious Sam: Shatterverse, Stranger Than Heaven, Super Meat Boy 3D, Forever Ago, Alien Deathstorm, Bluey’s Happy Snaps, a Stalker 2 expansion, and Hades 2.- Stalker 2 is getting its first DLC, Cost of Hope, this summerStalker 2 is set to receive its first DLC, titled Cost of Hope, this summer, adding two new regions and a story that runs parallel to the base game. The expansion will feature protagonist Skif navigating the conflict between the Duty and Freedom factions. A second expansion is planned to conclude the Stalker 2 story as a trilogy.
Stalker 2’s first expansion officially revealed, and it's taking us to the power plant where it all beganGSC Game World has revealed the first expansion for Stalker 2, titled "Cost of Hope," set for release this summer on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. The non-linear expansion will feature two new regions, including the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and will run parallel to the main game's story, focusing on a conflict between the Duty and Freedom factions.
Xbox reveals Partner Preview event on March 26, featuring Stalker 2, The Expanse and moreXbox will host a Partner Preview event on March 26, showcasing upcoming third-party titles including STALKER 2, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN. The stream will be available on YouTube at 5 PM GMT and will feature new reveals and content from various partners.
Phil Spencer Was Good for Xbox, but His Legacy Is Complicated - IGNPhil Spencer is retiring after 38 years with Microsoft, concluding a 12-year tenure as Head of Xbox. His legacy is viewed as complicated, with shareholders seeing massive stock growth while some hardcore gamers point to increased subscription prices, fewer exclusives, and studio closures. Despite these criticisms, the article argues Spencer was a net positive, crediting him with saving Xbox during the Xbox One era, championing features like backwards compatibility and cross-play, and building a strong portfolio of studios and games.
"He truly cared about games, about the industry, and about the people making them" – The industry on Phil SpencerIndustry leaders reflect on Phil Spencer's retirement from Xbox after a 25-year career, highlighting his passion for games, player-first approach, and impact on the industry. Figures from Take-Two, Ubisoft, and others shared memories of his leadership, emphasizing his genuine interest in game development and his role in shaping the Xbox and PC ecosystems.