Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has had quite a journey since the game’s initial release, but despite technical issues and overcoming harsh real-world conditions throughout development, the game has generally been met with surprising success. In addition to two DLCs and a multiplayer game mode previously announced, following the game’s success, the development studio behind Stalker 2 has committed to continue supporting the game long after its release.
Beyond Stalker 2’s planned DLCs and future updates, the studio should consider another specific feature that could be a highly beneficial addition to the RPG, a new game plus. Such a feature could incentivize players to experience the full story and collect some of the best gear that players may have missed on their initial playthrough, overall helping to improve the game’s replayability while also allowing players to grow their arsenal in preparation for the upcoming PvP game modes. So, while there are still rough edges to address and big DLCs already planned for the game, Stalker 2 arguably needs a new game plus feature above all else.

The Unwritten Rules of STALKER 2 Explained
Unwritten rules are essentially a set of tips and tricks that players encourage one another to use to well in a game, and STALKER 2 has a few of them.
The Case for a New Game Plus Feature in Stalker 2
Stalker 2’s Community Mods May Not Be a Permanent Solution
By now, there are already multiple community mods for Stalker 2 that players can use to achieve the effects of a new game plus, generally by nature starting a new playthrough with every item already unlocked. However, modding Stalker 2 might come with some unforeseen side effects when the game’s multiplayer game mode releases. Considering that some of Stalker 2’s PvP game modes will allow players to carry over items earned through the campaign, mods that let players directly spawn in weapons, armor, and other gear may be considered cheating.
Stalker 2’s PvP game modes will be available as a free update for all players. The release date for this update is currently unknown, though a roadmap for Stalker 2’s future updates is expected to be revealed in January 2025.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen how mods will affect Stalker 2’s upcoming PvP multiplayer, though it’s safe to assume that there may be some restrictions set in place to prevent players from cheating and/or using mods in multiplayer. Consequently, making a new game plus an official addition to Stalker 2 would be a much more ideal solution rather than relying on community mods that could potentially prevent players from participating in multiplayer game modes.
A New Game Plus Feature Could Improve Stalker 2’s Replayability
Another reason why a new game plus feature could be a great addition to Stalker 2 is to encourage players to fully experience the game’s story. Many branching questlines can lead to different endings in Stalker 2 depending on some of the choices players make throughout the game. Several side quests have different outcomes, so only playing one playthrough of the game means that players will naturally miss out on a lot of unique story moments.
Not only are there multiple endings that depend on players' choices throughout Stalker 2, but there are also some unique rewards tied to some of these quests that players can potentially miss. Since some of these unique weapons and armor sets in Stalker 2 will likely be transferable to the upcoming PvP multiplayer game mode, players who want to gain an upper hand against their opponents by having an expanded arsenal may want to consider playing multiple playthroughs to unlock these unique quest rewards. Hence, why a new game plus where players could retain their gear from past playthroughs would be a convenient way for players to take on the task of completing additional playthroughs of Stalker 2.








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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a sequel to the award-winning game franchise developed by GSC Game World. Experience one-of-a-kind gameplay, featuring the elements of a first-person shooter, immersive sim, and horror. The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is a unique, dangerous and ever-changing environment. It promises a lot — the artifacts of unbelievable value can be yours if you dare to claim them. The price you may pay, on the other hand, is no less than your own life. One of the biggest open-worlds to date, filled with radiation, mutants and anomalies, is yours to explore. All the choices across the way not only define your own epic story, but influence the future itself. Be mindful about what you see, do and plan, as you will have to find your way through the Zone or be forever lost to it.
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- Top Critic Rating: 75/100 Critics Recommend: 62%
- Franchise
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Released
- November 20, 2024
- Developer(s)
- GSC Game World
- Publisher(s)
- GSC Game World
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood, Use Of Drugs And Alcohol, Language, Crude Humor
- How Long To Beat
- 35 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 143 GB (December 2024)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
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