🍰 #STALKER Cake

After all these years, STALKER 2 team finally rolled out a trailer that makes sense to me: they showcase it as a survival game with weapons!

The game also looks very old fashioned in terms of visuals: baked lighting, hard shadows, noticeable polygons on models around. And you know what? IMO: it's more appealing than blurry modern games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAz3_4uvG0k #STALKER@GameDEV #FPS@GameDEV

STALKER 2 moderators are banning people on Steam for mentioning that their PC system requirements are not showing the right numbers and actually suggest that everyone is using upscaling.

It was previously confirmed by the community manager on Discord and now they are trying to erase this statement (but getting the Streisand effect).

#STALKER@GameDEV
#NVIDIA@GameDEV

This is getting out of hand:

An eagle-eyed user online noticed that STALKER 2 system requirements on Steam were updated not long before launch day on November 20th. Previously, the minimum and recommended specs didn’t look too demanding – but that has all changed. Newer and better hardware is now suggested, and that’s even with help from upscaling tech such as DLSS, FSR, and XeSS.

All this happened after moderators banned people on Steam and other platforms. They were banned for asking to clarify the news after NVIDIA and S2 community managers on Discord revealed that DLSS, FSR, or XeSS are required for the game. And that the requirements in NVIDIA posts don't match ones in stores.

UPD: Apparently, they also lifted bans and said that before the release they hired more moderators and the new guy did it without any approval from the senior team.

#STALKER@GameDEV

Imagine a promotional trailer from NVIDIA and GSC to make you want STALKER 2... It has traversal lag (resources streaming issues):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaMT9u8CbZ0

#NVIDIA@GameDEV
#STALKER@GameDEV
#UnrealEngine@GameDEV

Who would've guessed: first reviews starting to roll out and they are negative — everyone is saying that the game is broken and unfinished.

Unlike Starfield, which can't be fixed, STALKER 2 is a great game you'd want to complete when it's done: the premise is simple, the atmosphere is great, and gunplay feels memorable. For now, it just not ready at all.

The performance is horrible even on 4090 with 14900K. The interior lighting is broken, the reflections are inconsistent, and LOD popping is just five meters away from the camera. The are quest bugs, animation bugs, and so are sounds, AI and stealth — they are all broken and it is getting worse with every hour of gameplay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRCLRAJkqjg

#STALKER@GameDEV
#NVIDIA@GameDEV
#UnrealEngine

A solid start on Steam for STALKER 2! The game is confirmed as buggy, the Frame Generation feature is broken, but overall people are kinda getting what they expected — an atmospheric adventure in a questionable condition.

🤔 Are you buying? Share in the comments!

#STALKER@GameDEV
#Steam@GameDEV

Anomalies everywhere!

#STALKER@GameDEV
#Bugs@GameDEV

🫏 Dunkeyfied!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocEm1rs_CY

#STALKER@GameDEV

It evolved, just backwards 🌚

#meme@GameDEV
#Optimization@GameDEV
#STALKER@GameDEV

Stealth moment!

#STALKER@GameDEV
#meme@GameDEV
#Bugs@GameDEV

Well...

#STALKER@GameDEV
#meme@GameDEV

If you have the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy on Steam, it's now updated to Enhanced Edition.

They fixed bugs, added easier mods support via Workshop, and… deleted Russian voice-overs, which were there, they just deleted it. And the mod to restore it is already booming.

#STALKER@GameDEV