Just in case you missed it, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl launched yesterday (on the 20th) and the game has seen a surge of players trying it out, breaking Stalker series records in the process. The game is a top seller on Steam, but it doesn’t come without performance issues. In pre-release reviews, some outlets were saying it was simply not ready for launch.

While that may be true, some players don’t seem to be deterred by the bugs. The game’s developers, GSC Game World, recently issued a statement claiming they are “absolutely committed” to rolling out hotfixes, and the rollercoaster-ride development is one reason why some fans are sympathetic.

Stalker 2 peaks well above 100K on launch day

It’s not a massive surprise given the amount of buzz surrounding the game, but Stalker 2 has broken the 100,000 mark on Steam, peaking at 113,587 on launch day. Keep in mind that the game was also available on day one on Game Pass, so we’re sure there are plenty of players unaccounted for as well.

While this amount may look like nothing compared to something like Black Myth: Wukong, it’s worth pointing out that the highest peak recorded in any other Stalker game on Steam was just 2,308 with Shadow of Chernobyl – nearly 50x less than Stalker 2. And again, the lack of Game Pass statistics is something that has to be taken into account.

The series has certainly gained a massive fanbase in the ~15 years since Call of Pripyat. At the time of writing, the game still enjoys 67,569 players and we may witness another peak once the weekend arrives.

Some call for refunds; many others are sticking with the game

First things first, performance has been lackluster. We’ve tested the game to find the best settings for Stalker 2, and it feels like upscaling is a must-have, even with the 5800X3D / RTX 3080 combo we used for 1440p. This may filter out anyone on generations-old hardware, but that’s not all. Many people are reporting game-breaking bugs, as well as crashing or stuttering.

With all of that in mind, you’ll find some community threads on places like Reddit or Steam calling for refunds, but some long-time fans say there’s “nothing wrong” with a bit of jank. As one commenter says, “Bugs and jank are inevitable. Will still play and enjoy it immensely.” thanks to the ambition of the game outside of its problems.

There is plenty of debate here, and “beta testing the game” for the devs is hardly something to be excited by if you pre-ordered at full price. Among the debate though, we can see that some fans remain positive.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.