Chornobyl Archives

AppWizard

October 8, 2026

Free Play Days – ARC Raiders, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, Screamer, and More

From October 8 to October 11, members of XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential can play Screamer and Family Man for free during Free Play Days. ARC Raiders is available for free to all XBOX members from October 8 to October 15. Players can also try timed trials of High On Life 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, and Rogue Waters. Discounts on games are available for those who wish to purchase them after the event. Screamer is developed by Milestone S.r.l., has a rating of 84/100, and is priced at .99 with a 60% discount during the event. Family Man, developed by No More Robots, has a rating of 47/100, priced at .99 with an 85% discount. ARC Raiders, developed by Embark Studios, has a rating of 11953/100, priced at .99 with a 50% discount. High On Life 2, developed by Squanch Games, Inc., has a rating of 2090/100, priced at .99. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, developed by GSC Game World, has a rating of 7190/100, priced at .99 with a 30% discount after Free Play Days. Little Nightmares III, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., has a rating of 592/100, priced at .99. Rogue Waters, developed by Tripwire Interactive LLC, has a rating of 45/100, priced at .99 with a 75% discount during Free Play Days.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Stalker 2’s imminent free update aims to make the sequel more atmospheric and less relentlessly hostile: ‘The Zone isn’t one constant gunfight’

Stalker 2, the sequel to the 2007 game, has faced challenges such as bugs and performance issues. GSC Game World is releasing a significant 2.0 patch alongside the first story expansion, which includes a complete overhaul of the lighting system, enhancing both indoor and outdoor environments. The A-Life system will also be improved to make the game world feel more alive, with new locations for creatures and increased conflict opportunities. The patch will feature a custom difficulty setting, new weapons, dynamic fog, and binoculars for tactical gameplay. The expansion, titled 'Cost of Hope,' will launch on August 20, focusing on the 'Duty' faction within the game.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

Stalker 2’s engine upgrade and first story expansion are due out in August

The pre-release review period for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 featured numerous glitches and challenges, including silenced gunfire and stalled quests, but also showcased the game's potential. GSC Game World announced the first story DLC titled "Cost of Hope," which will explore the ideologies of the Zone's factions, Duty and Freedom, and introduce new territories, allies, foes, and weapons. Additionally, a significant 2.0 update will upgrade the game from Unreal Engine 5.1 to 5.5.4, bringing new features and content free for existing players. More details on the DLC and update are expected as the August 20 release date approaches.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

This surprisingly popular Steam MMO is now on the Epic Games Store, with a free starter pack if you’re quick

Stalcraft X, an MMO inspired by post-apocalyptic themes, has launched on the Epic Games Store as a free-to-play game. Players can explore the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, establish home bases, and face dangers from anomalies, creatures, and rival players. A complimentary starter pack, available until February 26, includes weapons, wearables, ammunition, and cosmetic items. The game has a dedicated following on Steam with peak concurrent player counts around 20,000 daily. Additionally, Epic Games is offering the narrative-driven novel Return to Ash for free this week.

AppWizard

November 6, 2025

PC gamers finally get iconic franchise on Xbox Game Pass

Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Editions are now available on Xbox Game Pass for PC, expanding their accessibility beyond traditional consoles. They were initially scheduled to launch in October but faced a delay. The games, originally released in 1998 and 2000, feature upgraded visuals and a modernized user interface in their Enhanced Editions from 2019. Unlocking all achievements in these games may take between 150 to 200 hours. Additionally, five games are set to leave the Game Pass on November 11, including Football Manager 2024 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is scheduled to launch on November 14.

AppWizard

September 22, 2025

The 16+ year-old original Stalker games have Nvidia DLSS support now, which isn’t as crazy as it sounds

On September 18, GSC Game World released a significant patch for its remastered collection, Legends of the Zone, which includes Nvidia's DLSS support. This technology enhances performance and visual fidelity, improving the visual experience of the game, which is more demanding on hardware than its original versions. Community feedback has been positive, with Steam reviews showing a Mostly Positive rating, contrasting with the game's overall Mixed status. Additionally, GSC addressed an infinite quicksave bug earlier this year, further enhancing gameplay and community engagement.

AppWizard

September 12, 2025

New Stalker remaster patch continues to combat ongoing performance woes

GSC Game World has remastered the original Stalker trilogy into the Stalker: Legends of the Zone collection, which includes Stalker: Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat. The remasters have received mixed reviews due to performance issues, prompting the release of Patch 1.3 to enhance the gaming experience. This update includes numerous bug fixes, a font overhaul for better visibility, and the integration of a quick slot system from Call of Pripyat into the earlier titles. It also addresses technical glitches such as sky blurriness and hand animation issues. The updated version of Stalker: Shadow of Chornobyl Enhanced Edition is available for purchase on Steam.

AppWizard

September 4, 2025

One of Stalker’s most legendary mods has joined GOG’s one-click install program, making it easier than ever to die horribly in Chornobyl

The Stalker franchise has seen a resurgence after a long hiatus since the release of Stalker: Call of Prypiat in 2009, with updates for Stalker 2, remasters of the original trilogy, and the launch of Stalker Anomaly on GOG's modding platform. Stalker Anomaly is a standalone mod that combines maps from the original three games into a single environment, featuring an enhanced A-Life system and faction warfare mechanics.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Stalker 2’s 1.5 mega-patch just dropped and GSC says A-Life is back, baby

GSC Game World has released a substantial update for Stalker 2, called the "Guns and Looting update" (version 1.5). This update revives the A-Life system, allowing NPCs to lead their own lives, pursue individual goals, and engage in conflicts. NPCs will no longer respawn directly in front of players, enhancing realism. The update also introduces new features, including a new rifle and pistol, a "Water electric tornado" anomaly, and the ability to loot parts from mutants.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Weekend PC Download Deals for June 20: GOG.com and Blizzard Summer Sales

GOG.com is offering over 8,000 DRM-free PC games, including titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, as part of its Summer Sales season. Blizzard's Battle.net is also having a Summer Sale with discounts on franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo 4. Steam is hosting its Fishing Fest and has publisher sales from EA, THQ Nordic, Koei Tecmo, and Klei, along with discounted new releases and free weekends for games like Dead by Daylight. The Epic Games Store, Fanatical, Gamebillet, Gamersgate, GamesPlanet, Green Man Gaming, and Humble Bundle are also participating in sales. Humble Bundle offers a subscription service called Humble Choice for .99 per month, providing access to various games and extra savings on purchases.