GSC Game World confirms important news for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in 2026, with new DLC and leap to Unreal Engine 5

GSC Game World takes stock of 2025 and advances the next steps of the project.

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The team behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl wants to close the year with a direct message to the community, reviewing everything that happened in 2025 and making their intentions clear for the coming months. After an intense year of work, the studio ensures that the game is now in a much more solid state on both PC and consoles.

Since its release, development has focused on improving stability, performance, and overall feel. According to the team, the continued effort throughout the year is already noticeable, especially after the game’s arrival on new platforms and the feedback received from players.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Prepares New Content and a Major Leap to Unreal Engine 5

In their statement, GSC Game World confirms that the first story DLC is already in development and progressing as planned. Although no details about its content have been shared yet, the studio makes it clear that it will be a fundamental piece in the game’s future and one of the major novelties of 2026.

Additionally, the team is working on a major technical update, aiming to bring S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 to a more recent version of Unreal Engine 5. This change should allow for a more stable Zone, with visual improvements and a better technical foundation for long-term growth.

The message also includes an explicit thank you to the community, highlighting that the players’ support and patience have been crucial in maintaining the pace of improvements throughout the year. To conclude, GSC Game World announces that a new atmospheric teaser will be released soon, offering a first glimpse of what’s to come.