STALKER 2 is an extremely demanding game from both a CPU and GPU standpoint, pushing a powerful CPU like the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D to its limits so much that it struggles to hit very high framerates at low resolutions.
A new benchmark shared on YouTube by Compusemble highlights how demanding the second entry in the series by GSC Game World is, especially on the CPU. In the two scenarios the benchmark is set, both of them extremely CPU intensive, a Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU struggles to hit a 100 FPS average even at 1080p resolution. At a higher resolution, such as 4K, the AMD CPU also struggles to keep a steady 60 FPS in both benchmarking scenarios.
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Performance concerns on both PC and consoles haven't stopped fans from purchasing the game, as STALKER 2 managed to sell 1 million units in just a few days of availability. While the game stays true to its predecessor and its premise, the game by GSC Game World isn't exactly a game for every sort of player, as Alessio highlighted in his review-in-progress.
For now, here's my current take on STALKER 2: this is a game that knows precisely what it wants to be, although that doesn't mean it is balanced enough to be fun all the time. The feeling of playing a stalker thrust into this inhospitable world against seemingly impossible odds is always present, for better or worse. However, unless you're really dying to enter the Zone right away, I would recommend waiting a little longer while the developers (and possibly modders) fix and improve the game further. After all, you've waited this long; what's a few more?
STALKER 2 is now available on PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S worldwide. It is also part of the Xbox Game Pass library on both PC and consoles.
Products mentioned in this post
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
USD 59.99
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