Games by GSC Game World
Reviews of GSC Game World Games
Review Stalker 2 (Xbox) - GSC Game World's Long-Awaited Sequel Is A Mess
Zoned Out
There are many reasons why an endeavour as complex as creating a huge open-world video game sometimes doesn't pan out the way it should or could; absolutely millions of things that can and will go wrong at the best of times, no matter how much hard work goes in. Add in the stress of being at war during the development of your project -...
Latest GSC Game World News
Monday14th Apr 2025
News Stalker 2 Dev Unveils Plans To 'Evolve' Xbox Game Pass FPS In 2025
"The Zone is evolving and will continue to"
At the tail end of last year, developer GSC Game World dropped a big old roadmap for the future of Stalker 2 in 2025 - and today it has another lengthy message for fans as it plans to evolve the Xbox Game Pass FPS throughout the year. To cut to the chase, the team says that so far this year it has had...
Thursday13th Feb 2025
News Stalker 2 Patch 1.2 Marks First Major Update Of 2025 For Xbox Game Pass FPS
An absolute shed load of fixes & changes
Ukrainian developer GSC Game World has today announced its latest update for Stalker 2 - Patch 1.2. The team's new and absolutely massive update is now live on Xbox & PC, including on Game Pass, and it contains more than 1,700 fixes across lots of different areas of the game. The title's 'A-Life 2.0'...
Friday20th Dec 2024
News Stalker 2 Content Roadmap & Stalker Trilogy Next-Gen Patch To Arrive In 2025
Stalking your Xbox drive in '25
It's been a busy few weeks for GSC Game World — having released Stalker 2, and then delivering multiple post-launch patches since — and it doesn't look like the team is slowing down much in 2025. In a holiday message released today, the Ukrainian developer has committed to a Stalker 2 content roadmap and a...
Thursday19th Dec 2024
News Stalker 2 Update 1.1 Now Live On Xbox, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
An absolutely massive update
Just a few weeks on from its last big update, developer GSC Game World has today delivered Stalker 2 Patch 1.1, and it's an absolutely monstrous update that contains more than 1,500 fixes in total. GSC says that Stalker 2 Update 1.1 "will take some time" to download, so do bear that in mind here. The team is quick to...
Friday6th Dec 2024
News Stalker 2 Dev 'So Tired' It Couldn't Delay The Xbox Release Any Further
"You have no energy at all"
Stalker 2 has been out for a few weeks now, and by the jam-packed nature of the game's first few patches, it's safe to say that the Xbox title has needed some post-launch improvements. Another option, of course, was to delay the initial release even further - but in a new interview with developer GSC Game World, the team...
Wednesday4th Dec 2024
News Stalker 2 Update 1.0.3 Hits Xbox Today, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Another big update arrives
Since arriving in November, Stalker 2 for Xbox Series X|S, PC (and Game Pass) has received multiple major updates. The latest update (Patch 1.0.3) has now officially arrived and it comes loaded with main and side mission fixes, improvements to controls, saves, and much more. "To all stalkers who continue to explore the...
Friday29th Nov 2024
News Stalker 2 Update 1.01 Hits Xbox Today, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
The first big update is here!
We all know by now that Stalker 2 has some things to address before the game reaches its full potential - and developer GSC Game World is now officially on that path. Stalker 2 update 1.01 is out today on Xbox and PC, and the team has just detailed its full patch notes. Stalker 2 patch 1.01 focuses on fixes across...
Thursday28th Nov 2024
Feature Best Stalker 2 PC Mods We'd Love To See On Xbox Series X|S
Hone your zone
We've had our issues with the launch version of Stalker 2, as our recent 4/10 review made clear. However, we know the long-term way of things with these games, and are in no doubt that GSC Game World has got big plans for the future of this enormous and atmospheric experience. For now though, the PC version — available via PC Game...
Wednesday27th Nov 2024
News Stalker 2's Lower Review Scores Are 'Unfair & Misleading', Says Arkane Founder
"It's a bit rough on the edges at launch"
It's safe to say that Stalker 2's reviews have been quite varied so far - we went with a lower score of 4/10 due to a litany of bugs, glitches and game breaking issues experienced during our review time, but plenty of other critics went higher. This has led to a somewhat middling Metacritic average for the...
Tuesday26th Nov 2024
News Stalker 2 Fans Discover Some Amazing Easter Eggs In Xbox Game Pass Title
The devs went to town on these!
Stalker 2's arrival on Xbox Game Pass has been somewhat controversial due to various bugs and glitches present in the current experience - but one thing that's hard to deny is developer GSC Game World's dedication to the title. Creating this game in
Saturday23rd Nov 2024
Poll What Do You Think Of Stalker 2 On Xbox Game Pass So Far?
It's a divisive title
Well, our Stalker 2 review is now out in the wild, and as you may have seen, we've struggled with quite a few aspects of GSC Game World's new shooter. We reckon there's a proper game buried in here, but we're still waiting on quite a few issues getting sorted to properly discover it. We will say though, here at the Pure Xbox...
Friday22nd Nov 2024
News Stalker 2 Hits Massive Sales Milestone Despite Being In Xbox Game Pass
Wallet stalker
Microsoft, and the Xbox Game Pass team, has done its fair share of marketing when it comes to putting Stalker 2 in the public eye - but it doesn't seem to have had too much of an effect on traditional game sales, even this close to release. Just two days after it hit physical and digital store shelves on Nov. 20, developer GSC Game...
Thursday21st Nov 2024
Guide Stalker 2 Poppy Field: Where To Find It & Complete The Quest
Smell the poppies
Ever since Stalker 2's Poppy Field has been shown off in pre-release footage on Xbox, fans have wanted to explore this particular section of the map - and the good news is that you can do it fairly early on in the game. Here's how to find the Stalker 2 Poppy Field and complete the related quest: Stalker 2 Poppy Field...
Guide How To Use The Flashlight In Stalker 2 On Xbox
This helps prevent the game being too dark!
Stalker 2 has lots of different mechanics and button configurations involved, and some of them can be hard to spot at first - especially on an Xbox controller! We're seeing reports of Stalker 2 being too dark for some players, and while some of that could be to do with display settings, there is also a...
Guide Stalker 2 Invisible Enemy: How To Defeat Bloodsuckers & Poltergeists
Take 'em down!
Stalker 2's open world always has plenty of chaos to throw at you, but some of its more formidable foes are basically invisible when you first engage with them. Yep, the game's 'Poltergeist' and 'Bloodsucker' enemies come in various invisible forms, but they can be beaten with the right approach. Stalker 2 Invisible Enemy:...
News Stalker 2 Already Has A Respectable Player Count, Despite Some Launch 'Issues'
Xbox Game Pass will only boost the numbers
Stalker 2 is now officially available across multiple platforms including its "day one" release on Xbox Game Pass release, and we've now got some actual data, showing some early signs of how the game is performing. Although there have been concerns after multiple patches and updates were dropped, new data...
Wednesday20th Nov 2024
News GSC Game World 'Absolutely Committed' To Fixing Issues In Stalker 2 On Xbox
"We haven't released anything of this scale before"
Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World has released a statement on the launch of its sprawling sequel on Xbox Game Pass - reassuring fans that fixes are coming for some of the title's biggest issues. If you haven't seen by now, Stalker 2 contains its fair share of bugs and glitches on day one, with...
Guide Stalker 2: Best Performance Options & VRR Settings On Xbox
How to get the best out of your Xbox experience
Stalker 2 is officially landing on Xbox Series X and S today, and we have a few performance options and Xbox settings worth going over here to get the best out of your experience. First off, let's talk gameplay modes. On Xbox Series X we have a 30FPS Quality mode and a 60FPS Performance mode. Over on...
News Stalker 2 Console Comparison: Here's How Xbox Series X And S Perform
Both Xbox systems compared!
Stalker 2 is dropping on Xbox Game Pass today, and ahead of launch, we've been playing around with both Xbox versions of the title to see how they perform. Xbox Series X and S have slightly different setups for Stalker 2 - with Series X having two graphical modes to choose from, as oppos
News Stalker 2 Review Roundup: Here's What The Critics Think So Far
Reviews are now out in the wild
Here at Pure Xbox HQ, we need a little longer putting together our official review for Stalker 2, but there are a bunch of early impressions now available as the review embargo lifts for this Xbox Game Pass title. So, we've gathered up some of these early reviews to show you wha
News Stalker 2 Releases Another Xbox Series X|S Update Ahead Of Launch
Déjà vu
If you thought you were ready for Stalker 2, you might want to double-check because multiple Xbox Series X|S users are now reporting a new patch has been rolled out. Yes, we're talking about a completely new one! Following yesterday's update which was around 139GB, this latest update is apparently prompting anyone with the game...
Tuesday19th Nov 2024
News Stalker 2 Rolls Out Massive Xbox Series X|S Update Ahead Of Launch
The install size was already huge
Ahead of the anticipated arrival of Stalker 2 on Xbox Game Pass this week, it appears the new entry has received an absolutely massive update on Xbox Series X|S. As highlighted on social media and elsewhere online, multiple users are reporting how although the sequel already required an install of roughly 146GB,...
Monday18th Nov 2024
Guide Stalker 2: Release Date, Release Times & Download Size On Xbox Game Pass
The big day is almost here!
After a bunch of delays, Stalker 2 is turning out to be one of the most anticipated Xbox Game Pass titles for the end of 2024 - and the good news is that its release date is right around the corner! So, ahead of that launch, we're going to tell you everything you need to know about Stalker 2 and its Xbox Game Pass...
Thursday14th Nov 2024
News Phil Spencer Thinks Stalker 2 Could Be An Xbox Game Of The Year Contender
"The quality has really come a long way"
It's official, folks, we're less than a week away from Stalker 2 hitting Xbox Game Pass - and Microsoft's gaming boss thinks that the open-world shooter could be a real GOTY contender in 2024. Speaking with Game File, Phil Spencer was asked about the upcoming title and its
Thursday7th Nov 2024
News Stalker 2 Breaks Down Its Weapons Of The Wasteland Ahead Of Xbox Launch
Smoking barrels
As we spoke about yesterday, Stalker 2 is now less than two weeks away from releasing on Xbox Game Pass - and the team has just gone into detail on the game's arsenal of weaponry ahead of its launch. As showcased above in the game's new 'Smoking Barrels' trailer, developer GSC Game World has detailed exactly what gear you can get...
Wednesday6th Nov 2024
Talking Point Stalker 2 Is Just Two Weeks Away, Are You Still Hyped For Its Xbox Release?
Even with all the delays?
It's hard to believe it, folks, but GSC Game World's Stalker 2 is just two weeks away from launching on Xbox Game Pass. After multiple delays, and game development under the most trying of circumstances, this open world shooter is about to finally come to market on November 20th. The question
Tuesday29th Oct 2024
News Stalker 2 Dev Confirms Mod Support Coming To Xbox Series X|S
"We are preparing a big toolkit"
One of November's biggest Xbox titles is of course Stalker 2, with its Game Pass release locked and loaded for next month following multiple delays in recent years. We just learned about GSC Game World's performance targets for the game on Xbox, and now the team has confirmed that the console version will support...
Wednesday16th Oct 2024
News Stalker 2's Final Previews Are Here, And It Sounds Like An Xbox Game Pass Treat
Coming to the service next month!
It's been a very long wait for the arrival of Stalker 2 on Xbox Game Pass, but we're in the final stretch now, which is very exciting indeed. The open world shooter is about a month away from launching, and today, a bunch of early previews have dropped - with the game sounding like a real treat to play. We'll round...
Monday2nd Sep 2024
News Stalker 2 Dev Corrects '25FPS' Comment, Says Game Is Running Much Better On Xbox Series S
"We aim to launch on Series S with at least 30FPS"
Late last week, a Stalker 2 interview began doing the rounds online, where developer GSC Game World said that the game was running at '25FPS' on Xbox Series S right now - while final optimisation was still underway. However, the game's lead producer has now come out to correct those comments, saying...
Friday30th Aug 2024
News Stalker 2 Hits The Headlines For Apparently Running At '25FPS' On Xbox Series S
But it's being taken out of context
Last week, we learnt that Stalker 2 has a 60FPS performance mode on Xbox Series X - but today, the game's Xbox Series S specs are causing some controversy online. According to outlet wccftech, developer GSC Game World only has the Series S version running at "25ish FPS" right now, with more optimisation to be do
Wednesday21st Aug 2024
News Xbox Game Pass Title 'Stalker 2' Runs At 60FPS On Series X
And it's apparently "shaping up very well"
Ever since we first locked eyes on Stalker 2 and its atmospheric open world, we've thought it a bit of a graphical showpiece for Xbox - but that doesn't mean that the open-world title isn't going to be running at high frame rates. As part of Gamescom 2024, GSC Game World has a playable demo for its...
Thursday15th Aug 2024
News Stalker 2's Open World Looks Absolutely Gorgeous In New 'Locations' Walkthrough
"Wherever you go, you will feel the unique atmosphere"
Earlier this week, we got a big deep dive into all things Stalker 2 in the wake of its recent delay - and now the team has dropped a shorter, more stripped-back lo
Thursday25th Jul 2024
News Stalker 2 Officially Delayed, Launching On Xbox Game Pass This November
Another one
Developer GSC Game World has announced another delay for Stalker 2 - this time pushing the game out to November 20th, 2024. This open-world FPS is still hitting Xbox Game Pass on day one, but it's now arriving roughly two and a half months later than scheduled. This latest delay is "giving the team breathing room to address technical...
Friday12th Jul 2024
News Stalker 2 Dev Drops Beautiful New Screenshots As We Near Xbox Game Pass Launch
Less than two months to go!
After what feels like an eternity, GSC Game World's Stalker 2 is almost here. Xbox Game Pass aficionados, we have less than two months to wait, and in the meantime we've got a fresh set of screenshots to gawk over. Showcasing some immaculately detailed weapons and gadgets, alongside the game's ever-impressive open world,...
Tuesday25th Jun 2024
News STALKER: Legends Of The Zone Trilogy Gets Official Mod Support On Xbox
Thanks to mod.io!
A few months back, the folks over at GSC Game World dropped the original Stalker games onto Xbox seemingly out of nowhere, and their work on the Legends of the Zone Trilogy isn't over yet. Not only is the team still working away on a full current-gen upgrade for all three games, but it's also added official console mod support...
Friday26th Apr 2024
News Stalker 2's Open World Looks Mighty Impressive In New 'Not A Paradise' Trailer
Be careful where you tread
GSC Game World has today dropped a brand-new trailer for Stalker 2, ahead of the game's much-anticipated release on Xbox Game Pass. It's a short clip this time around, but the team's new 'Not a Paradise' trailer shows off some impressive technical details powering its open-world FPS. The landscape itself seems rich with...
Monday11th Mar 2024
Crawling through the zone
Ukrainian developer GSC Game World has finally brought its noughties STALKER games to console in the form of STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy - out now on Xbox. This collection brings together the team's three existing STALKER titles — Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky and Call of Prypiat — into one neat package, and...
Wednesday6th Mar 2024
News 'STALKER: Legends Of The Zone Trilogy' Is Available Today On Xbox
Stalker shadow drop!
Following a very recent leak, developer GSC Game World has announced that STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy is coming to Xbox... today! Yep, a new console bundle containing the first three Stalker titles is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on March 6. Here's a quick introduction to t
News Stalker Trilogy Surfaces For Console Ahead Of Xbox Partner Preview
Stalker 2 arrives on Xbox this September
Ahead of Xbox's 'Partner Preview' event, pre-orders for Stalker: Legends of the Zone Trilogy have surfaced on Japanese retail websites. While these listings and pre-orders only reference a PlayStation release at the moment, there's already speculation this will be an announcement at Xbox's upcoming show. The...
Tuesday16th Jan 2024
News Stalker 2 Is Officially Launching On Xbox Game Pass This September
We finally have a date!
There's movement in the exclusion zone! After years of troubled development for the team over at GSC Game World, we finally have an official release date for Stalker 2. The open world shooter is coming day one to Xbox Game Pass on September 5th, 2024. Originally planned to arrive much closer to the launch of Xbox Series X|S,...
Monday15th Jan 2024
News Stalker 2's Updated Screenshots Show Refreshed HUD Ahead Of 2024 Game Pass Launch
Can we expect it to arrive soon?
Since Stalker 2 featured heavily at Xbox's Gamescom booth last summer, the team has only trickled out bits of info on this upcoming Xbox Game Pass title - like the game's rough campaign length
Friday1st Dec 2023
News Stalker 2 Runtime Revealed Ahead Of 2024 Xbox Game Pass Launch
The dev has detailed the game's rough length
Yesterday, we brought news of how Stalker 2 is shaping up on Xbox Series X - with the team talking about the game's performance modes in a recent interview with outlet Gamersky. Well, during that very same chat, the team at GSC Game World outlined Stalker 2's approximate runtime. The team was keen to...
Thursday30th Nov 2023
News Stalker 2 Set To Feature Two Performance Modes On Xbox Series X
Here are the details
Since Gamescom 2023, things have been a tad quiet on the Stalker 2 front, however a new interview has now popped up from Chinese outlet Gamersky that gives us some juicy info on this upcoming Game Pass release - including how it's going to perform on Xbox Series X. When asked about Stalker 2's graphics and frame rate on Xbox...
Friday27th Oct 2023
News Stalker 2 & More Xbox Titles To Feature At Paris Games Week 2023
The event takes place next month
Xbox has detailed some of its plans for Paris Games Week 2023, which takes place early next month. For now, the team has discussed some of the games it will be bringing to the show floor, where fans in Paris can go hands on with the latest Xbox titles - and even sample some unreleased projects. Perhaps the biggest...
Monday11th Sep 2023
News Stalker 2 Developer Suffers From Fire In New Prague Offices
"No anomaly, not even a "Burner", will make us stop in our pursuit of our final goal"
Ukrainian developer GSC Game World has had a tough couple of years to say the absolute least, and since fleeing its home nation the team has been working out of new offices in Prague, Czech Republic. Unfortunately, these offices suffered fire damage late last week...
Thursday24th Aug 2023
News Stalker 2 'Bolts & Bullets' Trailer Showcases Plenty Of First-Person Gameplay
Coming Q1 2024!
Earlier today we brought the news that Stalker 2 has been delayed until Q1 2024, but that delay isn't stopping the game from coming along nicely. As part of another Gamescom 2023 drop, developer GSC Game World has just delivered a really authentic look at its upcoming Game Pass FPS. We say authentic because this feels like the first...
News Stalker 2's Xbox Game Pass Release Date Shifts To Early 2024
Entering The Zone next year
Developer GSC Game World may have shown up at Gamescom 2023 with an impressive playable demo of Stalker 2, but it appears that the game's full release has been delayed. According to a new developer
Wednesday23rd Aug 2023
News Stalker 2's Hands-On Gamescom Demo 'Makes Clear The Power Of Unreal Engine 5'
"STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl makes a hell of a first impression"
Developer GSC Game World has arrived at Gamescom 2023 with the first ever playable demo of Stalker 2, and outlets are starting to go hands on with the highly-anticipated Game Pass title this week. One of those is Xbox Wire, where the team has come away suitably impressed by what's...
Wednesday2nd Aug 2023
News Stalker 2 Will Re-Emerge At Upcoming Xbox Live Show This Month
One of our most anticipated Game Pass titles
So, Xbox has finally confirmed its gamescom plans for this year's show, and it sounds like the team is taking quite the lineup of games to the event. While Starfield and Forza Motorsport will be there in video presentation form, it's Stalker 2 we're most excited to see, especially because it's set to be...
Monday13th Mar 2023
News Stalker 2 Hack Forces Dev To Warn Fans Of Potential 'Outdated' Leaks
"We encourage you to stay patient and wait for the official release"
Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World has posted a new message on social media detailing a recent internal hack, inflicted by a "Russian social network community", that could lead to potential leaks. The team says that this community accessed a bunch of internal data through a...
