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 (via SteamDB) seems to indicate it hasn't been enough to deter stalkers around the globe - with more than 113K players purchasing the paid Steam version of the title at launch. In comparison, EA's recent release Dragon Age: The Veilguard hit 89K on Valve's service at its all-time peak.
These numbers are also well out in front of previous Stalker games on Steam, according to SteamDB. This places it in the current "top 10" most-played games on Steam right now. Perhaps more interestingly, the ratings on Steam for Stalker 2 are currently sitting on "very positive" with more than 5,000 player reviews at the time of writing.
Of course, this is only a sample of the Stalker 2 player base. Given the fact the game is also a "day one" release on Game Pass, there's no doubt a lot of players currently trying the sequel out on Xbox. Keep in mind the experience across platforms could also be different. After all, the Xbox version received multiple patches and updates (some well over 100GB) at the eleventh hour.
As for critic reviews, Stalker 2 seems to have received plenty of decent scores so far, although some accounts have reported a lot of bugs. It's even led to GSC Game World issuing a statement, mentioning how it's committed to fixing these problems.
Have you given Stalker 2 a go yet on Xbox? Have you encountered any bugs at all? Let us know in the comments.
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Comments 33
Does this have a live service component to it? Why would concurrent player count be a relevant metric for this game? In something without any MTX or battle passes or other GaaS bloat, if I were the developers I’d be praying for sales rather than irrelevant stats.
@Balaam_ Well, that's 100K sales right there. Not a bad start, right?!
@MeanBeanEgg Who's saying DA is a flop based on concurrent player count?
@kevinm360 it’s just part of the narrative at DA. Of the it’s doing terrible brigade.
Other than that I’m glad stalker has had lots try it out, I hope they address some issues soon then I’ll be raring to jump in!
When it’s ready, it’s going to be awesome. Right now, to me is not worth investing dozen of hours into. I quit after 20 minutes or so.
Controls are shockingly bad. I mean, that drift is bad input handling, probably just a few lines of code in the player controller. I don’t know how it is even possible to launch a game of this magnitude without properly fine tuning aim. And why not just delay it? Launching so close to Black Ops 6 was a bad idea in the first place.
Microsoft messed up two high profile launches on GamePass in two days. I’ll wait till they’re fixed no problem, but still.
Let's remember this game was made in a country getting torn to pieces by war we are lucky to have the game at all the development team have done an amazing job!
Victory to Ukraine 💪
I played this from at launch time 16:00 to 02:30 with a short break for food.
Didn't have anything that stopped me from enjoying this superbly atmospheric & immersive game. Is it perfect nope but it's also not the broken mess some seem to want to paint it as.
Not sure if folks played the original 3 but they had issues too but were a fantastic experience. Stalker 2 is exactly the same but turned up to 11 not perfect but one heck of an experience.
@RiverGenie
I have played for hours now series x.
All bells and whistles turned on.
Not had one issue.
The gaming arena is full of jokers that want to hurt games and companies by over compensating some issues. Then you get the fan attacks as well.
Don’t forget there is still a lot of bad vibes from some over the Bethesda and now ABK Microsoft buy outs.
Microsoft dropped the ball big time this week. Two disastrous game launches back to back between MSFS 2024 and now Stalker 2.
I will definitely give this a try tonight. I need a break from the chaos of BOP6 Multiplayer, I'm starting to dream about my matches 🤣 and MS Flight Sim just hasn't taken off for me at the moment. (bad pun intended) 😏
Hmm, bounced off this one pretty hard. Didn't have any technical issues but just didn't seem like my kind of game. Seen lots in previews about how good it looks but honestly can't see it. It looks like a remaster of a 360 era game. Monsters were pretty dreadful too. I get that it's more of an immersive experience and not meant to be 'fun' per se but I think that's just not for me.
Will try again at some point. And can confirm that, for me at least, it was perfectly stable with none of the issues that have been reported, other than a seriously inconsistent frame rate.
@RetroMan71 I'm the same need to give blops 6 a break I'm gonna have a relaxing gaming night myself Spyro and stalker 2 to calm down tonight with rather than be super alert and in total concentration playing cod it's exhausting after so long ha
@Ricky-Spanish I know... it does get addictive, I keep needing one more game, especially if I have my eye on one of the calling cards that's about to unlock 😁
@Scrubchub "It looks like a remaster of a 360 era game..."
As long as the game is fun, that doesn't really sound like a bad comparison. 😏
@OldGamer999 when the Dev themselves put out a statement themselves acknowledging that there are issues, then there are issues.
There’s 0 bad faith around stalker, everyone wanted and wants the devs to succeed.
Everyone is saying they will be patient and give the devs the time they need.
All I can say is this.
I have put some hours in now and in the open world, side missions etc.
I seem to have no graphical or sound issues from the series x.
In 120hz forced mode VRR, Dolby vision and atmos running.
Maybe as I’m not a big professional reviewer I can’t see or have not come across these issues.
I just believe that maybe on other devices series s or PC. Also depending on the series x set up.
I mean you can’t get better than forced 120hz with VRR, with Dolby vision and atmos running.
That is the elite way to run a series x if you have the capability on your TV.
Maybe that has helped my experience.
I just think it’s bit of bash show going a bit over the top and I’m just trying to give my so far positive experiences with my particular top set up.
@OldGamer999 Hurrah for some positivity!
I expect the player count will be even higher once people have finished downloading the flipping thing, it’s enormous!
@OldGamer999 So everyone else is lying and you're the only one telling the truth there's youtube videos showing the frame rate dropping well below 60fps on Series X
Is it me or is there not much of a dead zone coded on to the sticks? I think it needs some as I get unintended movement and aim stick movement.
@bowzoid deadzone seems to be set at 0 where most games are 0.1-0.2.
Hopefully it’s a simple fix and will be done soon, a lot of people are having this issue.
@PsBoxSwitchOwner
"There’s 0 bad faith around stalker, everyone wanted and wants the devs to succeed.
Everyone is saying they will be patient and give the devs the time they need."
You being sarcastic?
Just need to go over to a sister site to read how off the mark you are.
@Rangers420 Slight frame rate drops unnoticeable to the eye aren't anything to cry about the world is so self entitled nowadays!
@Rangers420
That is correct.
Are they running at forced 120hz with VRR on?
@GeeForce Considering what the team making the game are going through at the moment in there country but still managing to get the game out in a decent not perfect state people should cut them some slack in all honesty but people are either ignorant or just don't care and push square is bound to be salty about an Xbox exclusive nothing surprising there!
@Ricky-Spanish It drops to below 20fps on Series X at times that's not slight dips. Not one comment has criticised the dev team everyone knows what they're going through and honestly it's a miracle the game has even released but it could have done with another delay till early next year that's all I'm saying.
Some launch issues is a massive understatement.
Despite countless issues would've been a more fitting description.
@Ricky-Spanish Except the game was made in the Czech Republic because the developers left Ukraine when the war started and opened a new studio in Prague.
@Rangers420 Only going in and out of the menus is it doing that!
@MrMagic Regardless they deserve some credit and slack I'm sure that move wasn't by Choice or was free besides the fact any adult males working for them would of still have to return as for military service otherwise they wouldn't of been allowed out of the country once the war started but what does that matter when the put out a horrible buggy game(for some fussy people) right why did they bother!
@MrMagic yeah they moved because their country has been invaded & is at war as you know.
All still have family & friends there. You try concentrating on your day to day grind when loved ones and / or friends are potentially in mortal danger. Even just doing your work while your home is being wrecked due to be effing invaded. Come on now!
@GeeForce and what does it matter what they think if they don’t have access to it?
Most Xbox/multiplatform sites (here, eg, Reddit) seem to be giving plenty of support for the devs
Some guys recognize it 💪👍 it's immersive, survival, dark, depresive post-apo open world shooter. Yummy 👄
Removed - trolling/baiting; user is banned
It’ll keep growing as we get to the weekend so the total will be higher. It’s at this number on a weekday which is impressive
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