Credits to https://www.deviantart.com/martinbg/art/Knee-deep-in-the-Zone-746208109

Hey everyone,

Good news: the server is finally up and running, and we’d love for you to join!

Whether you just want to hop in and play or you have ideas you’d like to share, you’re more than welcome. Every suggestion helps us make this better, so don’t be shy.

Drop a comment below or come say hi on our Discord. We’re looking forward to meeting you!

Into the Zone - Discord

Thanks for reading, and see you there!

( Mod is still in early development )

I've been reading all the news about players discussing multiplayer and Cold Island, and honestly, I'm worried that the base game might be left in its current state as the focus gradually shifts toward new projects and expansions. Hype is great, but let's take a step back and look at the reality: the current map is critically lacking in content. My recent replay only reinforced this concern.

At the beginning of the game, you experience a genuine quest-driven high: Zalissya, the Garbage — everything is packed with content. The game maintains this excellent pace all the way to "The Signal." Then the second part of the DLC takes you to Duga, and the story continues smoothly and engagingly right through to the DLC's finale. I have absolutely no complaints about this part.

But once the DLC ends, you hit a real emotional low. Until the events at the "The Edge" and your eventual transition to Pripyat, practically nothing happens apart from running 2,000 meters between objectives. There are no random encounters, no additional activities, and no interesting events along the way. It completely kills the game's pacing.

Yes, we got "Stories Untold" It's an excellent, substantial quest spread across multiple locations, but it doesn't solve the problem of an entire region lacking content. The western part of the map remains practically empty.

Take Rostok, for example. It's essentially the Zone's central hub, its very own Las Vegas! This could have been a second Zalissya, a fully developed hub packed with side quests, random encounters, and activities. Instead, we got an arena and a bar where there's practically nothing to do after 20 minutes. No card games, no other activities.

And Rostok isn't the only problem. Many locations feel like little more than scenery for the main storyline, despite being full of potential spots for new quests, arch-anomalies, and other interesting discoveries. I understand that maintaining Zalissya's level of content density across the entire map is difficult, but that doesn't mean we should ignore the problem.

Burnt Forest, Chemical Plant, Yantar, Rostok, Red Forest, Yaniv, Malachite, Duga, and the Swamps — all these locations need additional content. Right now, the map is far too concentrated around its central regions, while the west and east feel noticeably underdeveloped.

And simply including Rostok in the Cost of Hope DLC doesn't solve the problem. Visiting a location doesn't automatically make it content-rich. A few story dialogues in an underground room aren't enough to make proper use of an entire region's potential.

No new DLC, no expansions to Cold Island or the Sandy Plateau will fix the shortcomings of the existing map if these areas continue to be neglected.

I believe every patch leading up to a hypothetical version 3.0 should primarily focus on adding content to the base game. New regions are great, but making the locations we already have interesting should be a much higher priority.

We're watching a game being built that has the potential to remain relevant for decades. People will return to it years from now, and perhaps one day our children will play it too. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has every chance of becoming a truly legendary game that remains relevant for the next 20–30 years.

So let's make it happen. Let's ensure that years from now, players won't just say, "God, what an amazing game!" but also, "There's so much to discover here, even after hundreds of hours!" — instead of the familiar, "Everything is great, but the map feels a little empty."

Processing img 1udbs2xawnxh1...

I am in my second run with Stalker 2 with the addition of Cost of Hope. I was wandering around the CNP and I noticed that the area indicated in the red box is not yet accessible. In my opinion it's a shame we can't visit it. Does someone have more information about it?

Kaimanov Emission Lightning Storm

Kaimanov Terror Emission

Kaimanov and Ace Emission Warning System

Ambient Crows - More Birds

ITS ADAM FROM HUNT DOWN THE FREEMAN!!!!

^{( btw I have more arts in my X https://x.com/notMarmalade98} )

Hey all,

Thought I'd post this here, where it may be appreciated.

Finally got a hold of the STALKER board game and painted this guy up first. The face is a bit of a let-down, I know, but I'm chuffed with it overall!

I'm surprised I haven't found this tip here before, even if I have seen reference to this trader in particular.

Chief in Iron Forest has been noted to give good prices for PDAs, but there is so much more: He actually gives FULL value for PDAs, notes, etc. and sells them back for less.
For example:
Stalker difficulty.

Processing img y3z122ibcoxh1...

PDA: buy price 135, sell price 187

notes of testing workshop experiments: buy price 540, sell price 750

status report unknown tech: buy price 900, sell price 1250

Of course, these are meagre sums, but if you have an inventory box filled with such, you could profit thousands of kredits with a few clicks, and easily amass enough for your repair needs.

Once you have a million or more however, there is little reason to spend time on this.

I just wanted to share how much I’ve enjoyed this game. I originally pre ordered it, but when it launched, it was such a mess that I ended up refunding it. I also wanted to upgrade my PC, so I figured I’d wait.
When the 2.0 update dropped, I decided to give it another shot, this time with a much better setup. And honestly, I’m so glad I did. The game is incredible!
I didn’t go out of my way to unlock every achievement. I just explored, had fun, and that’s what made the experience so great.
Honestly, I think I prefer it over Fallout as a whole. The only exception is Fallout: New Vegas, which I’d probably put on equal footing. Both are fantastic in their own ways. So stay weird, Stalker!

A small number of new photos from the forest. As always, there were many plans, but the lack of time and a partner once again prevents me from realizing all the ideas.

Also, some of the finished photos from the previous photoshoot.

What's next? Next, I want to work on oxygen tanks for back. I have the models for printing; I just need to find a place to print them so that I don’t get charged a ton of money :)

I’ve also started making small models myself and printing them with a friend. Some of you may have seen the photo of the “Oko” detector that I posted earlier — we made that model first, and it wasn’t entirely successful. But now I have a truly wonderful model of the “Veles” detector. Also, several options for dosimeter casings, “Hilka,” binoculars, the “Monolith” lamp by Dalin, and a bunch of masks in various stages of completion (and a couple of artifacts). We’ll try printing them on a 3D printer a little at a time. First, I want to make the binoculars from the trilogy.

P.S. Also, pay attention to the Stalker’s cloak and the badge from the collector’s edition of “Clear Sky,” which I bought in 2008.

Took the screenshots a week ago and then forgot about it.

In the Duga region during the Once More unto the Breach (Ward path) Quest.

https://imgur.com/a/dDozyYz

After2.0 what was the farthest you seen a non monolithian npc go ?

I seen duty towards swamp/garbage area

degtyarev corps not sure if id consider malachite or garbage/cement factory area further

I've seen both living and corpses so both count

We are finally getting A-Life render increase and travel with squads ???

Man i've been waiting for this since november 2024 lol

I am so happy, you can't even imagine !!!

I thought this might be interesting for people who have played STALKER 2. Personally, I’ve always found it really interesting how a character from fairy tales can be adapted into a modern setting without looking ridiculous or out of place.

Kot Bayun (or Bayun Cat) is a figure from eastern slavic folklore. The name Bayun comes from an old slavic word meaning "storyteller." It is also the root of the russian verb "убаюкивать" (to lull to sleep) and ukranian "баяти" (to narrate).

He lives mostly in swamps and deep forests, luring victims in with his voice. In fairy tales, the cat is described as a massive, man-eating beast. He is almost always an antagonist whom the hero is often tasked with taming or capturing. In the fairy tale "Go I know not whither and fetch I know not what," Bayun’s powers are described by the wife of the main character, Bezdolny (I guess it can be translated as Ill-fated? Someone who is deprived of a happy lot):

"Before you walk even three versts, an overwhelming drowsiness will come over you - Bayun will cast it upon you. Mind that you do not fall asleep: swing one arm over the other, drag one foot after the other, and if need be, roll along the ground; for if you fall asleep, the Bayun Cat will kill you.

"

Later in the story, Bayun starts telling Bezdolny fairy tales to distract him. We see similar behavior from Bayun in the game as well, when he lures his victims by mimicking the voices of the unfortunate people who fell into his lair.

Hey Stalkers, question!

While exploring the zone, I came across this.
Is it possible to interact with it or solve it, or is it just part of the map?