S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chronobyl, known simply as Stalker 2, is set to be released on PC and Xbox Series X|S on November 20. GSC Game World, the developer behind the game, has announced the system requirements for PC users. As with many AAA titles this generation, the requirements are quite demanding. This is normal for a game built on Unreal Engine 5.
Performance on Older Machines
Although it’s technically possible to play Stalker 2 on older computers, it’s advisable to keep the resolution at 1080p. If you want to go above that, you will need 32 GB of RAM. Additionally, the game requires 160 GB of storage space, which could make it difficult to run on handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
Graphics Settings and GPU Demands
Fortunately, the game includes support for both DLSS and FSR, allowing players to adjust in-game graphics settings to better meet the requirements. It’s evident that the game is more demanding on the GPU rather than the CPU, even when played at lower resolutions.
Nvidia has shared a blog post detailing how Stalker 2 performs with its GeForce RTX 4000 series graphics cards. At 4K resolution with the ‘Epic’ setting, when combined with an Intel Core i9-14900K and 64 GB of RAM, even the high-end GeForce RTX 4090 struggles to maintain a stable 60 FPS without DLSS. These benchmarks are by the manufacturer, so actual performance may be lower.
Frame Rate Challenges
The performance at 1440p and 1080p is similarly challenging, as DLSS 3 is practically essential for achieving playable frame rates on recommended setups. Nvidia has not clarified whether ray tracing is active in either case, which would certainly push an RTX 4090 to its limits.
For laptops, things are slightly better, especially at 1080p. Even an entry-level GeForce RTX 4050 can run Stalker 2 at maximum settings. With some adjustments, you can reach a steady 60 FPS on older RTX 3000 series cards.
Conclusion on Game Demands
Stalker 2 is clearly among the most demanding games to be released this generation. Current hardware may struggle, but next-gen graphics cards like the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 may handle it better, especially when paired with a Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
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