Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Demands High-End Hardware, Boasts Advanced Graphics and DLSS 3 Support

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the highly anticipated sequel in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, is set to release on November 20th for PC and Xbox. Ahead of its launch, Nvidia has shared benchmarks and system requirements that highlight the game’s demanding nature, especially at higher resolutions.

The game’s system requirements indicate that running it at 4K with 60 FPS or higher will be a significant challenge, even for top-tier hardware. For instance, Nvidia’s RTX 4090, one of the most powerful consumer GPUs available, falls short of achieving 60 FPS at 4K resolution without the aid of Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 3 and Frame Generation. At 4K max settings, the RTX 4090 averages around 52.4 FPS, while the RTX 4070 Super manages only 34.7 FPS.

Nvidia’s benchmarks emphasize the critical role of DLSS 3 and Frame Generation in enhancing performance. With DLSS 3 enabled, the frame rates on GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards see a significant boost. For example, the RTX 4070 leaps from 30 FPS to 70 FPS at 4K, and the RTX 4090 surpasses 120 FPS with all settings maxed out.

In addition to the graphical demands, the game also supports AMD‘s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) upscaling technology, providing players with multiple options to optimize performance. The game’s CPU requirements are also noteworthy, with recommendations for high-end processors like the Intel Core i7-13700KF or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X for the highest graphics settings.

Beyond the technical aspects, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl promises an immersive gaming experience with a vast, 64-km² open world set in the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exclusion zone. The game features advanced AI, a complex faction system, and a highly branching story with multiple endings. It also includes support for NVIDIA Reflex, which reduces system latency, making the game more responsive.

In a unique collaboration, Ubisoft‘s The Division 2 will also feature themed cosmetics from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, available as a premium item starting November 19. This crossover highlights the shared post-apocalyptic themes between the two games.