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Windows Central
Windows Central
Technology
Alexander Cope

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has shown off its free 2.0 Update with a gameplay trailer, and it makes it feel almost like a new game, even without the upcoming DLC

Reddit
A gas-masked figure in tactical gear stands in a field of red poppies, overlooking a desolate landscape under a sunset sky for Stalker 2 update 2.0.

We're just a week away from the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Hope of Despair on August 20, 2026, the first DLC expansion for the diehard, open-world survival-adventure game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, releasing for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via GOG, Epic Games Store, and Steam.

On top of that, STALKER 2 will also be getting a free 2.0 update for the base game on the same day the Hope of Despair DLC expansion launches.

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