Stalker 2's 1.6 update brings with it nighttime fun and a bit of heat

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl — Night of the Hunter Showcase | Update 1.6 - YouTube

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is heating up today with the arrival of the 1.6 update—out now—which introduces a new anomaly, the fireball, and some nighttime fun in the form of night vision goggles.

"Whether you're a rookie navigating the shadows or a seasoned veteran hunting in the night, these NVGs offer a critical edge in the treacherous wilderness," GSC Game World says. The Zone can get pretty dark when the sun sets, especially when you're far from civilisation—which is the bulk of the Zone—so these toys should come in pretty damn handy.

If you want a pair for yourself, GSC suggests hitting up an "Old Friend" in Zaton, who will be able to point you in the right direction.

Naturally, you're not the only one who'll be sporting this new bit of kit. Other stalkers will be able to get their hands on NVGs, making nighttime excursions a bit more… exciting.

The new NVG offset aiming feature should also make close-quarters gunfights a bit easier, allowing you to tilt your gun for improved handling. "This tactical advantage redefines combat dynamics in the Zone's unforgiving terrain," says GSC. A new high-powered laser pointer has also been thrown into the mix, making it easier to hit your targets in the dark.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the new fireball anomaly. It should light things up quite nicely, though not to your advantage, as it burns with "intense heat, posing a significant hazard to all stalkers," GSC warns. Yep, the Zone's getting even more dangerous. Lovely.

Then you've got other enhancements and tweaks: customisable stick input curves, local save backup restoration, revisited loot when you're rooting around in stashes, and "general technical improvements".

Magpie that I am, I got distracted by shiny things and didn't quite reach the end of my misadventure through the Zone, but every update tempts me back more and more. That said, I might hold off until the big engine update, when Stalker moves to Unreal Engine 5.5.4.

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.