Watch video overview of the Patch Notes:
Stalkers are talking about something that cannot be perceived or understood. People are abandoning their gear, leaving their routes, and swearing they felt someone else’s presence.
More and more experienced stalkers are turning back to superstitions.
The Zone is filling with primal fear.
Season: tulpa!
Season Pass menu change
Economy adjustments for the Operations mode
Tasks display
Guide updates
Coliseum season tasks adjustments
Player profile change
Balance adjustments
Other changes and fixes
Autumn has reached the Zone: leaves are slowly falling, painting familiar landscapes in rusty tones.
The vegetation palette has been updated to match the autumn season.
Updated the visuals for weather effects. During some of them, falling leaves can be observed.
Improved visuals for wind and thunderstorms.
Throughout autumn, the following weather conditions can be seen:
Cloudy weather;
Overcast weather;
Light fog;
Dense fog;
Light rain;
Heavy rain;
Thunderstorm.
Updated the key Season Pass rewards:
OTs-62;
ALK-22 Dragonfly;
Ratcatcher Exoarmor;
Leper skin;
Turmoil paint сontainer;
Amulet doll charm;
All-Seeing Fishie charm;
tulpa! customization pack.
And the main Season Pass reward — Capper.
The new sniper rifle features a unique charge mechanic that lets you choose between firing instantly or dealing maximum damage.
Pressing the fire button immediately shoots with low damage, comparable to a veteran M40A5 using SBP ammo.
Holding the fire button begins charging the shot. A full charge takes 0.5 seconds and increases damage to nearly Gauss Rifle levels. While charging, movement speed is reduced by 50%.
You can fire at any point during the charge, but the longer you hold the button, the higher the damage. Most of the damage increase occurs in the final moments before the charge is complete.
At full charge, the shot gains an additional property: armor plate penetration.
After reaching full charge, the weapon can remain charged for an additional 3 seconds. If you don’t fire within that time, the charge is lost.
Added a new Season Special case, featuring a unique reward — K15 machine gun.
Key rewards and contents:
K15;
CD-4 Armored Suit;
Elbrus SRD;
CRAW-6 Container;
HK417;
FN SCAR-H.
Updated the main rewards interaction menu. You can now switch between key rewards using the cards in the top-right corner.
Visual changes:
Level progress and Season Pass buttons moved to the season description block;
The Go to my level and Claim rewards buttons moved to the bottom control panel.
For a long time, the high profitability of the Operations mode limited our ability to increase rewards for open-world activities.
The current Operations economy allows players to earn extremely high guaranteed income without significant risks or costs. This disrupts the reward structure logic we aim for across the game and is unfair to players engaging in riskier, more resource-intensive activities. Therefore, it was decided to reduce this mode’s profitability in favor of increasing open-world rewards.
Economic changes will be implemented in two iterations:
First iteration — reducing Operations mode profitability on September 2, 2026.
Second iteration — increasing profitability in permanent open-world events, planned for late September/early October.
Fixed money reward reduced by 70%.
Reduced the amount of advanced parts, tools, and currency in the potential reward pool.
The probability of receiving Advanced Tools in rewards is reduced, and the probability of receiving Advanced Parts is increased.
Receiving a side quest no longer replaces the active main quest. The main quest retains the highest priority and continues to be displayed at the top of the interface.
During eruptions, Find cover quest always has the highest priority and temporarily overrides the display of other quests.
Objectives for the main and side quests can now be displayed simultaneously. You can also manually hide or pin them.
Open world events that can be used to complete an active quest are now marked with a special indicator.
The next ranked season will begin on September 17 and run until October 10.
Tables can now be used in articles.
Fixed several issues related to item display in the Codex.
Added the following items to the Codex: Cryomancer, SIX12 Trailblazers of the North, and Ivan-1 style.
Expanded and translated articles on signals, events, additional effects, and other game mechanics.
Successful installation capture, Activate the rift, Intercept the generator, Eliminate the enemy squad tasks now count as a single task.
Eliminate the enemy squad task now requires eliminating 3 enemy squads instead of 1.
Activate the rift task now requires activating 3 rifts instead of 2.
Intercept the generator task now requires 4 interceptions instead of 3.
You can now add tracks from records to your profile.
A new Music section is now available in the profile customisation window.
Just like on the card's page, you can find all the records available in the game there and learn how to obtain them.
For a track in your profile, you can select any segment that is at least 1 second long.
By default, the track plays when you enter your profile. Once you press Pause, this status is retained when you access any profile.
Now, all equipped items on a character are displayed in the profile next to the Statistics window. You can hide items from other players using a special button.
To help you get started quickly, a series of packs awaits you, containing Season Pass levels, Overdrives, Fishie Crates, and Night Stalks paint for armor and weapons.
“I've seen a lot in my life, but something staring at me from the darkness...” — some strangers around the campfire.
There are many rumors about unexplained phenomena occurring in the Zone. Some people blame it on the antics of stalkers, while others believe in a different, more terrifying and frightening force. Superstitions styles pack was crafted by artisans specifically for those who want to ensure their journey goes smoothly — after all, superstitions should be kept at bay.
GrenadeChanges
Stinky
Stinky Grenade Round
Removed passive input of stopping power
Added Stability: -200%
The Grenade no longer passively slows enemies simply by being within its radius, but it significantly increases the stopping power of incoming shots.
RoundChanges
All buckshot and 12 Caliber Birdshot
The bonus spread is reduced by half (200% → 100%, 100% → 50%)
12 Caliber Hunting Round
Added a 25% damage bonus to mutants
Barricade
Damage to structures: x2 → x2.5
AttachmentChanges
Weight Tactical Grip
Weight: 90 g → 200 g
Removed: Ergonomics: -10%
Removed Sway: -16%
Vertical recoil: -10.5% → -15%
Added Speed during aiming: -5%
Speed: -2% → -1.5%
Weighted grip is now the most effective grip for reducing recoil overall.
If you use it with armor that ignores the effect of weapon speed on the character's movement speed, the only penalty it will have left is the speed while aiming penalty.
Skyline MBC
Spread: -5% → -7.5%
Recoil buildup: -25% → -10%
Vertical recoil: -30% → -20.25%
Horizontal recoil: 25% → 6.75%
Roll Flash Hider
Spread: -5% → -7.5%
Recoil buildup: -25% → -10%
Vertical recoil: 15% → 6.75%
Horizontal recoil: -30% → -20.25%
Skyline and Roll received a nerf to both their strengths and their penalties. Previously, these muzzles had too much of an impact on recoil. Now they are more in line with other master attachments.
Vendetta Precision VP-09 Interceptor
Fixed an incorrect rank display: Veteran → Master
ModuleChanges
Decompressor
Added Recoil buildup: -2.727%, -10.906%
Further reducing the rate of recoil increase will help the Decompressor perform better over long distances, where the module begins to provide an advantage.
Aggressor
Added Stopping power modifier: 5.998%, 23.994%
Blighter
Added Spread: -2.045%, -8.18%
Added Hip-fire spread: -2.045%, -8.18%
Blighter and Aggressor received permanent, minor buffs that do not depend on killing an opponent, to make them more comfortable to play.
Significantly improved parameters such as Recoil and Sway on artifacts
ArtifactChangesComments
Tallow
Added:
Speed: 0.3%
Running speed: 0.3%
A buff to grab attention. (It's a good artifact, but it's sad that you're not using it.)
Tiny Key
Recoil: -4.4% → -6.5%
Sway: -6.1% → -9.1%
Bonus properties:
Recoil: -2.1% → -3.1%
Sway: -2.1% → -3.1%
Bismuth
Added Sway: -13%
Recoil: -4.4% → -4.6%
Bonus properties:
Recoil: -1.5% → -1.6%
Sway: -6.1% → -4.4%
Removed Regeneration: 0.7%
Added Healing effectiveness: 9.1%
It used to be too similar to Tiny Key, but now they differ more in terms of recoil and sway, and since sway is a less significant parameter, a compensation property was added.
Larva
Added Radiation: -0.3
This small amount of output will allow you to use higher-quality artifacts for radiation, and in some cases, even increase their number by one.
Static
Recoil: -3.7% → -5.5%
Bonus properties:
Recoil: -1.3% → -1.9%
Cone
Added Running speed: 0.6%
Added Healing effectiveness: 5.1%
Bonus properties:
Removed Burning: -0.1
Added Speed: 0.6%
Healing effectiveness
Compared to similar artifacts, this one was weak and of little interest to players. Therefore, we give it a very desirable additional property in the form of speed and enhance the healing effectiveness, while keeping the burning almost unchanged.
Loop
Recoil: -2.6% → -3.8%
Bonus properties:
Recoil: -0.9% → -1.3%
Link
Added Speed: 0.4%
Added Running speed: 0.4%
Slightly behind its T5 counterparts
Rubik
Bonus properties:
Recoil: -2.1% → -3.1%
ContainerChanges
Bale bag
Effectiveness: 123% → 127.5%
Stamina: 50% → 35%
ArmorChanges
Rigel Jumpsuit
Stability: 20% → 25%
RAPS AH-6 Nomad
Speed: -3% → -2%
RAPS AH-5 Pilgrim
Speed: -3% → -2%
RAPS AH-4 Raider
Speed: -2% → -1%
AH-3 Seeker Suit
Speed: -1% → 0%
AH-2 Rover Suit
Speed: -1% → 0%
Following the latest improvements, the AH armor series has come close to matching the Scythian in popularity, but it still falls significantly short of it in overall PvP statistics.
To make it a little easier to fight and move around while wearing the suit, the speed penalty will be reduced slightly further.
Bear
Bullet resistance: 197 → 199
SBA TANK
Bullet resistance: 272 → 275
Apostle Super-Heavy Armored Suit
Reiter Super-Heavy Armored Suit
Chieftain Super-Heavy Armored Suit
Granite Super-Heavy Armored Suit
Bullet resistance: 282 → 286
Centurion Armored Exoskeleton
Bullet resistance: 250 → 247
The Centurion, which is a bit too versatile (for combat armor), has been slightly nerfed. It used to dominate its counterparts not only in tournaments and Session Battles, but also in the open world.
Super-heavy armor suits received a slight buff to better compete with the Centurion in PvP-focused modes.
Antares Exoarmor
Speed: -7% → -6%
Peresvet Jumpsuit
Carry weight: 13 → 15
Bullet resistance: 209 → 211
Orion Jumpsuit
Carry weight: 13 → 15
Bullet resistance: 192 → 195
Arc Jumpsuit
Carry weight: 13 → 15
Bullet resistance: 203 → 206
Navigator Jumpsuit
Carry weight: 13 → 15
Bullet resistance: 198 → 200
Faction scientific power armor and the Antares are slightly upgraded to ensure fairer competition with the versatile Saturn.
The LD compensation for weapons without side or top slots for attachments now applies to all weapons of Stalker rank and higher. The strength of hip-fire spread reduction depends on the weapon's rank.
Stalker: -10%;
Veteran: -15% and -20%, depending on the weapon;
Master and Legend: -25%.
AEK-965
Reduced slowdown of the shooter after firing.
Following its most recent nerf and general changes to its balance, the AEK-965 began to lose out to its closest counterpart, the KS-23, and saw a sharp decline in popularity.
Now, after firing a shot, it suffers a smaller speed penalty than the KS-23, which makes it more mobile in combat.
Cobray Terminator
Reduced delay before reloading begins after a shot
Ripper
Fixed an incorrect rank display: Veteran → Stalker
Pistols with high single-shot damage and the ability to attach grips have been nerfed, as their draw speed became very fast — they even outpaced pistols with the fastest base draw speed. Combined with their high damage output, this made them far too effective compared to other pistols.
The Desert Eagle variants are not included, as they are significantly less popular than the RSh and cannot be fitted with the most effective grip for faster draw speed — Blitz grip.
FN Five-seveN
Added a default sight
OTs-33 Pernach
Minimum damage: 26.8 → 29
Pernach is significantly less popular than its counterparts, primarily because of its small magazine capacity. We will boost its stats to partially compensate for this (similar to the SR-3M, for example). Expanding Pernach magazine will bring it very close to the Glock and eliminate the pistol's uniqueness.
RSh-12
CR-72
Draw time: 0.4 sec → 0.5 sec
The following submachine guns, which were overly powerful, have been slightly nerfed: the SR-3M, Scorpion EVO III, and TDI Kriss Vector.
SR-3M received a slightly higher penalty because it is more powerful than other weapons, even compared to others in its class, across all game modes.
Submachine guns with low damage per magazine, such as the SR-3M or the TDI Kriss Vector, have enhanced stats to compensate for their shortcomings, but this compensation is now excessive, making them not only highly effective weapons but also some of the most popular ones.
IMI Micro Uzi
Draw time: 0.6 sec → 0.5 sec
SR-3M
Damage: 33.5 → 33.1
SR-3 Vikhr
Damage: 29.4 → 29
Scorpion EVO III
Damage: 30.8 → 30.6
TDI KRISS Vector
Damage: 35 → 34.8
PPK-20
Minimum damage: 25 → 25.5
Vityaz-SN
Minimum damage: 21.9 → 22.3
PP-19-01 Vityaz
Minimum damage: 17.9 → 18.6
AEK-919K Kashtan
Minimum damage: 12.7 → 13
PKP Pecheneg
Damage: 45 → 45.3
Worn PKP
Damage: 39.6 → 39.8
M60
Damage: 50.7 → 51
RPL-20
Damage: 43.8 → 44
Hystrix's RPD
Firebrand's RPD
Minimum damage: 24.1 → 26.5
Seer's Abakan
Minimum damage: 19.5 → 21.5
Varyag's Gift
Minimum damage: 22.8 → 25.1
FAMAS G2
Horizontal recoil: 0.11° → 0.13°
FAMAS saw a significant increase in effectiveness after it became possible to attach grips. Its damage wasn't increased initially, since the FAMAS was, at best, an average weapon and could only be slightly buffed, but in the end, it became a little stronger than intended and now, while not significantly, outperforms its counterparts.
ASM Serval
Damage: 37.9 → 37.5
The situation with Serval is similar to that of submachine guns: it's too effective to compensate for the lower damage per magazine compared to all other 9x39 assault rifles designed for close combat. In tournaments and at the Coliseum, it is far more effective than its counterparts.
AMB-17
Damage: 41.5 → 42
AKS-9 Stoat
Damage: 30.6 → 30.8
Minimum damage: 20.5 → 21
AK-9M Coyote
Damage: 36.4 → 36.6
Minimum damage: 24.3 → 24.9
OTs-14M Surge
Damage: 38.3 → 38.5
Minimum damage: 27.1 → 27.2
AMB-17 and Surge are falling behind in the race for close-range weapon effectiveness. A slight improvement, coupled with setbacks among their competitors, will make them more competitive.
A-762 Ares
Minimum damage: 29.5 → 30
AEK-973 Mars
Minimum damage: 24.8 → 25.5
OTs-14-A1 Thor
Minimum damage: 23.1 → 24.1
MK47 Mutant
Damage: 44.5 → 44.7
AK-15
Damage: 47.3 → 47.5
HK XM8S
Minimum damage: 35.2 → 36.2
XM8 (A)
Minimum damage: 35.2 → 36.2
HK XM8
Minimum damage: 33.7 → 34.7
AUG A3 (A)
Minimum damage: 34.4 → 35.5
X95 (A)
Minimum damage: 29.5 → 30.4
IWI Tavor X95
Minimum damage: 27.9 → 28.8
FN F2000 Tactical
Minimum damage: 30.9 → 31.9
FN F2000
Minimum damage: 27.1 → 28
QBZ-191 Thunderbird
Damage: 37.5 → 37.6
Minimum damage: 32.5 → 33.5
ASh-12
Damage: 51 → 51.5
ASh-12 silencer:
Spread: -21.25% → -25%
Vertical recoil: -1.5% → -10%
Horizontal recoil: -1.5% → -10%
Sway: 15% → 20%
Aiming time: 15% → 20%
Draw time: 20% → 35%
Revised characteristics of the ASh-12 silencer: it now makes the weapon less ergonomic but reduces recoil more effectively.
K2C1
Damage: 38.9 → 39
KS-1
Damage: 40 → 40.3
AM-17
Damage: 43.8 → 44
AK-12 (A)
Damage: 42.9 → 43
Minimum damage: 33.9 → 34.4
Vintorez and VSK-94 were slightly closer to assault rifles in terms of effective combat range. They will still outperform assault rifles at long range, but now they won't perform as poorly at close range.
Improved unpopular automatic and semi-automatic sniper rifles.
VSS-M Vintorez
Damage: 40 → 42.5
Spread: 0.2° → 0.25°
VSS Vintorez
Damage: 35.5 → 37.5
Spread: 0.2° → 0.25°
VSK-94 (A)
Damage: 46.5 → 48
Spread: 0.2° → 0.25°
VSK-94
Damage: 44.5 → 46.2
Spread: 0.2° → 0.25°
Mk 14 EBR
Damage: 55 → 58
Minimum damage: 55 → 58
M1A FA
Damage: 47.2 → 50
Minimum damage: 47.2 → 50
Overheat Limit: 36 → 41
M1A
Damage: 39.7 → 42.1
Minimum damage: 39.7 → 42.1
FG-42 Whip
Damage: 33.6 → 35
Minimum damage: 33.6 → 35
SIG SG 550 Sniper
Damage: 34.8 → 35.3
Minimum damage: 31.0 → 31.5
SOK-94
Damage: 56.5 → 57.5
Minimum damage: 56.5 → 57.5
SKS-T
Damage: 41 → 42
Minimum damage: 41 → 42
SKS
Damage: 33.3 → 34.1
Minimum damage: 33.3 → 34.1
FN SCAR SSR
Damage: 70.5 → 71.5
Minimum damage: 70.5 → 71.5
SVD-M
Damage: 93.8 → 95
Minimum damage: 93.8 → 95
SVCh (A)
Damage: 81.3 → 82
Minimum damage: 81.3 → 82
Ergonomics: 100% → 110%
SVCh
Damage: 78.1 → 78.4
Minimum damage: 78.1 → 78.4
Ergonomics: 100% → 110%
SVD-S
Damage: 82.1 → 83.4
Minimum damage: 82.1 → 83.4
SVD
Damage: 69.2 → 70.2
Minimum damage: 69.2 → 70.2
Caracal
Minimum damage: 76.3 → 77.5
Rate of fire: 200 → 185
SVU
Damage: 76.6 → 79
Minimum damage: 76.6 → 79
Aiming time: 0.3 sec → 0.25 sec
SVT-40
Damage: 58.5 → 59.2
Minimum damage: 58.5 → 59.2
SKT-40
Damage: 47.6 → 48
Minimum damage: 47.6 → 48
You can now right-click an item in the shop to open its modification page, just like in the Codex.
Previewing a style or motif now opens the weapon or armor page with it applied, instead of the preview page.
Configured light sources at locations of the Radial North.
Now, when world markers are turned off, you can re-pin them by right-clicking on the map.
Fixed the conversion window: it now clearly displays the personalization of the item being converted and the final result.
Updated the Rifle Battery icon.
Fixed the translation of several legacy items.
Corrected several minor localization bugs in all language