STALKER 2 Anniversary Review – From Launch Disaster to Patch 1.7

Описание: I couldn't pass on the opportunity to make a video for the STALKER 2 one year anniversary, especially as we got a huge update with Patch 1.7 right before the celebration date.

So here's a recap of everything that happened since the release of the game, all the patches, the improvements, the ups & downs, if the game is finally ready after all this time, and let's also look at the future, and what might be coming next!

From launch to Patch 1.7, here's the state of the game as we reach the end of 2025.

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Russian invasion & impact on the Game Development:
   • War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 D...  
https://www.theguardian.com/games/202...
https://www.wired.com/story/ukraine-s...
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why...

NFT Fiasco:
https://www.polygon.com/22841151/stal...
https://www.pcgamer.com/stalker-2-nft...
https://www.ign.com/articles/stalker-...

GSC "hacked" and blackmailed by Russian "hackers":
https://www.pcgamer.com/gsc-game-worl...
https://kotaku.com/stalker-2-gsc-game...
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news...
https://www.eurogamer.net/stalker-2-d...
A bit of nuance to this story:
https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comm...

Review bombing & disinformation campaign:
https://www.dualshockers.com/stalker-...
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/rus...
https://gamerant.com/stalker-2-review...
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1...
https://www.thegamer.com/stalker-2-re...
https://uacrisis.org/en/s-t-a-l-k-e-r...
  / there_are_attempts_to_manipulate_steam_rev...  

A-Life 2.0 mentions scrapped from marketing material & steam:
https://www.ign.com/articles/stalker-...
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/sta...
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/...

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Song Credits:
Anno Domini Beats - Archetype
Ghost In The Shell - Floating Museum Extended (Ambient edit)
liv3.nature - Nature sound
Moonlight in Mexico - Jimena Contreras
Free Me (Instrumental) - NEFFEX
Two Gong Fire - Ryan McCaffrey Go By Ocean
Moonlight in Mexico - Jimena Contreras

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00:00 A divided Community
03:11 Disappointing Launch
06:25 Early Patches
07:19 A-Life Controversy
08:34 First Big update (Patch 1.1)
09:56 Slow Road to redemption (Patch 1.2)
12:03 Still not enough (Patch 1.3)
14:04 In the trenches (Patch 1.4)
15:20 The turning point (Patch 1.5)
18:22 Fun is now allowed (Patch 1.6)
20:09 A Performance Milestone (Patch 1.7)