STALKER 2 Pushes AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D to Its Limits, Struggles to Hit 100 FPS at 1080p
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is proving to be one of the most demanding games for hardware, showcasing the extreme limits of even high-end components like AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D. In benchmark tests conducted by YouTube channel Compusemble, the CPU struggled to maintain a consistent 100 FPS average at 1080p resolution, and in more intensive scenarios, even maintaining 60 FPS at 4K posed a challenge.
Benchmark Findings
CPU-Bound Scenarios: Two specific test cases highlighted significant CPU strain, revealing that STALKER 2 demands far more processing power than expected for a game running at 1080p.
High Resolution Challenges: When pushing resolutions to 4K, even AMD's cutting-edge hardware shows difficulty maintaining smooth framerates, emphasizing the game's unoptimized nature for certain scenarios.
Fan Support and Critic Reviews
Despite its hardware demands and performance hurdles, STALKER 2 has sold over 1 million copies within days of release. However, reviews, including Alessio's review-in-progress, urge caution, suggesting players may want to wait for optimizations and community mods to improve the overall experience.
"STALKER 2 knows what it wants to be, immersing players in a punishing and atmospheric world. However, its performance struggles and balance issues may dampen the experience for some gamers."
What’s Next for STALKER 2?
With developer GSC Game World committed to ongoing updates and modding tools promised post-launch, the game has room for improvement. However, its current state highlights the need for patient optimization to truly unlock its full potential on both PC and consoles.
Engagement Question
Is STALKER 2’s demanding performance justified for its immersive world, or should GSC Game World prioritize optimizations before content updates? Share your thoughts below!