Look, let us be honest—GSC Game World has rolled out Update 2.1 for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl across PC and consoles on October 19, bringing along a couple of heavily requested features.

The developer notes that players can now manually tweak NPC render distances across all platforms. You will find this brand new option tucked away neatly in the gameplay visual settings, where a handful of presets await. GSC Game World politely suggests sticking to the default preset to keep performance, stability, and immersion in a happy triangle, warning that cranking up the view distance might test your hardware's patience. Meanwhile, the dynamic preset adapts automatically depending on whether your machine is sweating it out on PC or console.

Long-range gunfights also feel a bit more grounded thanks to under-the-hood balancing. Depending on your chosen preset, gunfire sounds carry further, and weapon ballistics have been adjusted to match. The developer explains that A-Life NPCs, quests, and scripted NPCs operate as distinct entities within the Zone, meaning the expanded view distance primarily applies to A-Life NPCs to keep the game from throwing a wobbler. Available presets may vary depending on the platform you play on.

Fast travelling alongside squad leaders is another neat addition. Friendly or neutral stalker squad leaders met while exploring the Zone show up on your compass, and you can sweet-talk them into guiding you to nearby destinations along their routes. It costs a few rubles, though, and do not expect them to haul your heavy loot—you will need to make sure you are not overburdened yourself.

Fast travel remains limited to nearby, previously explored locations, so do not expect a stalker to ferry you all the way to Pripyat on a whim. Naturally, the update also packs the usual assortment of bug fixes and visual polishes. GSC Game World highlights that this patch was shaped almost entirely by community feedback gathered from social media, forums, and reviews.