# **Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Patch 1.2 Introduces Over 1,700 Fixes and Enhancements**
Greetings, stalkers! The Zone has undergone a significant transformation with the arrival of **Patch 1.2** for *Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl*, which was launched on **February 13, 2024**. This update brings more than **1,700 enhancements**, tackling numerous elements of the game such as **AI behavior, balance, performance, quests, and optimization**. Due to the extensive nature of this update, the download size is considerable—**around 25GB on Steam**.
Here’s a brief overview of the most important updates featured in this patch.
—
## **Highlights of Patch 1.2**
### **AI Upgrades**
– NPCs can now **loot corpses** from any faction.
– Enemy **accuracy has been fine-tuned**, lessening the occurrences of shooting through walls.
– Mutants now display **refined combat behavior**, which prevents them from becoming stuck or stopping their attacks.
– **Controllers have gained a new capability**, adding more complexity to battles.
– NPCs are now able to **heal their allies** and react suitably to gunfire.
### **Balance Revisions**
– The **radiation resistance** of the Strange Water artifact has been diminished.
– NPCs can now **more easily defeat Pseudodog Clones**.
– There will be **fewer NPCs with exo-skeletons** available, making high-tier adversaries less frequent.
### **Performance and Stability Enhancements**
– More than **100 crash causes** have been addressed.
– A variety of **performance concerns have been remedied**, leading to **minor overall performance gains**.
### **Quest Improvements**
– Over **300 issues in main quests** have been rectified, including **game-breaking glitches**.
– Numerous **issues in side quests** have also been resolved.
– Additional **notes and documents** are now present in hubs and the open world.
### **Other Significant Modifications**
– The **technician now shows all installed upgrades**.
– Several **locations and areas have been visually enhanced**.
– The **flashlight now projects shadows**, adding to the immersive experience.
—
## **Comprehensive Patch Notes**
### **AI Enhancements**
– NPCs are now capable of **looting weapons and armor** from corpses effectively.
– **Stealth mechanics have been refined**, making sneaking a more viable option.
– NPCs now **respond more authentically** to gunfire and environmental threats.
– Mutants will no longer **get stuck in scripted confrontations** or **fail to engage** in combat.
– **Chimera’s jump attack has been rectified**, preventing it from phasing through objects.
– Controllers have a **new roaring capability**, increasing their threat level.
– Resolved an issue where **military NPCs could infinitely spawn** near the rookie village.
### **Balance Modifications**
– **Radiation protection** of the Weird Water artifact has been reduced.
– NPCs need **fewer shots to eliminate Pseudodog summons**.
– **Blind Dog mutants** now employ jump attacks with greater frequency.
– **Pistols and silencer attachments** have been rebalanced for enhanced gameplay.
– **Reduced spawn rate of NPCs in exoskeletons**, making them less common.
– **Radiation damage now scales** according to exposure durations.
– **High-tier weapons are less frequent** in the early stages.
– **Economic adjustments** for the “A Job for the Bartender” mission on Veteran difficulty.
### **Optimization and Crash Resolutions**
– **FPS drops during boss battles** have been resolved.
– **Memory leaks** associated with item editing have been fixed.
– More than **100 crash-related issues** have been rectified.
– **Input lag with VSync** has been resolved.
– **Frame rate lock added** for pause menus and loading screens.
### **Behind-the-Scenes Enhancements**
– **Flashlight now casts shadows**, heightening lighting realism.
– **NPC relationship mechanics have been fixed**, ensuring proper faction interactions.
– **Smoother cutscene transitions** have been achieved for an improved experience.
– **Resolved save game corruption issues** linked to cloud sync failures.
– **PDA models are clearer** in low-light conditions.
### **Main Quest Fixes**
– Corrected **over 300 quest-related issues**, including:
– **Colonel Korshunov and Captain Zotov** now correctly appear in “Wishful Thinking.”
– **Scar NPC will no longer become hostile** during “Visions of Truth.”
– **”Shock Therapy” mission now supports stealth progression**.
– **Fixed soft-locks in various missions**, ensuring uninterrupted quest advancement.
– **Boss encounters have been refined**, including AI improvements for Korshunov and Scar.
### **Side Quests and Encounters**
– Resolved **repeatable mission bugs** that hindered new quests from becoming available.
– **New notes and documents** have been incorporated into the open world.
– **Level design enhancements** for encounters around