Modding Stalker 2? Clear 700GB for Smooth Experience

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has just received its 1.5 Patch, bringing a range of improvements and bug fixes. While the update itself is noteworthy, it’s the debut of GSC Game World's modding toolkit that’s generating the most excitement—and consuming a significant amount of storage space.

In a recent announcement titled “Shape the Zone in Your Way with the Stalker 2 Zone Kit,” GSC Game World invited players and creators to dive into the world-building potential of the new toolset. With it, modders can tweak existing content or craft entirely new experiences—ranging from custom animations and weapons to unique mechanics and environmental wonders within the Zone.

It all sounds fantastic, assuming you have about 700GB of free storage available… on top of the 160GB already required for the base game. That’s no small ask, but there’s a reason behind the massive file size.

As part of GSC’s commitment to supporting the modding community, the Zone Kit includes a large collection of uncompressed assets. This ensures mod developers are working with original source files, which helps maintain quality and compatibility across user-created content.

“The size of the mod kit is a result of the in-game assets being uncompressed for mod makers,” GSC told PC Gamer. “It's a big game, and the assets are many, resulting in a considerable download size. The Zone Kit is currently in phase one, so we'll explore opportunities to optimize its size (if possible) in the future.”

A GSC community representative added on Reddit: “We launched the Zone Kit as Phase 1 because we want to develop it together with Mod Makers. It already has a lot of features, but this is only the beginning. In Phase 2, there will be even more tools and possibilities for shaping the Zone.”

Beneath the technical hurdles that accompany such an ambitious release lies a deeply immersive experience. As we noted in our S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl review, where we awarded it an 8/10: “Underneath the technical problems that plague *S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl* is a unique greatness. It emerges as a refreshingly brutal shooter that strives to hook you with its incredible atmosphere and leave you invested by the end of this long, arduous journey.”

For more insight into how *S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2* has reshaped GSC Game World during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, read our in-depth coverage [ttpp].