Three S.T.A.L.K.E.R. remasters drop next week – free for many players

One of the most atmospheric shooters is making a comeback on May 20, 2025. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition brings the cult classics Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat back in a fully remastered form, launching on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The best part: anyone who already owns the original games will get the remastered versions at no extra cost. Still, the updated editions may also appeal to newcomers curious about the legendary series.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Fight, loot, survive

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series blends shooting, role-playing and survival elements within an open-world setting. Players step into the shoes of stalkers – mercenaries, scavengers and survivalists – navigating the dangerous exclusion zone around Chernobyl. This zone is not only heavily irradiated but also filled with strange anomalies and mutated creatures.

What makes the gameplay so compelling is its constant unpredictability. Combat is brutally quick, ammo is limited and every clash with bandits, soldiers or mutated creatures could be fatal. A single misstep might mean restarting from a manual or auto-save, potentially losing hours of progress. Players must piece together their own gear, repair worn-out weapons, hunt for valuable artifacts and deal with strange factions, each following its own agenda.

Features of the remastered editions

The new remasters bring the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. classics up to modern technical standards while preserving their original identity. Players can expect upgraded textures, redesigned 3D models, more realistic skyboxes, enhanced water effects, and improved lighting and weather systems – all contributing to a significant visual upgrade. Cut-scenes have been re-rendered in 4K, the weapons’ field of view has been fine-tuned and the entire UI and HUD have been redesigned to stay true to the original look. The update also includes improved controls and a range of quality-of-life features.

The remasters now feature full controller support, Steam Deck and Steam Workshop compatibility, and integrated achievements. On PS5, the games make use of DualSense features like adaptive triggers and built-in speakers. While the core gameplay remains unchanged and no new content has been added, many bugs have been fixed and overall handling has seen a noticeable improvement.