GSC Game World has announced that Update 2.0 for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl will be released on August 20. This free update introduces a new engine version and a significant graphic overhaul, enhancing the game's visuals with improved lighting, more realistic shadows, and reworked landscapes.

Key features include A-Life improvements for more dynamic encounters, customizable gameplay through Custom Rules, and the addition of three types of binoculars for scouting. Players will also find four new weapons, including the Arev assault rifle and the Fora-230 submachine gun, along with new optics and expanded offset aiming capabilities.

Furthermore, fog will become a gameplay mechanic, impacting visibility and hearing for both players and enemies. The update also brings a new Statistics page to the PDA and varied appearances for mutants. On the same day, the first major expansion, Cost of Hope, will launch, focusing on the conflict between Duty and Freedom factions and introducing new locations like the Iron Forest.