The first step is to download the archive, which contains files to optimize the game’s performance. Inside this archive, you’ll find:

1. FPS Boost Folder:
Includes files to improve performance by tweaking game settings.
Contains two versions:
Standard Optimization – Balances graphic quality and performance.
Performance Boost – Lowers graphic quality to achieve the highest FPS.

2. Mods Folder:
Contains modifications to enhance the game’s performance.
Also comes in two versions:
Standard Optimization – Balances graphic quality and performance.
Performance Boost – Focuses on maximizing FPS by reducing graphic quality.

These two folders can be combined, mixing files from both versions to find the best settings for your PC or laptop.

3. DLSS-FSR Update Folder:
Updates DLSS and FSR to the latest versions, improving performance and image quality if your GPU supports these technologies.

Download the archive here: Google Drive https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bi6ofOY5o3Y2u_QsevffTSaU63kygQ5z?usp=sharing

1. In the FPS Boost folder, there are two subfolders:

Standard Optimization – for balanced performance.
Performance Boost – for maximum FPS at the cost of graphics.

Choose the Engine file that suits your needs and move it to the following folder:

%localappdata%\Stalker2\Saved\Config\Windows

2. How to find this folder:
Press Win+R on your keyboard.
Enter the path %localappdata%\Stalker2\Saved\Config\Windows and press Enter.
If prompted to replace the file, click Confirm. In the Steam version, the Engine file is usually missing, so you won’t need to replace anything.

3. Very Important: After moving the file, set it to "Read-Only".

How to do this:
Right-click on the Engine file.
Select Properties.
At the bottom of the window, check the box for "Read-Only".
Click OK to confirm.

1. Go to the directory where the game is installed.

By default, it is usually located here:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chornobyl

How to find the path to the specific game in Steam:
Open Steam and locate the game in your library.
Right-click on the game title and select "Properties".
In the "Local Files" tab, click "Browse Local Files".
This will automatically open the game folder on your computer.
If the game is installed in a non-standard directory (e.g., another drive), the path may differ, but you can find it using the above steps.

2. In the game folder, navigate to:
Stalker2\Content\Paks
In this directory, create a new folder named mods (the name must include the symbol; otherwise, the mods won’t work).

3. In the Mods folder from the archive, choose one of the files:

From the Standard Optimization folder – for balanced performance.
Or:
From the Performance Boost folder – for maximum performance.

4. Copy the selected file and move it to the newly created ~mods folder at the specified path.

5. Combining with FPS Boost:
You can combine this mod with the Engine file from the FPS Boost folder to achieve the best performance on your system.

1. Open the DLSS-FSR Update folder from the archive.

In this folder, you will find two subfolders:
Engine
Stalker2

2. Copy both of these folders into the directory where the game is installed.

3. When copying, confirm the replacement of files if a prompt appears.

4. What does this do?

These files contain the latest versions of DLSS and FSR, which provide better performance and image quality.
The default version of the game uses outdated versions of these technologies, so the update is recommended for enhancing your gaming experience.

I hope this guide helps you improve the performance of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl on your PC or laptop. I’ve put in a lot of effort to gather the best tips and mods that actually work.

In the near future, two videos will be added to the guide:

First video — test with default settings.
Second video — test with optimizations from this guide.

These videos will help you visually see the difference in performance and understand how these tips affect the game.

Technical specifications of the laptop used for testing:

Model: Dell G15 5530
Processor: Intel Core i5-13450HX
Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB
RAM: 16 GB
Operating System: Windows 11
While recording the video, there was a slight FPS drop and a minor impact on overall performance, but the results still show a noticeable improvement.

Mods used:

Standard Optimization for balanced performance.

As for Performance Boost, I did get a significant FPS boost, but in my opinion, this mod is best suited for very weak systems. If you really want to play on lower settings, you can try this mod, but keep in mind that it may cause some bugs and graphical glitches. It’s recommended to use it only in extreme cases.

I also frequently use AMD Frame Generation, as even with all these mods, the game can still stutter occasionally (especially during cutscenes), but not as critically. With frame generation enabled, the gameplay becomes much smoother, and input lag is minimal.

Thank you for using my guide! If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments. Good luck in the Zone!