Unreal Engine 5 is in itself a tough development tool to deal with and when you add a game like Stalker 2 on top of that, it becomes an even bigger problem. The game has horrible performance of Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally X, and PCs.
While I was able to find some solution to the crashing problems on PCs, there is still one that needs attention from every Stalker 2 player.
To improve performance in Stalker 2 it is highly recommended that you use DLSS, FSR, or XeSS. For those using DLSS, updating becomes an issue.
Stalker 2, by default, comes with DLSS version 3.7.0.0 but you can update to any latest version manually.
How to Manually Update Stalker 2 DLSS on PC
The first step is to download the latest version of DLSS from TechpowerUp. I recommend getting version 3.8.10.
Once the zip file is downloaded, locate your Stalker 2 installation directory, typically found under:
\Engine\Plugins\Marketplace\DLSS\Binaries\ThirdParty\Win64
Find the existing DLL file named nvngx_dlss.dll in the specified directory and replace it with the newly downloaded version. Right-click on the nvngx_dlss.dll file, select Properties, and check the Details tab to confirm that the file version reflects 3.8.10.
After completing these steps, launch Stalker 2, and it should now utilize the updated DLSS version.
Alternate Method
The alternate method to updating the DLSS in Stalker 2 is through using the DLSS Wrapper. Download the latest version of DLSS Swapper from GitHub and install it.
Open the application, which will automatically scan your library for games using DLSS. Click on the library icon on the left side, find Stalker 2, and ensure you have selected version 3.8.10.
Lastly, hit the swap button to replace the existing DLL with the latest version. If Stalker 2 does not appear in DLSS Swapper, try refreshing the app or use the manual method described above.
