🚀 How to Improve Image Quality and FPS in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in 5 Minutes! 🔥

[DMushenko]

English:

Hello, stalkers!

I want to share a way to improve image quality and FPS stability in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

🔍 Introduction
By default, the game uses an outdated DLSS version (3.7.20), which can cause blurriness and FPS instability. Fortunately, there is a solution – DLSS Swapper, a tool that allows you to update DLSS to the latest version.

As of this post, the latest DLSS and Frame Generation version is 3.10.2.1 (essentially DLSS 4). Updating to this version significantly improves image clarity, removes blurriness, and stabilizes FPS.

⚙️ How to update DLSS in Stalker 2:
1️⃣ Download and install DLSS Swapper from the official GitHub page.
2️⃣ Open the program – if S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is installed, it will automatically appear in the game library.
3️⃣ Click on the game icon and change DLSS and Frame Generation from 3.7.20 to the latest version (currently 3.10.2.1).
4️⃣ Press "Close" and exit the program – DLSS is now updated, and you can launch the game!

🔔 Important notes:
✅ Update your GPU drivers before changing the DLSS version.
✅ After patches, the game may reset DLSS to its default version – check DLSS Swapper periodically.
✅ If the latest version doesn't work for you, the program allows you to revert to the default DLSS version.

If you want to see the difference, you can find comparisons of DLSS versions in Stalker 2 on YouTube.

🔥 Thanks for your attention! I hope this guide helps you get a sharper image and a more stable FPS. Good hunting, stalkers! 🔥

Українська:

Привіт, сталкери!

Хочу поділитися способом, який допоможе покращити якість зображення та стабільність FPS у S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

🔍 Вступ
За замовчуванням у грі використовується застаріла версія DLSS (3.7.20), яка може викликати розмиття зображення та нестабільність кадрів. На щастя, є рішення – програма DLSS Swapper, за допомогою якої можна оновити DLSS до найсвіжішої версії.

На момент написання цього посту актуальна версія DLSS і Frame Generation – 3.10.2.1 (фактично, це вже DLSS 4). Після оновлення помітно покращується чіткість зображення, зникає розмиття, а FPS стає стабільнішим.

⚙️ Як оновити DLSS у Stalker 2:
1️⃣ Завантажуємо та встановлюємо DLSS Swapper з офіційної сторінки на GitHub.
2️⃣ Відкриваємо програму – якщо S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 встановлений, він автоматично з’явиться в бібліотеці ігор.
3️⃣ Натискаємо на іконку гри та змінюємо версію DLSS і Frame Generation з 3.7.20 на найсвіжішу (на цей момент це 3.10.2.1).
4️⃣ Натискаємо "Close" та закриваємо програму – тепер DLSS оновлено, можна заходити в гру!

🔔 Важливі зауваження:
✅ Оновіть драйвери відеокарти перед тим, як змінювати версію DLSS.
✅ Після патчів гра може скидати версію DLSS на стандартну – періодично перевіряйте налаштування у DLSS Swapper.
✅ Якщо нова версія вам не сподобається, у програмі можна повернути стандартну версію DLSS.

Якщо хочете наочно побачити різницю, на YouTube є порівняння різних версій DLSS у Stalker 2.

🔥 Дякую за увагу! Сподіваюся, цей гайд допоможе вам зробити зображення чіткішим, а FPS стабільнішим. Вдалої охоти, сталкери! 🔥

Русский:

Привет, сталкеры!

Хочу поделиться способом, который поможет улучшить качество картинки и стабильность FPS в S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

🔍 Введение
По умолчанию в игре используется устаревшая версия DLSS (3.7.20), которая может вызывать мыльность изображения и нестабильность кадров. К счастью, есть решение – программа DLSS Swapper, с помощью которой можно обновить DLSS до самой свежей версии.

На момент написания этого поста актуальная версия DLSS и Frame Generation – 3.10.2.1 (по сути, это уже DLSS 4). После обновления заметно улучшается четкость картинки, исчезает мыльность, а FPS становится стабильнее.

⚙️ Как обновить DLSS в Stalker 2:
1️⃣ Скачиваем и устанавливаем DLSS Swapper с официальной страницы на GitHub.
2️⃣ Открываем программу – если S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 установлен, он автоматически появится в библиотеке игр.
3️⃣ Кликаем на иконку игры и меняем версию DLSS и Frame Generation с 3.7.20 на самую свежую (на данный момент это 3.10.2.1).
4️⃣ Нажимаем "Close" и закрываем программу – теперь DLSS обновлен, можно заходить в игру!

🔔 Важные замечания:
✅ Обновите драйверы видеокарты перед тем, как менять версию DLSS.
✅ После патчей игра может сбрасывать версию DLSS на стандартную – периодически проверяйте настройки в DLSS Swapper.
✅ Если новая версия вам не понравится, в программе можно вернуть стандартную версию DLSS.

Если хотите наглядно увидеть разницу, на YouTube есть сравнения разных версий DLSS в Stalker 2.

🔥 Спасибо за внимание! Надеюсь, этот гайд поможет вам сделать картинку четче и FPS стабильнее. Удачной охоты, сталкеры! 🔥

[dgresevfan]

Why on earth haven't the developers upgraded the version permanently by now?

[z1]

Just bumping this because the newest DLSS definitely upped my performance in conjunction with this patch. Here's another route if you'd prefer to replace the file manually. I did it this way.

Instructions: https://clawsomegamer.com/how-to-update-the-stalker-2-dlss-version-on-pc-quickly/

Files: https://www.techpowerup.com/download/nvidia-dlss-dll/

[DMushenko]

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

Why on earth haven't the developers upgraded the version permanently by now?

Most likely, they just haven’t had time to do it yet. But maybe there’s another reason.

[DMushenko]

Originally posted by z1:

Just bumping this because the newest DLSS definitely upped my performance in conjunction with this patch. Here's another route if you'd prefer to replace the file manually. I did it this way.

Instructions: https://clawsomegamer.com/how-to-update-the-stalker-2-dlss-version-on-pc-quickly/

Files: https://www.techpowerup.com/download/nvidia-dlss-dll/

That’s also an option. Yes, after the latest patch, optimization has improved, and the new version of DLSS helps boost performance a bit more. But what I noticed the most is that the image became sharper, and the blurriness that was present in the default DLSS version disappeared.

[Speedwack]

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

Why on earth haven't the developers upgraded the version permanently by now?

The current state of NVIDIA drivers are causing BSODs and shutting down computers. Not a good idea to implement DLSS 4 and then everyone gets hit with a new technical problem.

[dgresevfan]

Originally posted by Speedwack:

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

Why on earth haven't the developers upgraded the version permanently by now?

The current state of NVIDIA drivers are causing BSODs and shutting down computers. Not a good idea to implement DLSS 4 and then everyone gets hit with a new technical problem.

Current state of Nvidia drivers in general, or in this game specifically, or involving DLSS4 specifically?

I don't think I've had a single crash myself (haven't played this game yet due to the AI issues) since building the new PC. I'm not sure if I've played anything using the newest DLSS version.

[GrenadeMagnet6]

Originally posted by z1:

Just bumping this because the newest DLSS definitely upped my performance in conjunction with this patch. Here's another route if you'd prefer to replace the file manually. I did it this way.

Instructions: https://clawsomegamer.com/how-to-update-the-stalker-2-dlss-version-on-pc-quickly/

Files: https://www.techpowerup.com/download/nvidia-dlss-dll/

I just tried this option, to download the updated DLL and replace the old one, and it worked great.

I can't tell if the framerate improved but the game's lighting effects on the textures seems to look better. I ran around Pripyat a bit and it still had same performance as the older DLL, but not a big deal as I already went past Pripyat. But in my new playthrough I'm still in Lesser Zone and the outdoors looks better in the morning with the latest DLSS 3.10 file.

[DMushenko]

Originally posted by GrenadeMagnet6:

Originally posted by z1:

Just bumping this because the newest DLSS definitely upped my performance in conjunction with this patch. Here's another route if you'd prefer to replace the file manually. I did it this way.

Instructions: https://clawsomegamer.com/how-to-update-the-stalker-2-dlss-version-on-pc-quickly/

Files: https://www.techpowerup.com/download/nvidia-dlss-dll/

I just tried this option, to download the updated DLL and replace the old one, and it worked great.

I can't tell if the framerate improved but the game's lighting effects on the textures seems to look better. I ran around Pripyat a bit and it still had same performance as the older DLL, but not a big deal as I already went past Pripyat. But in my new playthrough I'm still in Lesser Zone and the outdoors looks better in the morning with the latest DLSS 3.10 file.

I personally noticed the biggest effect of the new DLSS on the grass: in the old version, it was blurry and noisy, but in the new version, this is no longer the case. In any case, I wish you a pleasant game!

[DMushenko]

Originally posted by Speedwack:

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

Why on earth haven't the developers upgraded the version permanently by now?

The current state of NVIDIA drivers are causing BSODs and shutting down computers. Not a good idea to implement DLSS 4 and then everyone gets hit with a new technical problem.

To be honest, I haven't heard about this. Personally, I haven't had any issues, and I haven't seen people complaining about it on the internet either. Maybe I missed something.

[󠀡󠀡]

Tell me whatever you want, but it is sad where the world of gaming is heading.

Fake realism games with max 60fps on last generation 50"xx cards because the engine is an unoptimized mess.

It runs bad? Well let's add fake frames and make the game looks even worse and add input lag.

I wish GSC stick with the X-ray engine and optimize it, but I know that's also an unrealistic prospective towards new developers to learn an old engine.

However, there are russian modders creating an open source version of the x-ray, more optimized than the original games, I know it would have required more time for GSC to even attempt something similar, but man, this UE5 is just crap for optimization of open world games and who tells me otherwise is just coping.

I love STALKER 2, but I constantly imagine WHAT IF it was done on UE4, the only thing missing would have been the "fake realism feeling".

Easily replaceable with a RESHADE probably... but the performance would have been so much better.

I know I know new developers need to match and adapt the nowadays standards but man, UE5 performance is just atrocious it makes me laugh we need to run DLSS otherwise the game is a stuttering mess.

[Fnar]

Running the latest Nvidia drivers on my 2080ti with the latest DLSS version via DLSS swapper without problems and no crashing/BSOD.

Originally posted by Speedwack:

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

Why on earth haven't the developers upgraded the version permanently by now?

The current state of NVIDIA drivers are causing BSODs and shutting down computers. Not a good idea to implement DLSS 4 and then everyone gets hit with a new technical problem.

I'm fairly sure I read that the problems you describe are related to the new 50 series cards.

Anyway, I'm running the latest Nvidia drivers on my 2080ti with the latest DLSS version via DLSS swapper without problems and no crashing/BSOD. Definitely a sharper, clearer image and FPS is more consistent.

[notSure]

Originally posted by Speedwack:

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

Why on earth haven't the developers upgraded the version permanently by now?

The current state of NVIDIA drivers are causing BSODs and shutting down computers. Not a good idea to implement DLSS 4 and then everyone gets hit with a new technical problem.

fakenews

[DMushenko]

Originally posted by 󠀡󠀡:

Tell me whatever you want, but it is sad where the world of gaming is heading.

Fake realism games with max 60fps on last generation 50"xx cards because the engine is an unoptimized mess.

It runs bad? Well let's add fake frames and make the game looks even worse and add input lag.

I wish GSC stick with the X-ray engine and optimize it, but I know that's also an unrealistic prospective towards new developers to learn an old engine.

However, there are russian modders creating an open source version of the x-ray, more optimized than the original games, I know it would have required more time for GSC to even attempt something similar, but man, this UE5 is just crap for optimization of open world games and who tells me otherwise is just coping.

I love STALKER 2, but I constantly imagine WHAT IF it was done on UE4, the only thing missing would have been the "fake realism feeling".

Easily replaceable with a RESHADE probably... but the performance would have been so much better.

I know I know new developers need to match and adapt the nowadays standards but man, UE5 performance is just atrocious it makes me laugh we need to run DLSS otherwise the game is a stuttering mess.

Indeed, many new games cannot deliver high FPS without DLSS and frame generation. We should appreciate games that are released polished or with minimal issues in today's gaming industry. However, let’s be realistic. GSC could not develop the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. installment on their native X-Ray engine. This engine was criticized even back when the original games were released. To meet modern standards, an enormous amount of work would have been required—essentially writing a new engine from scratch.

Moreover, there are hardly any veteran developers left at GSC, and the company is giving opportunities to people who have never worked on large-scale projects before, allowing them to gain their first experience with AAA game development (which is commendable but also brings challenges). Choosing Unreal Engine was an obvious decision. The transition to UE5 likely happened due to Lumen. In a setting where every other building is a ruin with multiple openings that allow light to pass through and interact with the environment, manually placing lighting elements would have been incredibly difficult.

However, if GSC manages to address the technical issues and ensure that the game runs stably for the majority of players (not perfectly, just reasonably well), they will be one of the few studios with real experience in developing a major and successful game on UE5. I am also concerned about the recent news from CD Projekt, who, despite using UE5 and having the support of Epic Games, are facing significant difficulties. This makes GSC's efforts even more admirable: they have far less experience and a significantly smaller budget, yet they still managed to release a large-scale game and are actively working to improve it.

[󠀡󠀡]

Yes, that I can agree on too, even during a full scale war, all the stress and despite using a new AAA engine they managed to pull off a good game.

It just needs polishing, if it's possibile at all on UE5.

[Alt0153]

im in the first settlement with a windstorm going on, the leaves all have crappy tails following them around even with updated dlls, setting dlaa helps a bit but its terrible at quality and lower