STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Gets Enhanced Edition for Next-Gen and PC
GSC Game World has just dropped some electrifying news. Those old school first three STALKER games, which used to be sold as the "Legends of the Zone Trilogy" for last-gen consoles, are getting a major overhaul. Meet STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy - Enhanced Edition, out next week on May 20, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
What's New in the Enhanced Zone.
So what kind of enhancements should we be expecting. GSC Game World wants to enhance these survival shooters classics so they both look and play their absolute best on current hardware. Look out for:
- Enhanced lighting with those end-of-scene atmospheric godrays.
- Tighter-looking visuals thanks to screen space reflections.
- Better textures and environments to bring the desolate Zone to life.
- More advanced shaders for a more streamlined appearance.
- Pre-rendered 4K cutscenes to really make the storytelling hit home.
For console players, how much of this eye candy you get will depend on your chosen graphics mode, but the upgrades look good.
Graphics Options for Console Stalkers
If you're playing on a PS5, PS5 Pro, or Xbox Series X, you'll have a couple of choices to tailor your experience:
- Quality Mode: Aims for 4K resolution at a steady 30 frames per second.
- Balanced Mode: Same 4K, but boosts the frame rate to 40fps.
- Performance Mode: Requires silky-smooth 4K at 60fps.
- Ultra Performance Mode: Reduces the resolution to 2K but seeks a blistering 120fps for razor-sharp responsiveness.
Xbox Series S players aren't left behind, however, 4K isn't in their cards. Your options are:
- Quality Mode (Series S): Seeks 2K resolution at 30fps.
- Balanced Mode (Series S): Seeks 2K at 40fps.
- Performance Mode (Series S): Offers 1080p resolution at silky-smooth 60fps.
PC Players The PC players receive a little love, too.
Naturally, the PC players will have the usual amount of control over their graphics settings to accommodate their rig. But a few more options are available in this Enhanced Edition for the PC players:
- The games are now optimized to run on Steam Deck – go ahead and play The Zone on the go.
- Cloud save support is also being introduced, which is always a delight.
More Than Pretty Pictures: New Console Features
It's not all about looks. Console gamers are also getting a couple of highly-requested features:
- Keyboard and Mouse Support: Want to play STALKER with the precision of KBM on your console. Now you can.
- Mod.io Support: This is a big one. PS5 and Xbox Series releases will get access to mods through Mod.io, bringing some of that PC modding magic to consoles.
The Good News. It Might Be Free To You.
Here's some great news from GSC Game World: if you already own one of the games from the STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy on PS4 or Xbox One, you'll receive the corresponding Enhanced Edition for your new console (PS5 or Xbox Series X/S) at no cost. That's a great way to reward dedicated fans.
So mark this on your calendar for May 20th. The Zone is calling once more, and better than ever.
