The STALKER 2 Stories Untold update is live now, adding a full free story arc with eight quests, seven locations, six new characters, and a unique GP37V2 rifle for all players. Once the patch is installed on PC, Xbox Serieson PC, Xbox Series X|S, or PS5, an emergency signal starts broadcasting from the Red Forest region, pulling you toward the west side of the Zone. From there, the storyline leads back through Malachite, Red Forest, and into Burnt Forest, where one possible outcome is a new player hub packed with key vendors and services.
| Feature | Confirmed details |
|---|---|
| Quests | 8 new quests that can take hours to complete. purexbox |
| Locations | 7 locations on the west side, including Burnt Forest, Red Forest, Malachite, and more. purexbox |
| New hub | Player‑created hub in Burnt Forest with technician, trader, medic, guide, rest, and stash. purexbox |
| Unique weapon | GP37V2 rifle with pre‑installed suppressor, low‑magnification scope, single and burst fire. playstation |
| Availability | Free Stories Untold update for all S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 owners on PC, Xbox Series X |
Last updated: December 16, 2025.
How to start the STALKER 2 Stories Untold update
As soon as the STALKER 2 Stories Untold update is installed, listen for an emergency transmission that starts in and around the Red Forest region. The transmission is linked to research groups investigating a strange signal that interferes with normal PDA comms and causes severe side effects for stalkers who tune in, including headaches and hallucinations.
Follow the new quest marker on your PDA to track the signal’s source and speak with the researchers at Malachite, which anchors the opening leg of the storyline. From there, the arc pushes players deeper into the west side of the map, and the eight new quests chain together into a single extended story that can take several hours to complete.
Player Insight: Early community posts describe Stories Untold as a “holiday gift,” praising how much new story and exploration it adds on top of recent performance patches.
Q: Do you need to finish the main story to start Stories Untold?
Current coverage does not require a completed main campaign, only that you have progressed far enough to reach western regions like Red Forest and Malachite.
STALKER 2 Stories Untold update: Burnt Forest hub and new locations
The STALKER 2 Stories Untold update focuses on the western Zone, revisiting and expanding locations such as Malachite, Red Forest, Burnt Forest, Car Dump, Army Warehouses, City Boiler Room, the Rail Depot near Malachite, and Volkhov SAM. Two spots called out directly are the Old Mine in Red Forest and the Fairy Tale Pioneer Camp in Burnt Forest, both of which act as key steps along the route.
If you make certain choices as the story unfolds, one possible outcome is a new hub appearing in the Burnt Forest region, turning a previously underused space into a base. The hub can host a technician, trader, medic, guide, a place to sleep, and stash access, effectively giving you a forward outpost for quests and gear management on this side of the Zone.
Q: Are there official map coordinates for the Burnt Forest hub entrance?
A:None of the official write-ups list exact PDA coordinates or grid squares, so players should treat any precise numbers shown in videos or screenshots as player-found markers rather than confirmed developer data.
GP37V2 and rewards from the STALKER 2 Stories Untold update
A headline reward in the STALKER 2 Stories Untold update is the GP37V2, a modified version of the GP37 assault rifle with pre‑installed suppressor and a low‑magnification scope. Coverage summarizing the developer notes states that this version supports single and burst fire modes only, making it more of a controlled mid‑range rifle for tactical players rather than a spray weapon.
Official posts list the GP37V2 as part of the unique weapon content tied to the new storyline, but they stop short of naming a single fixed boss or chest that always drops it. Community guides and YouTube runs are already surfacing specific stash routes and elite encounters that can reward the gun, yet these placements come from player testing and not from published patch notes. This guide intentionally leaves out exact stash coordinates and unconfirmed drop paths to keep everything fully verified.
Q: Is Stories Untold a timed event or permanent content?
A: Articles describing the update present it as a permanent free addition for all owners of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl on PC, Xbox, and PS5, not a limited‑time event.
Expert Insight: For returning players on console and PC, starting Stories Untold from a mid‑game save with solid armor and a tuned mid‑range rifle should make the west‑side path through Red Forest and Burnt Forest feel far smoother than jumping in from a fresh file.
