The gaming community has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the newly launched STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition, citing significant technical and visual shortcomings, as well as contentious modifications to Russian-themed content. Fans have flooded STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy with negative reviews, resulting in a 'Mostly Negative' rating on Steam.

STALKER is a renowned first-person shooter franchise blending survival horror and RPG elements, originally developed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World. STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy debuted in March 2024, offering a modernized compilation of the three classic titles—Shadow of Chernobyl (2007), Clear Sky (2008), and Call of Pripyat (2009). While the original bundle remains available, GSC Game World introduced an Enhanced Edition featuring visual upgrades and the removal of Russian language support and Soviet-era symbols, a decision influenced by the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Following the release of STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition, players have expressed frustration with multiple aspects, leading to a surge of negative Steam reviews. Out of 600 total reviews, 400 are critical, with many condemning the game's 'derussianization.' Some players acknowledge the developers' rationale but oppose the erasure of historical context, such as the complete removal of Russian NPC voice lines. Others argue that eliminating Soviet-era architecture and posters diminishes the game's authenticity, which was a key part of its appeal.

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Beyond the debate over Russian content, players have also criticized the technical execution of STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition on PC. One fan remarked they 'don't know how this was approved for launch,' citing issues like ghosting, blurry visuals, and the absence of DLAA/DLSS support. Some players allege the game upscales from a lower resolution rather than rendering natively at the selected setting.

While the original STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy was well-received, fans are perplexed by GSC Game World's handling of the Enhanced Edition, accusing the studio of releasing an unpolished product. Many argue there's little reason to choose this version over the originals. As negative reviews continue to accumulate, it remains uncertain whether the developers will address these widespread complaints.