S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

Developers
	GSC Game World
Publishers
	Deep Silver
Engines
	X-Ray Engine
Release dates
Windows	August 22, 2008

Warnings

GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl	2007
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky	2008
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat	2009
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Lost Alpha (Unofficial)	2014
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl	2023

Key points

Strong modding community.

Retail CD-keys are now redeemable on GOG.com or Steam using the reclaim page.

Use the Multi-Patch to replace GameSpy features.

General information

Official website

Developer's forum

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Wiki

TweakGuides guide

GOG.com Community Discussions for game series

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		TAGES Solidshield DRM. StarForce DRM for Russian release. It has been disabled via patches.
GOG.com
Steam		Comes with 1.5.10 patch preinstalled. TAGES DRM is reported to be inactive. Some CD-keys can be redeemed on GOG.com

Essential improvements

Patches

The latest version of the game is Patch 1.5.10. This version allows for additional effects with DirectX 9 rendering that were previously reserved only for the DirectX 10 renderer. It also fixes many game breaking bugs, improves overall performance and fixes some problems with Tages DRM.

The Multi-Patch replaces the GameSpy master servers and optionally forces Vsync. The Steam version is already patched.

Skip intro videos

Use replacement files[citation needed]
Apply the S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky intro skip.

Modifications

The Sky Reclamation Project (SRP) is an unofficial patch which fixes bugs that remain in the latest official patched version of the game.

Clear Sky Complete focuses on improving graphics, sound and gameplay. A limited range of bug fixes is also included.

Old Good Stalker Mod / Remastered Greatly improves and improves the basic product. Introduces new mutants in the Zone (which were cut out at the production stage of Clear Sky) and unique weapons and opponents. Radio to summon comrades from the faction. New character models, icons and interface elements, also improved most textures

The Faction War Mod Focuses on the faction war aspect of the game, expending each faction campaign to previously ignored areas such as swamps, eventually putting one faction in control of the whole Zone. For the purpose of the mod the main story has been completely removed, and a new character and backstory were created. The goal is complete dominion of the Zone.

Random Mod Improves several aspects of the game, without compromising its original atmosphere. Guns and pistols received real names as well as improved textures and more extensive and detailed descriptions in the inventory. We can now carry more items, which may be useful, because the merchants now offer more goods to buy (but the weapon is a little more expensive). In addition, several new mutants and a sleeping bag to allow rest were added.

Game data

In-game general settings.

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Stalker-STCS\
Steam	<path-to-game>\_appdata_\
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/20510/pfx/

CD key, language and GameSpy ID are stored in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\GSC Game World\STALKER-STCS

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Stalker-STCS\savedgames\
Steam	<path-to-game>\_appdata_\savedgames\
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/20510/pfx/

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
GOG Galaxy
OneDrive		Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers.
Steam Cloud

Video settings

In-game general video settings.

In-game advanced video settings.

Field of view (FOV)

Changing FoV[citation needed]

Download FOV switcher. Copy it to the installation folder. BACKUP your original xrgame.dll somewhere. In the case of problems just copy it back. Run fov_switch.cmd Use the mouse wheel to scroll through all available variants. In the opened window enter the number from 1 till 52 depending on your game version and chosen FOV. To enable the external cam in singleplayer mode of Clear Sky (by F6-F8 buttons) just enter these commands in console: bind cam_1 kF6 bind cam_2 kF7 bind cam_3 kF8

Input settings

In-game control settings.

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.

Use OpenAL Soft's HRTF

Replace OpenAL32.dll file

1. Go to the main OpenAL Soft page and download both Windows binary and the source code. 2. Unpack soft_oal.dll from bin/win32 directory in archive, rename it to wrap_oal.dll and replace the existing one located in bin folder of the game. 3. Create a folder called openal in %APPDATA% and unpack the hrtf folder from the source code archive in there. Create a new text file in %APPDATA% called alsoft.ini and add the following line: [general] hrtf=true 4. Save it and then run the game. 5. Go to the Options→Sound and change the Sound driver to OpenAL Soft and restart the game. 6. Open up the developer console using ~ and scroll up using the Page Up key, if the message says. SOUND: OpenAL: Required device: OpenAL Soft. Created device: OpenAL Soft Then the OpenAL Soft device is used and with it, HRTF mode as well.

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
French
German
Italian
Polish				Features optional Polish voice-over translation.
Russian
Spanish
Turkish				Fan translation, download.
Ukrainian				Fan translation, download.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		32	Versus
Online play		32	Versus Use the Multi-Patch to replace the GameSpy master server.

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol	Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP	3783, 6515, 6500, 6667, 13139, 27900, 28900, 29900, 29901

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

VR support

3D modes	State	Notes
Nvidia 3D Vision		See Helix Mod: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (DX9).
vorpX		G3D Officially supported game, see official vorpx game list.

Issues fixed

"Unable to connect to master server" error

The GameSpy master server has been shut down; use the Multi-Patch.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	8, 9, 10, 10.1	Bound to the lighting renderer. DirectX 10.1 support was added in version 1.5.06.
Shader Model support	1.x, 2, 3, 4

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Physics	Open Dynamics Engine
Audio	OpenAL
Multiplayer	GameSpy

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	2000 SP4	XP SP2, Vista SP1
Processor (CPU)	AMD Athlon XP 2200+ Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
System memory (RAM)	512 MB	2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	10 GB
Video card (GPU)	ATI Radeon 9600 Nvidia GeForce 5700 128 MB of VRAM DirectX 8.0 compatible	ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB of VRAM DirectX 10.1 compatible