Fixing ‘Out of Memory’ Error at the Shader Compilation Screen in STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the much-awaited sequel of the classic horror FPS is finally out to play on all the major platforms. The game has received a great response worldwide getting Very Positive reviews on Steam in just one week of its release!

However, due to its absurdly massive file size of over 140GB, many players are facing several booting errors stopping them from playing the game. The most common error that others and even you must be facing is the “out of memory” error, which occurs during the shaders compilation screen. Here are some of the easiest methods to fix it.

1. How to fix the Shader Compilation crashing issues in STALKER 2?

The “out of memory” error occurring at the Shader Compilation screen can be fixed by following methods:

• Underclocking the CPU
• Increase Virtual Memory by Allocation
• Update GPU Drivers
• Verifying the Integrity of the Game Files
• Check System Recommendation

2. Underclocking the CPU

The process of underclocking a CPU is complex, and if you are not an expert it is recommended that you seek help from a professional before you start tweaking general CPU settings on your own.

As a temporary fix, you can also put your PC on power saver mode before booting the game. It will temporarily underclock your CPU. Once the game is past the shader compilation stage, you can switch off the power saver mode to enjoy the game at its best.

3. Increase Virtual Memory by Allocation

It is possible to increase your virtual memory, a.k.a the pagefile, to resolve this issue. To know how, follow the steps below:

• Right-click on This PC or My Computer and select Properties.
• Go to the Advanced system settings.
• Under the Performance section, click Settings.
• Navigate to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual memory.
• Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
• Select your system drive (usually C:) and choose Custom size.
• Set an initial size (e.g., 4096 or 6144 MB) and a maximum size (e.g., 8192 MB).
• Click Set and then OK to save changes.
• Restart your PC.

4. Update GPU Drivers

Along with STALKER 2, ensure your graphics card drivers are updated to their latest version. An outdated graphics card driver may lead to numerous problems, hindering games’ proper running.

Visit the Nvidia or AMD websites to learn more about updates related to your graphics card drivers.

5. Verify the Integrity of the Game Files on Steam

To verify the integrity of the game files on Steam: 

• Launch Steam. 
• Right-click on the icon of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl in your Steam library. 
• From the drop-down menu, select “Properties.” 
• Select the Local Files tab, and 
• Click the “Verify integrity of game files” button. 
• Wait for the process to complete and then relaunch the game. 

Usually, one of these workarounds for the error should fix it. However, if you are still facing crashing issues, it could be due to the fact that your system settings are not good enough to run the game. Therefore, so check if your system can run STALKER 2 or not.

6. Can my system run STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl?

	Minimum Specs	Recommended Specs
OS	Windows 10 x64 / Windows 11 x64	Windows 10 x64 / Windows 11 x64
Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 1600X / Intel Core i7-7700K	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X / Intel Core i7-11700
Memory	16GB Dual Channel	32GB Dual Channel
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB	AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
Storage	SSD 160GB	SSD 160GB

7. About S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a next-gen sequel that promises a thrilling experience. This highly anticipated game combines the best elements of action, survival, and horror, set in the hauntingly beautiful Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

In this immersive game, you’ll play a major part in a non-linear story that unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world. With the fate of the Zone in your hands, you’ll face tough choices and challenges that will test your survival skills.

Are you ready to dive into the heart of Chornobyl?