STALCRAFT: X

📣 Ahoy! Murmur off the starboard bow! Looks like the fanatics have mastered sailing. Where on earth did they even dig up that cruiser? And most importantly — how much unclaimed loot must be lying there! Seems like something interesting is about to happen in the Zone! YouTube — youtube.com/watch?v=bdzmq0…

🚁 First, clear the strongholds… then hear the chute slicing through the air The silence over Forge-11 is broken by a distant rumble. A helicopter flies by, and moments later you see a shadow of a falling airdrop. Golden strongholds now lure every Zone explorer with the promise of big rewards. From April 2, 07:00 (UTC), to April 8, 09:00 (UTC), airdrops with overdrives will fall at Forge-11, and strongholds will give 25% more sellable items and 25% more barter. Forge-11 is calling — will you seize its generosity in time?

👀 What’s coming next? Events, reworked North, improved AI, legendary gear, and something… evil on the horizon. We’ve gathered all the key takeaways from the latest stream — you might want to take a look. Details here: Steam — cutt.ly/ftPSRUBf

⚠️ Auction adjustments In the April 1, 2026 update, players can expect several changes to the auction system. One of them is the removal of the lot creation deposit, so we strongly recommend refraining from placing items on the auction until the update is released. Deposit fees paid for items that remain listed during the update will not be compensated, so please take this into account when trading through the auction.

🤖 AI and Operations Q&A in chat-with-devs Skye, senior AI game designer, and Tzeench, Operations manager, will be joining chat-with-devs (cutt.ly/6tO6SZ4e) to answer your questions live. Please keep your questions focused on the topics they’ll be covering: 🔘 Skye: • NPC setup; • AI behaviour design; • Game mode configurations (Operations, Attack on Perimeter, Frost Troopers); • In-game setup of models and textures (note: not modeling itself, but implementation). 🟣 Tzeench: • Operations-related questions. Prepare your questions in advance and join us in chat-with-devs this Friday at 17:00 (UTC)!

🚀 Game servers online 🖥 Server maintenance is completed, game servers are back online. The following changes are now available in the game: 🔗 Operations fixes • Updated mines model and texture; • Added scaling to the amount of health restored by Murmur Voice; • Added scaling for the distance at which Murmur Voice restores health. From 5 meters at Clearance 1 up to 15 meters at Clearance 15; • Added health scaling for Murmur Drones summoned by Tech boss; • Fixed visual duplication of the Vampirism modifier on the character; • Fixed an issue where Murmur Shadow could teleport into a non-combat area during the fight with Tech; • Increased the interaction zone for ziplines. 🔗 Balance changes • Blitz Tactical Grip Aiming time: -40% → -35%. • STRIKE Instant healing: 6.3 → 3.2. • STOMP Instant healing: 7.1 → 3.6. • Saiga-12 Damage: 93.5 → 92.5. • CR-380 Removed Burning. Removed Bleeding penalty (due to Burning removal). Plate durability damage: 0.05 → 1. Aiming speed: -25% → -30%. • All bolt-action rifles Movement speed reduced by 2%. Movement speed while aiming reduced by 10%. Holster time: 0.5 sec → 0.6 sec. Aiming time increased by 0.05 sec. • Bleeding Speed penalties removed (up to -15% at max level). Respectfully, EXBO Team

👀 New voices are coming from unexpected places...

⛵️ Live from the sea of exclusion Can our community managers capture Lotan, take down Tech, and survive a saber showdown? There’s only one way to find out! Join us on March 22 at 14:00 (UTC) on our Twitch channel (twitch.tv/exbo_official) for a gameplay stream with Daerkinai and Norman. Don’t miss it!

🏁 Cosplay submissions final day Today is the last day to submit your entry for the cosplay contest. Make sure to apply by filling out the Google Form. — forms.gle/MejDZhtdxrhHEw… ✔️ Participant checklist: • Before submitting a link to your photo folder, make sure that view access is enabled. • If you made a mistake, submit a new form with the correct information. • Check the email address specified in your form — the organisers may contact you in case of any problems. The results will be announced in a separate post. Stay tuned for updates!

🔪 New temporary session mode! At Sabres event Did you miss the noble clash of steel? It’s time to cross your blades! From March 20, 10:00 (UTC) to March 23, 05:00 (server time) a themed session mode will be available in the game: melee weapons only, cruiser, and slashing combat! 🛥 Put your skills to the test in an unusual naval battle and prove who the true commander of the deck is!

📣 Join the fight against the Murmur! The Zone never stops throwing new threats our way. But the Murmur is something else entirely. ZIVCAS is launching a new series of Operations to hunt down the murmuring menace and is looking for fighters ready to take the job. Payment guaranteed. Choose one of the prepared loadouts: Medic, Operative, or Assault. Show the Murmur who really runs the proving grounds! Life insurance is not included in the contract.

📺 Murmur’s secret blueprints One of the squads, along with some documents, managed to grab blueprints covered in Murmur’s symbols. After taking a closer look, it turned out they’d struck gold while digging for copper — project documentation for Tech and his gear. Now they’re left scratching their heads, trying to figure out what to do with it…

📰 Patch Notes [18.03.2026] Server maintenance is in full swing! When it is completed, the following changes will be waiting for you in the game: • Season Pack #1; • Advanced case; • Operations changes; • Session Battles changes; • Balance changes; • And more. 🔗 Read more in the article: Reddit — cutt.ly/ftUWoF1k Steam — cutt.ly/ztUWoNWn

📣 Server Maintenance We will be performing server maintenance in the EU, NA, SEA and NEA regions: 📆 18 March, 2026 07:00 AM – 10:00 AM (CET) 02:00 AM – 05:00 AM (EDT) 02:00 PM – 05:00 PM (GMT+8) 03:00 PM – 06:00 PM (KST) ❕ Schedules may change due to unexpected problems. 🚧 STALCRAFT: X servers will be unavailable during maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and we thank you in advance for your understanding and patience. Respectfully, EXBO Team

🥇 Screenshot contest winners Entries have been reviewed, the winners are chosen, and now it’s time to reveal the names of the Zone’s greatest photographers! Rewards will be sent to the winners via in-game mail within 30 business days after the results are published. 🔗 Read more in the article: Reddit — cutt.ly/7tUho78k Steam — cutt.ly/QtUhpjzm

fly, you fools! on March 20, a true bloodbath awaits you on the ship. nothing but sabers and a full deck of maniacs in session mode, ready to rip each other's as... throats out.

📖 Character characteristics and what affects them In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the physical condition of a typical stalker and how the Zone’s harsh environment affects them. You’ll learn more about: • Healing effects; • Buffs and debuffs from medicines; • Carry weight; • Infections and artefacts; • Buffs and debuffs in PvP. 🔗 Read more: Reddit — cutt.ly/TtUwRa5c Steam — cutt.ly/QtUwRleq

🚢 Where did the ship in the CEZ come from? We know that the cruiser is located at Area-9, a facility isolated from baseline reality, so formally it does not belong to the CEZ territory. However, this raises no fewer questions. Who built this ship and when? Where did its quantum technologies come from? What were they intended for? And how did Murmur end up there? Some of the answers have already surfaced in a memo from Phil, the head of the Areas project. 🔗 Read more in the article: 💬 Reddit - cutt.ly/ntYDsWBL 🛒 Steam - cutt.ly/ztYDs1bS

👀 Showcasing the animations of the new styles You don’t have to be a sailor to figure out which end of a sabre to hold! But if you want to see how to swing a Noose properly and which one to pick — this is the place. Even the most hardened bandits will be green with envy.

✂️ One week left to submit cosplay contest entries! And for now, we’re sharing info on some awesome rewards for the participants: • Legendary gear of your choice; • A unique hideout item — a mannequin with changeable poses to showcase your best armour; • A profile customization set — background, pattern, and Made in the Zone sticker. Also included: Aesthete cases, season crates, Season Pass levels, Stalcoins, and 30 days of Premium. 🔔 Make sure to submit your entry by filling out the Google Form — cutt.ly/htYQuA5I. 🔗 Find full details on prizes, participation rules, and how to apply in the article: Reddit — cutt.ly/0tYQiqxn Steam — cutt.ly/8tYQith4