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Press release:
KYIV, UKRAINE — March 26, 2026 – S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope, the first major expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PC, and PlayStation 5 in Summer 2026.

Step into a fresh expedition across the Zone — a massive nonlinear expansion packed with dozens of hours of gameplay. Expect haunting stories, twisted characters, and that same heavy atmosphere of decay… with just a flicker of hope breaking through.

It’s time to step into a new chapter of a well-known conflict. Duty, one of the oldest factions, sees the Zone as a threat that must be contained and destroyed. On the other side, Freedom believes it’s a gift — something to explore and harness for the greater good. For a time, this tension was held together by a fragile peace. But deals like that rarely last.

In Cost of Hope, players once again take on the role of Skif, the protagonist of the core game, as he navigates events unfolding alongside Heart of Chornobyl. After installing the DLC, a signal on the PDA will trigger the new storyline as the game unfolds. As always, your choices shape what happens next — and the consequences could affect not just the Zone, but far beyond it.

Cost of Hope introduces two new regions to explore. Navigate the iconic Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, once abandoned and locked away for decades, now calling stalkers back in. Traverse the Iron Forest’s maze-like paths and uncover uncharted locations along the way. Each region features its own hub, quests, and activities. New weapons and gear give Skif a fighting chance against mutants, anomalies, and other dangers that are lurking.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 expansions will be released in installments, with Cost of Hope serving as the middle chapter of the “second trilogy.” Together with a future story DLC — details of which will be revealed later — it will form a new, expansive narrative arc within the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. saga. More information on the Summer 2026 release will be shared soon.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and Cost of Hope are being developed amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is ongoing. GSC Game World continues to support its homeland in every possible way. For those who wish to contribute, we recommend visiting the official charity fund of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
https://u24.gov.ua/

About GSC Game World
Founded in 1995, GSC Game World is a Ukrainian video game developer known for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Cossacks series. The studio is dedicated to delivering exceptional gaming experiences and recently released S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Its next release is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope — the first story expansion for the base game.