Today, GSC Game World revealed a brand new story trailer for Stalker 2: Cost of Hope, which is scheduled for release in Summer 2026 and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG), and PS5.
Stalker 2: Cost of Hope is the first major DLC for the horror survival FPS and will support Xbox Play Anywhere, enabling cross-platform play and progression. The expansion revolves around the long-running conflict between the Duty and Freedom factions, as the D4 peace treaty shatters, thrusting players back into the brutal ideological war.
The expansion takes place concurrently with the main game, between the events of Wishful Thinking and Down Below. Players follow Skif as he navigates the fragile peace between the factions Duty and Freedom, which is shattered in a web of morally complex choices.
The story in Stalker 2: Cost of Hope explores new narratives, answers questions from the base game, and introduces new and returning characters (like Zulu & Mavka), featuring well over 12 hours of new gameplay. Alongside the story, there will also be two new regions added in the DLC: Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) and the Iron Forest.
Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) and the Iron Forest will each feature previously unseen locations and environmental hazards where you’ll encounter new mutated creatures, lethal anomalies, and human threats. New weapons and gear are also being introduced, adding variety to the experience while maintaining the non-linear gameplay, allowing choices that shape both the story and outcomes.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is available now on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam (including Game Pass), starting at $59.99, with a PS5 release slated for later this winter.
