GSC Game World announced that the first major expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is releasing on August 20. Dubbed as the "Cost of Hope," it sees the longstanding conflict between the Duty and Freedom taking a dramatic turn. That's because as tensions rise and the fragile peace between these leading factions start to unravel, the fate of the Zone now hangs in the balance.
Cost of Hope once again puts players into the role of Skif. This time around, a mysterious PDA signal draws him into events unfolding alongside the story of the main game. Players get to explore uncharted locations, encounter unexpected allies and enemies, discover powerful weapons, and experience a gripping new story. The upcoming expansion brings with it dozens of hours of content where the choices of the players shape the future of the Zone.
New Update
Releasing alongside the expansion is Update 2.0. It sees the game being upgraded to a new version of Unreal Engine 5. In addition, the update introduces a lot of new content and improvements. This update comes out August 20 and available for free to all players. In a statement, the studio revealed that they'll share more details about the expansion and update.
Cost of Hope arrives August 20 for the PC, PlayStation 5, and the Xbox Series X/S.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl invites everyone to an immersive post-apocalyptic atmosphere through an open-world design. The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, the game’s setting, has changed dramatically after a second massive explosion in 2006. This terrain is filled with violent mutants, deadly anomalies, and warring factions that make survival a daunting task. Playing as a lone stalker, players have the chance to explore a photorealistic 64-km² radioactive zone with various environments that reveal different aspects of the post-apocalypse. The non-linear storyline allows players to make essential decisions affecting their characters’ destinies and offers several different endings.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers a comprehensive experience that pushes the boundaries of open-world gaming and immerses players into a dynamic, dangerous, and determinedly realistic post-apocalyptic setting. Get the game on Steam now.