S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s Cost of Hope Expansion Is Now Available With a Launch Trailer
The free "Back to the Zone" Update 2.0 launched at the same time and was described as the biggest overhaul yet to the Zone's look, feel, and activity.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has opened its next chapter. The first major expansion, Cost of Hope, is now available, arriving alongside the free Back to the Zone — Update 2.0 on August 20, 2026.
The launch combines fresh expansion content with a major refresh for the base game. Update 2.0 focuses on how the Zone looks, feels, and comes to life, with the developer describing it as the biggest overhaul yet for those parts of the experience.
A Steam announcement confirms that both releases are available now. Cost of Hope is the story expansion, while Back to the Zone — Update 2.0 is available to players as a free update.
Watch the Cost of Hope launch trailer
The launch trailer gives the expansion its release-day spotlight as players return to the Zone. With Cost of Hope and Update 2.0 arriving together, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s latest chapter comes with a fresh reason to step back into its dangerous world.
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Developed by GSC Game World
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the unforgiving FPS survival adventure in a dark science-fiction open world. Scavenge for gear and resources, hunt for wonders, make hard decisions to survive and pave the path through the Chornobyl Anomalous Zone.
- Genre Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Perspective First person
- Modes Single player
- Release November 20, 2024
- Publisher GSC Game World
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Age Rating
-
Time to Beat
- Main
- 36.7h
- Main + Extras
- 72.2h
- Completionist
- 123.3h
