STALKER 2's first story DLC hits PC, Xbox, and PS5 on August 20

GSC Game World has confirmed that Cost of Hope, the first major story expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, launches August 20, 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 simultaneously. The Kyiv-based studio — still developing games while Ukraine remains at war — is framing the expansion as the middle chapter of a planned second trilogy, with a third DLC expected around 2028.

The story

The expansion picks up with Skif receiving a mysterious radio call and an invitation to join an expedition into two regions that were locked off in the base game: the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Iron Forest. Both locations appeared in earlier STALKER titles, so returning fans will recognize them.

The narrative centres on the collapse of the D4 Treaty — a pact that once bound the rival Duty and Freedom factions together. The two groups, formerly uneasy allies, have split over how the Zone should be controlled, and Skif ends up caught in the middle.

Two characters are confirmed. Mavka is a new addition — a female stalker who's been referenced in the series but never appeared on screen. Zulu, a veteran character from S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, also returns. GSC promises new quests and answers to questions left open across both the new game and its predecessors.

Platform and pricing

The simultaneous PS5 launch is worth noting. The base game launched as an Xbox console exclusive before arriving on PlayStation, so day-one parity here marks a shift. PC players can access it through Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.

Pricing hasn't been announced. The Ultimate Edition of the base game includes a Season Pass, and speculation puts the standalone DLC somewhere in the £15–20 / $15–20 range — but GSC has not confirmed any figure. Game Pass subscribers already holding the base game through the service will want to check whether Cost of Hope is covered before purchasing separately, per Windows Central.

A free Update 2.0, which includes an Unreal Engine 5 upgrade with performance improvements, drops on the same day as the DLC — so even players skipping the expansion will see changes on August 20, according to Gagadget. GSC is asking players to wishlist Cost of Hope now ahead of the release.