GSC Game World has finally revealed the first of two major post-launch expansions coming to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Cost of Hope. Launching this Summer, it’s billed as a massive experience with a new story that takes “dozens of hours,” even if you’re not seeing everything.
Skif is once again the star, and he’ll receive a call during the campaign that kickstarts the new storyline. This involves venturing to two new regions – the Iron Forest and the now-mythical Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. They each have a dedicated hub, “dozens of smaller locations,” and numerous quests.
The Duty and Freedom factions also play a part, and while they’re bound by the D4 Treaty, the latest trailer reveals that it may be in shambles. While the former is opposed to the Zone, the latter wants to embrace and utilize it. Of course, whatever decisions you make will reverberate through the expansion, including its ending and what greater consequences it has on the Zone.
Somehow in development even before the base game, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope’s events run parallel to the base game’s story. It also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, so you can buy it once on PC or Xbox Series X/S and play on all associated platforms. More details will be revealed in the future, so stay tuned.