RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesSTALKER 2's success led to studio expansion in face of industry challenges, Ukraine war New Star Wars: Unlimited set Homeworlds launches this October Rust's most anticipated event kicks off next week: Here's what you need to know STALKER 2's first major expansion finally has a release date S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Sign in to your Polygon.com account GSC Game World has announced that STALKER 2 's first major expansion will be released on Aug. 20. That's not all, as the base game will receive a large, free 2.0 update on the same date.
The expansion, titled Cost of Hope , was revealed with a new trailer teasing some of what it will bring to STALKER 2 . This will mark the first major DLC for the survival horror shooter since its release in 2024. Cost of Hope puts players in the shoes of protagonist Skif, who follows a mysterious signal into previously inaccessible areas of the Zone, the game's post-apocalyptic setting.
The official synopsis for the expansion teases that the longstanding conflict between Duty and Freedom, the game's leading factions, has taken a turn for the dramatic. Skif will need to choose sides in the conflict while exploring the new Iron Forest and Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. GSC Game World says Cost of Hope will add dozens of hours of gameplay, new weapons, gear, and enemies.
For players who choose not to purchase Cost of Hope immediately, Aug. 20 will still bring plenty to look forward to. The entire game will be upgraded from Unreal Engine 5.1 to 5.5.4. The free update will also bring new content of its own for the base game, with GSC Game World promising it will share more as the release gets closer.
When we reviewed the game at its release, we found a lot to love in the expansive open-world of STALKER 2 , even if the game's systems needed more time. Well, that was two years ago. GSC Game World has continued to polish STALKER 2 . The dual release of Cost of Hope and the free 2.0 update mark major milestones in the game's continued growth.
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