GSC Game World has announced that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope is available today on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, bringing a major new chapter to the critically acclaimed survival horror shooter.
Cost of Hope is a massive nonlinear expansion that takes players deeper into the Zone, offering dozens of hours of new gameplay, haunting stories, twisted characters and the oppressive atmosphere that fans of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. have come to expect.
A New Chapter in the Zone
Cost of Hope introduces players to a new chapter in the long-running conflict between two of the Zone’s most recognisable factions: Duty and Freedom.
Duty continues to see the Zone as a threat that must ultimately be contained and destroyed, while Freedom considers it something that should be explored and harnessed for the greater good.
For a time, the opposing factions managed to maintain a fragile peace, but that balance is beginning to collapse.
Players once again take control of Skif, the protagonist of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, as he becomes caught up in events unfolding alongside the main game’s story.
Explore New Areas of the Zone
Cost of Hope expands the Zone with new areas to explore, including the iconic Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the maze-like paths of the Iron Forest.
The expansion also introduces locations that players have never encountered before, providing new environments to explore while uncovering additional stories and secrets.
As always, the Zone remains extremely dangerous.
Skif will need to contend with mutants, anomalies and other threats while exploring the new areas. Fortunately, new weapons and equipment have also been added to give players more options when dealing with the dangers lurking throughout the Zone.
A Riskier Adventure
According to GSC Game World Game Director and CEO Ievgen Grygorovych, the development team took more creative risks with Cost of Hope in an effort to surprise long-time fans and create a memorable experience.
The team experimented with ideas and approaches that had not previously been attempted in the series, with the goal of delivering something that would genuinely excite the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. community.
The expansion also represents an important achievement for GSC Game World, with the studio continuing development despite the ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine.
GSC Game World owner Max Krippa highlighted the importance of the game in showcasing Ukraine’s strength, talent, culture, identity and resilience to audiences around the world.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope is available now on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
The expansion is included with the Ultimate Edition of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 or can be purchased separately for $29.99 USD/EUR, subject to regional pricing.
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