The Ongaku

S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Cost of Hope arrives in August

Jerry on
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Cost of Hope arrives in August
Developer GSC Game World has scheduled S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Cost of Hope for release on August 20th. The massive, non-linear expansion began development following launch in November of 2024.

'Cost of Hope' has players choose a side between the factions of Duty and Freedom, where no choice is truly right. In the wake of the breakdown of a fragile peace, this chapter of the story introduces two new regions to explore. Through interactions with new and returning characters, protagonist Skif’s path will be shaped by the player's decisions.

The release date trailer is streaming on the publisher's YouTube channel.


Built in Unreal Engine 5, the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a vast open world region spanning over 64-kilometers. Competing factions clash in shootouts over radiated territory, battling mutated creatures in while hunting for valuable artifacts. layers must manage survival challenges such as hunger and radiation poisoning, all while navigating an environment that dynamically shifts with the time of day and changing weather conditions.

The Original Game Soundtrack is comprised of fifty music tracks, spanning seven and a half hours in length. Music for the game is composed by by Kyrylo Borisov, Andrew Luchanko, Yaroslav Odrin, and Valentine Parkhomenko. The album is streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music Unlimited, and the developer's YouTube channel.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S (as a 'Play Anywhere' title), along with Windows through Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store. The Deluxe Edition includes the digital art book and Official Soundtrack.


From the Xbox product page:
Head out on a new expedition into the Zone in this massive, non-linear expansion. Dozens of gameplay hours are packed with unforgettable stories and twisted characters – all wrapped in the signature atmosphere of decay with a flicker of hope.
Xbox Wire - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope – First Details

Apple Music - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Original Soundtrack