GSC Game World has officially announced the new major additional content of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl; it is Cost of Hope, a narrative expansion that promises to significantly expand the original game experience, leading us to experience new stories full of tension and decadence, starting this summer.

At the center of this new chapter we will find ourselves immersed in the never dormant conflict between two of the historical factions of the Zone: the Duty and the Freedom. While the Duty sees the Zone as a threat to be eradicated and destroyed, the Freedom sees it as a precious gift to be studied and exploited for the advancement of humanity. That fragile truce that had held the two sides together now seems destined to fail, and we will have to move cautiously in this broken balance, meeting tormented characters and facing situations in which hope is only a faint glimmer in the dark.

In this new adventure we will once again take on the role of Skif, already the protagonist of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, following events that take place in parallel to the plot we already know. Once the expansion is installed, we will receive a signal on our PDA handheld that will start an unprecedented and non-linear narrative line, capable of offering dozens of hours of gameplay. As per tradition for the series, each of our decisions will have a fundamental weight, shaping not only the fate of the Zone but also what lies beyond its borders.

Exploration will play a key role with the introduction of two completely new regions. In fact, we will have the opportunity to return to the iconic Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, once inaccessible and now ready to call stalkers back to its secrets, and to delve into the labyrinths of the Iron Forest. Each area will be equipped with specific hubs, missions and activities, as well as new sets of weapons and equipment that will allow us to survive the mutants and dangerous anomalies that we will encounter along the way.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope will not be an isolated content, but will represent the heart of a "second trilogy" of expansions planned by the developers. Along with an additional narrative DLC to be revealed in the future, this pack will make up a vast and deep story arc within the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl saga.

New details on the precise release date and content will be shared in the coming months; In the meantime, we leave you with the announcement trailer and a set of images.