S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope Released with 85 Metacritic Score

On August 20, 2026, the long-awaited story addition was releasedS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hopefor the gameS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The addition was released simultaneously with the large-scale update 2.0 on the PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 platforms.

Critics' ratings

At the time of release, the add-on received impressive ratings:85 points on Metacritic(based on 13 critic reviews) and87 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic, with 88% of critics recommending the game.

Here's what leading gaming publications write:

• DayOne – 95/100:“If you haven't played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Cost of Hope is the perfect place to start. It fits seamlessly with the development of the plot and is simply fantastic.”
• Insider Gaming – 90/100:"A thrilling, emotional and twist-filled addition that may not be perfect, but it's pretty darn close."
• Gamereactor UK – 80/100:“The add-on reveals classic factions, adds new locations and characters. There are fewer missions than in the main game, but they are better in terms of design."
• GamingBolt – 80/100:“Update 2.0 and Cost of Hope brought S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 to an even higher level.”
• IGN Germany – 70/100:“A very intense and expansive campaign that tells a compelling story. However, there are shortcomings in terms of delivery and performance.”

What does the add-on include?

Cost of Hope is a massive non-linear expansion that takes players on a new expedition deep into the Zone. Together with Zul from the “Duty” faction and Mavka from the “Will” faction, the main character will have to explore the previously inaccessible lands of the Iron Forest and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Key features of the add-on:

• Dozens of hours of gameplay
• New locations with secrets and dangers
• New weapons and equipment, including binoculars
• Expanded history of the Duty and Will factions
• Improved A-Life AI

Update 2.0

In parallel with the expansion, update 2.0 was released, which significantly improves many aspects of the game:

• Improved graphics
• Improved combat system and stealth
• Correcting technical errors
• New Zone Kit modding tools

Price and Availability

The add-on is available for purchase separately (approximately 30 euros) or as part of the Ultimate Edition. You can add it to your wishlist on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, as well as on Xbox and Microsoft Store.

Information current as of August 20, 2026.

Source:EGW News