Cost of Hope is the first story expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Many players search for how to start it, because it does not begin from a normal quest marker. This guide follows the official Cost of Hope FAQ and a Shacknews walkthrough, checked on October 13, 2026.
Key takeaways
- Own and enable the DLC in your platform store first.
- Use New Game, then DLC Content, then Skip Ahead to The Cost of Hope.
- Early Start begins right after you leave the Lesser Zone. Advanced Start jumps to a later point where both DLC parts are open.
- The second part unlocks after the main mission A Minor Incident.
Images are provided by Steam and belong to their publishers.
Step by step
- Check that the DLC is installed and enabled in your platform's DLC settings. Ultimate Edition owners already have it.
- Open the main menu and choose New Game.
- Pick DLC Content, then Skip Ahead to The Cost of Hope.
- Choose Early Start or Advanced Start (Spark or Ward).
Early Start or Advanced Start?
| Early Start | Advanced Start | |
|---|---|---|
| Begins | Shortly after leaving the Lesser Zone | At a later main story point where both parts are available |
| DLC parts open | Part one first | Both parts |
| Best for | Playing the expansion with the story | Players who mainly want the DLC |
| Warning | Starts with less gear | Faction choice affects the main game only, and the world can look different |
The official FAQ says the faction choice in Advanced Start affects only the main game, not the DLC. Shacknews warns that it locks in faction relations, so places that were safe may be hostile.
Saves and requirements
- Any save made before the point of no return works. If your latest save is past it, the game gives you a save from before that point.
- You do not need a new playthrough. After the main story you can start a new campaign and load that save.
- Installing the DLC does not change existing saves, but a save played with the DLC cannot be loaded without it.
What the expansion adds
The FAQ lists four new weapons with unique modifications, large new locations including Iron Forest and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and two branching story paths around Duty and Freedom. The story runs in parallel to the main plot and does not change the base game endings. It promises dozens of hours of content and new achievements, some hidden. Update 2.0 features are available however you start, and its difficulty options are free.
Common problems
- No DLC option in the menu: check that the DLC is installed and enabled in your platform settings.
- Cannot load a save: saves made with the DLC need the DLC installed.
- Part two missing: finish A Minor Incident or use Advanced Start.
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BrynzaZeroLactoseukNext steps: read about Cost of Hope and Update 2.0, or visit the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. hub and watch the Zone on live streams.
