In the post-apocalyptic Zone, you’ll encounter not only mutants, artifacts, and dangerous anomalies, but also Pavlo Zibrov’s “School Waltz.” This is exactly the kind of musical surprise that GSC Game World—owned by Maksym Krippa—is preparing for the first story-driven DLC for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, titled “Cost of Hope.”
The expansion’s musical content will be extensive: in total, players will hear over 300 new tracks by Ukrainian artists. The playlist will span different generations and genres—from well-known hits to contemporary Ukrainian music. Among the artists whose tracks will be featured in the game are Kalush Orchestra, Monokate, and Pavlo Zibrov.
Ukrainian music blends seamlessly into the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. It will be heard not only in background scenes but also in places familiar to stalkers: on the radio, at bases, in bars, in camps, and around campfires. So familiar tunes will become part of your journey through the Zone and may accompany you at all sorts of moments throughout the game.
The developers also decided to surprise players with the inclusion of songs by Pavlo Zibrov. His music will be featured alongside tracks by contemporary Ukrainian artists, creating an unusual blend of different generations. Zibrov himself will serve as the voice of the arena in the expansion.
In this way, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 continues to expand its musical universe: alongside the Zone’s gloomy atmosphere, there’s also room for songs that many Ukrainians know well from a completely different life.
Zibrov’s voice will provide commentary on the fights at the Arena
Pavlo Zibrov will not only contribute his songs to the musical world of the new expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The artist will also be the voice of the Arena—a place where stalkers can face off in battles for entertainment and rewards.
The Arena is located on the grounds of the former “Rostok” factory. Here, players can take part in battles against other stalkers or mutants and earn money for their victories; in some parts of the game, stalkers received unique weapons as rewards.
It appears that Zibrov himself will be providing commentary for these matches. In a new video from GSC Game World, you can already hear the voice of Mavka, who introduces the Arena’s new commentator. So, it’s likely that during battles, players will hear not only gunfire and the sounds of the Zone, but also the Ukrainian singer’s commentary.
Among the other artists whose songs will be featured in the DLC’s soundtrack is Monokate. The developers have already released footage showing her track “Nas Nese” playing in the Zone.
“Her voice will soon be heard in the Zone, so pay attention and listen carefully!” — GSC Game World noted.
The developers haven’t forgotten about one of the most famous Ukrainian hits of recent years—“Stefania” by Kalush Orchestra. It was this song that brought Ukraine victory at Eurovision 2022. GSC Game World hasn’t yet revealed exactly where in the game it will be featured, but has already hinted at the location:
“We can already hear familiar tunes by the Kalush Orchestra playing around scattered campfires.”
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will feature about 700 Ukrainian songs
Ukrainian music became one of the defining features of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 world even after the release of the main game. At that time, the developers added over 400 tracks by Ukrainian artists. Following the release of “Cost of Hope,” the Zone’s music library will expand significantly—the DLC will add over 300 more tracks.
As a result, the total number of Ukrainian tracks in the game will approach 700. This musical collection will bring together different generations and styles: from well-known artists of past decades to representatives of the contemporary Ukrainian music scene. Thus, the music in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will effectively span several eras of Ukrainian culture.
The first story-driven expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, titled “Cost of Hope,” is being developed by the Ukrainian studio GSC Game World, which is part of the ecosystem of the ARS Capital investment holding company owned by entrepreneur Maksym Krippa. The DLC is scheduled for release on August 20, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Kyiv time.
This time, the story will focus on the long-standing conflict between the “Duty” and “Freedom” factions. Along with the new storyline, players will gain access to additional characters and locations—including the Iron Forest, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and the Spatial Bubble.