STALKER 2's "Back to the Zone" update has gone live alongside the paid Cost of Hope DLC, and Destructoid has published a guide explaining how players can jump straight into the new campaign. The expansion is aimed at both newcomers and series veterans, and the site notes that access doesn't require a long wait once the DLC is installed, whether through the Ultimate Edition or a separate purchase.

Players who own the Ultimate Edition get the DLC added automatically, while others must buy it separately before installing it. The content unlocks naturally in two stages: the first shortly after leaving the Lesser Zone at the game's start, and the second after completing the "A Minor Incident" main story mission. Alternatively, players can start a New Game, select the DLC content and choose "Skip Ahead to the Cost of Hope," picking either the Early Part or the recommended Advanced Start (with a choice between Spark or Ward, which affects only the main game, not the DLC) to dive straight in without progressing an existing save.