Bloober Team has confirmed that Cronos: Lazarus, the upcoming story expansion for Cronos: The New Dawn, will launch on December 3, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
The DLC will cost $9.99 and introduce a new storyline set before the events of the original survival horror game, which launched in 2025.
Nintendo Switch 2 players will receive the expansion later, with its release currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Alongside its new story, Lazarus introduces teleportation, temporary invisibility, enemy decoys and a faster melee weapon. These additions are designed to make combat more aggressive while retaining the survival mechanics of the original game.
Cronos: Lazarus Explores the Pathfinder's Origins
The expansion follows the Pathfinder, an operative working for the Collective, and explores the events that eventually transform him into the Warden.
The story takes place before Cronos: The New Dawn, providing additional background about the Collective and its activities.
During his mission, the Pathfinder attempts to complete a secret revival operation that the organization must never discover.
However, his actions attract the attention of the Tracker, a dangerous Collective enforcer determined to stop him.
The storyline will provide more information about the Pathfinder's past while expanding the established science fiction horror setting.
New Abilities Make Combat Faster and More Aggressive
One of the most significant changes in Lazarus is its stronger focus on mobility and direct combat.
Teleportation allows the Pathfinder to quickly approach enemies, reposition during encounters or retreat from dangerous situations.
The Decoy ability creates a distraction that draws enemy attention while temporarily making the Pathfinder invisible.
Both abilities are designed to complement each other, with their cooldowns decreasing when either ability is used.
The expansion also introduces the Gladius, a melee weapon that offers faster attacks than the dagger available in the original game.
| New feature | Gameplay benefit |
|---|---|
| Teleportation | Quickly reposition during combat |
| Decoy | Distract enemies and provide temporary invisibility |
| Gladius | Faster melee attacks |
| New storyline | Explore the Pathfinder's origins |
| Tracker | New enemy pursuing the protagonist |
Early gameplay impressions from Gamescom 2026 suggested that combining teleportation and decoys makes encounters considerably faster than those in the original game.
Cronos: The New Dawn Receives a 50% Halloween Discount
Bloober Team has also reduced the price of Cronos: The New Dawn by 50% across digital stores during the Halloween promotional period.
The discount provides an opportunity to experience the original game before the expansion arrives in December.
Lazarus will retain the dark atmosphere, resource management and survival elements associated with Cronos while introducing more opportunities for aggressive combat.
With its $9.99 launch price, the expansion offers an additional story chapter for existing players and further explores the events surrounding the Collective.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version will follow in early 2027, although Bloober Team has not announced an exact release date for that platform.
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