It was only last year that developer Bohemia Interactive brought a snow-covered map to the multiplayer survival game DayZ with the Frostline expansion. The long-time supported, post-apocalyptic title is now aiming to take players to a region a little hotter with the next expansion. Touting extreme heat and war-scarred landscapes, the Badlands expansion is set to launch next year. Watch the announcement trailer above.
Landing as the third expansion for DayZ, Badlands is set to deliver the biggest map ever developed for the hardcore survival experience.
"With an enormous size of 267 km², DayZ Badlands introduces the largest official map in the game’s history," says the studio, describing the incoming content and setting. "Set west of Chernarus and bordering Takistan’s frontier, the terrain offers a desolate blend of cracked soil, sand-swept plains, and mountainous divides. Here, every inch of land tells a story of failed invasions, abandoned cities, and the silence that followed decades of war."
The desert environment of the new Nasdara province brings its own survival elements for players to endure. This includes droughts and hydration management, as well as encounters with new types of infected zombies. New loot types, cosmetic items, and region-specific weapons are being added as a part of the expansion, too.
As usual, with all the tools and environments in place, it will be the players who make up their own stories and adventures in the multiplayer title.
Bohemia Interactive did not announce a release date for the DayZ Badlands expansion today, but it did attach a broad 2026 launch window to it. The expansion is being developed for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. While pricing information has not arrived yet either, judging by previous expansions, it may cost around $30 at launch.