Bloober Team Unveils Cronos: Lazarus DLC Release Date, Switch 2 Window, and Action-Packed Prequel Combat

Renowned Polish survival horror studio Bloober Team (Silent Hill 2 remake, Layers of Fear) has officially announced Cronos: Lazarus, a major story expansion DLC for its sci-fi survival horror title Cronos: The New Dawn. Priced at $9.99, the expansion is set to launch globally on December 3, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with a Nintendo Switch 2 release following in Q1 2027. Serving as a high-octane prequel to the 2025 base game, Lazarus shifts from slow-burn tactical horror to faster, more aggressive combat as players step into the boots of a former Pathfinder during his transformation into the enigmatic Warden.

What Is the Story and Premise of Cronos: Lazarus?

Cronos: Lazarus returns players to the ruined, post-apocalyptic wasteland of New Dawn, but shifts the perspective to the origins of the base game’s mysterious Warden.

Players take control of the former Pathfinder as he hunkers down inside a secure Terminal facility, completely disconnected from the oppressive Collective regime. Isolated and scarred by a lifetime of wilderness survival, he works tirelessly to awaken a lost, fading Essence. However, his sanctuary is compromised when the Collective identifies his unauthorized actions and dispatches an elite hunter designated as The Tracker with strict orders to eliminate the rogue agent. The narrative explores fragments of the Warden’s past, detailing the sacrifices made to challenge the Collective and initiate the mysterious Lazarus Protocol.

How Does Gameplay and Combat Change in the Lazarus DLC?

While the base Cronos: The New Dawn emphasized precision, ammo conservation, and cautious movement, Cronos: Lazarus introduces a significantly faster and more aggressive combat system.

Enhanced Agent Abilities and Features:

• Holographic Decoys: Players can instantly deploy a holographic decoy to confuse aggressive enemy mutations, drawing fire while slipping into stealth.
• Short-Range Teleportation: Utilize tactical teleportation abilities reserved for high-ranking Pathfinders to quickly close distance or escape tight corners.
• Increased Speed and Force: Even in a damaged physical state, the Warden moves significantly faster and hits harder, unleashing devastating melee slashes and heavy firearms.
• Relentless Tracker Encounters: Unlike standard mutations, The Tracker is an adaptive adversary equipped with high-powered rifles and tracking tools, triggering large-scale cinematic battles that test every skill in your arsenal.

Survival horror fans can add Cronos: Lazarus to their Steam Wishlist today and prepare for the expansion’s launch on December 3, 2026.