Bohemia Interactive has announced DayZ Badlands, a new expansion for the popular survival game.
The new expansion takes players to the desert province of Nasdara, where heat and lack of water are the biggest enemies.
Contents
What players can expect in the Nasdara Province
Measuring 267 x 267 kilometers, Badlands is the largest official map in the history of DayZ. For comparison: The iconic Chernarus map measures 225 x 225 kilometers, while Frostline was much more compact at only 83 x 83 kilometers.
The new map is set in the war-ravaged Nasdara Province, which lies to the west of Chernarus on the border with Takistan. This completely new terrain has been developed from scratch and is based on Middle Eastern landscapes. Players can expect rugged desert plains, abandoned oil fields, dense Middle Eastern-style cities and Soviet military bases from wars long past.
Survival becomes an extreme challenge
Unlike in the icy Frostline expansion, survivors in Badlands will have to survive the heat and water shortages. Water management becomes the new core mechanic, as both the land and the broken wells cannot quench the thirst. Players must plan their routes strategically and find alternative water sources to avoid dying of thirst.
The expansion brings with it region-specific infected that are adapted to the desert conditions. In addition, players can expect new wild animals, weapons, equipment and clothing that have been specially developed for the arid climate.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Youtube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
New gameplay mechanics and features
For the first time in DayZ history, players can form factions and take control of parts of the map. This new mechanic opens up completely new strategic possibilities for group play and territorial conflicts.
The developers have also implemented a new rebuilding system that allows players to repair destroyed infrastructure such as wells. This mechanic reinforces the collaborative aspect of the game and offers new ways of working together.
Most ambitious project in DayZ history
Bohemia Interactive describes Badlands as their most ambitious project for DayZ to date. The development team is working on three times as many assets as in Frostline, creating completely new environments that never existed in DayZ or other Arma games.
The expansion tells the story of a region shaped by proxy wars between great powers without words. Abandoned roads that once connected East and West now criss-cross the desert landscape as silent witnesses.
Release and price
DayZ Badlands will be released in 2026 for all platforms – PC via Steam, PlayStation and Xbox. The price will be under 25 dollars, making the expansion cheaper than Frostline.
The Steam page is already live and players can already add the expansion to their wishlist. An exact release date is still pending, but based on the Frostline schedule, Badlands could be released in the first half of 2026.
With Badlands, DayZ continues its successful development and offers the community a completely new type of survival gameplay.
The desert environment promises a fresh challenge for veterans and newcomers alike.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Instagram. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from X. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information