Cronos: Lazarus is a paid story expansion, not a standalone game and not part of the existing Deluxe Edition. It launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on 3 December 2026 at a published reference price of $9.99; the Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for Q1 2027. You must own Cronos: The New Dawn on the same platform (and, on PC, the same storefront) to play it. Lazarus adds the Pathfinder’s origin story, the Tracker enemy, teleportation, a decoy ability, and the Gladius weapon. Deluxe adds only launch resources, armor skins, an artbook, and a soundtrack, so Deluxe owners still need to purchase Lazarus separately.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Players who need the base campaign | Full Cronos: The New Dawn game | US list $59.99; Steam Halloween sale $29.99 (50% off through 2 November 2026) | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2 | Oct 2026 |
| Deluxe Edition | Base-game owners who want cosmetics and bonus resources | Two armor skins, resources, artbook and soundtrack | US list $69.99; Steam Halloween sale $31.49 (55% off through 2 November 2026); $14.99 upgrade for Standard owners | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC | Oct 2026 |
| Cronos: Lazarus | Owners seeking the Pathfinder/Warden prequel | New campaign, Tracker, teleport, decoy and Gladius | $9.99 reference price; not yet purchasable on Steam as of 29 October 2026 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S (3 Dec 2026); Switch 2 (Q1 2027) | Oct 2026 |
What is included in Cronos: Lazarus?
Lazarus is a prequel chapter set before The New Dawn. You play the Pathfinder, the elite Collective agent who eventually becomes the Warden. The story follows a forbidden revival mission involving lost Essence, an operation the Collective must not discover.
A new Collective envoy called the Tracker pursues the Pathfinder. The expansion is designed around a more aggressive pace than the base campaign, while retaining third-person survival-horror presentation, frequent violence and gore, and Unreal Engine technology.
The new story and characters
- Pathfinder: the Warden’s earlier identity and the playable lead.
- Revival mission: a secret attempt to recover or restore lost Essence.
- Tracker: a dedicated antagonist deployed by the Collective to hunt the Pathfinder.
- Warden origin: the chapter explains the events leading to the transformation that defines the base game.
Bandai Namco Europe describes the campaign as the Pathfinder’s journey toward becoming the Warden. The official slogan is “Defy the calling. Bring her back.”
Abilities and weapon
- Teleportation: rapid repositioning during encounters.
- Decoy: distracts enemies and briefly makes the Pathfinder invisible.
- Gladius: a faster, deadlier melee weapon than the original game’s dagger.
Gamescom coverage by Wccftech reported that Decoy and Teleportation are intended to be chained: using either ability reduces the other’s cooldown, encouraging constant movement and quick tactical decisions. That description comes from the published hands-on report, not an independent performance test by this site.
Is Cronos: Lazarus a standalone game?
No. Lazarus is downloadable content that requires Cronos: The New Dawn. The Steam listing explicitly says the base game is required, and the license must be on the same storefront: a Steam copy of The New Dawn is required for Steam Lazarus, for example. A disc or digital purchase on another platform does not transfer the entitlement.
If you do not own the base game, buy the Standard Edition first. Lazarus does not contain the original campaign, and there is no announced bundle that combines both products.
Is Lazarus included in the Deluxe Edition?
No. Deluxe and Lazarus are separate purchases. Deluxe is a bonus-content package for the base game; it does not unlock the prequel campaign, its abilities, its weapon, or the Tracker.
What Deluxe contains
- Base game
- One Core Resource
- Eight pistol ammunition rounds
- Three shotgun ammunition rounds
- Two Small Health Packs
- 1,500 Energy
- Two unique armor skins
- Digital artbook and soundtrack
The early-access period advertised for the 2025 launch has ended, so it is not a current benefit. Steam lists a $14.99 Deluxe Edition Upgrade for Standard owners. Purchasing that upgrade still leaves Lazarus as a separate DLC purchase.
What is the difference between Standard, Deluxe and Lazarus?
The three products perform different jobs: Standard supplies the complete base game, Deluxe adds cosmetic and starting-resource bonuses to that game, and Lazarus adds a new story chapter. Choose according to what you already own rather than assuming a higher-priced edition includes every future add-on.
| Product | Story content | Bonus items | Who needs it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Full The New Dawn campaign | None beyond the base-game package | Anyone without the game |
| Deluxe | Full base campaign | Resources, two armor skins, artbook and soundtrack | Base-game newcomers who value extras, or Standard owners buying the upgrade |
| Lazarus | Pathfinder prequel campaign | Teleport, Decoy and Gladius are gameplay features of the expansion | Existing base-game owners who want the Warden origin story |
How much does Cronos: Lazarus cost?
Bloober Team and Bandai Namco Europe announced a $9.99 reference price for Lazarus. A Polish press release lists 34,99 zł. Steam had not printed euro, pound or yen pricing on the Lazarus page as of 29 October 2026, and the add-on was marked “This content is not yet available on Steam.” Store checkout prices can therefore vary by region when listings open.
The base game is the time-sensitive part of the purchase. Steam’s US list price is $59.99, with a Halloween discount of 50% to $29.99 through 2 November 2026. Bandai Namco and Bloober also announced 50% discounts on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store and Nintendo eShop, but each platform can set different dates and durations. Steam’s $69.99 Deluxe Edition is discounted 55% to $31.49 over the same promotional period.
Lowest-cost route for a new player
- Buy the discounted Standard Edition before the sale ends, if the offer is live in your region.
- Play the base campaign or keep the license ready on your chosen platform.
- Purchase Lazarus at its store listing when it unlocks on 3 December 2026 (Q1 2027 on Switch 2).
At the published Steam US promotion, Standard plus Lazarus would total about $39.98 before tax. That comparison uses the announced $9.99 reference price; the final regional checkout amount may differ.
When does Cronos: Lazarus come out?
PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S receive Lazarus on 3 December 2026. Switch 2 is scheduled for Q1 2027, but no calendar day has been announced. The earlier “Coming Fall 2026” banner on the Lazarus website is stale; the 3 December date comes from the 28 October 2026 publisher and developer announcements.
| Platform | Release timing | Base-game requirement | Edition notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG | 3 December 2026 | Same PC storefront | Deluxe is available; Steam app 4768180 is the Lazarus listing |
| PlayStation 5 | 3 December 2026 | PS5 copy of The New Dawn | Digital Deluxe available; physical base disc exists |
| Xbox Series X|S | 3 December 2026 | Xbox copy of The New Dawn | Deluxe Bonus add-on available |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Q1 2027 | Switch 2 copy of The New Dawn | No Deluxe Edition SKU reported |
Do I need to buy Deluxe for the DLC?
No. Standard owners can buy Lazarus directly. Deluxe is optional and changes the starting resources and cosmetic collection, not access to the expansion.
If you already own Deluxe, do not buy another base-game edition. Add Lazarus to the same account and platform that owns The New Dawn. On PC, switching from Steam to Epic Games Store or GOG does not satisfy the dependency.
Which edition should you buy?
You already own Standard on PC, PS5 or Xbox
Buy Lazarus when it releases. The Deluxe Upgrade is worthwhile only if you specifically want the two armor skins, digital artbook, soundtrack and listed resources; it is not a discount on the story DLC.
You own Deluxe already
Keep your Deluxe license and purchase Lazarus separately. The two products were never announced as a combined entitlement.
You do not own the game and want the complete story
Buy Standard during the current Halloween promotion if it is still active in your region, then add Lazarus at launch. Deluxe is a preference purchase for extras, not a story requirement.
You play only on Switch 2
The base game is available now, while Lazarus waits for Q1 2027. There is no reported Switch 2 Deluxe SKU, so plan on Standard plus the later DLC listing.
You want a physical copy
Physical PS5 and Switch 2 editions of the base game exist through retailers. Lazarus remains digital DLC, so a disc or game card supplies only the base license; the expansion must be purchased through the platform store and matched to that platform.
What are the PC requirements for Lazarus?
The Steam Lazarus page lists the same Windows minimum specification as the base game. Keep in mind that the 30 GB figure is the DLC page’s listing; you also need enough space for the full base-game installation.
| Requirement | Steam minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 x64 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8400F / i5-8600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 1080, Radeon RX 5700 XT or Intel Arc A770 |
| API | DirectX 12 |
| Storage listed for Lazarus | 30 GB |
Steam prints “i5-8400F” in the processor line; gaming-st.com notes that this may be a SKU typo. Treat the text as the store’s published minimum rather than as a recommendation to purchase a particular processor. The Lazarus page shows Windows minimums only, so Mac and Linux compatibility is not confirmed even though the base game lists Mac and Linux requirements.
What languages and accessibility details are listed?
Steam’s header states 15 supported languages. The visible table shows English interface, full audio and subtitles; French, Italian, German and Spanish-Spain interface and subtitles are listed without full-audio ticks. The complete 15-language matrix was not expanded on the page reviewed.
SpiritGamer reports French text with English voice on Steam for both the base game and Lazarus. Console French audio was not verified, so check the language panel on your platform before purchasing if spoken-language support is decisive.
How does Lazarus differ in gameplay from the base game?
The base campaign is built around methodical survival-horror decisions, including its merge-and-burn combat loop. Lazarus is marketed as faster and more aggressive, with teleportation, Decoy and the Gladius encouraging repositioning and close-range attacks. This is a play-style distinction, not an edition bonus: every Lazarus owner gets the new toolkit, while buying Deluxe does not change the base campaign’s combat.
Wccftech’s Gamescom 2026 report described the ability-cooldown interaction as rewarding frequent use of Decoy and Teleportation together. Official materials do not provide a complete enemy or boss list, so the Tracker is the only newly named antagonist confirmed in the announcement.
How long is the Lazarus campaign?
No official playtime has been published. GameCast reported on 29 October 2026 that the announcement materials provide no duration, and no reliable hour count should be used to value the $9.99 expansion. Map count and a complete encounter list are also unannounced.
What has not been announced?
- No Complete Edition that bundles The New Dawn and Lazarus.
- No Season Pass.
- No collector’s box or figurine package for Lazarus.
- No physical Lazarus disc or cartridge.
- No confirmed Mac or Linux version of the DLC.
- No exact Switch 2 day-date inside Q1 2027.
A Bandai Namco Europe URL labelled as a Cronos Deluxe page currently displays Ace Combat 7 collector content, so it is not valid evidence for Cronos editions. Use the live store listing for your platform when Lazarus becomes purchasable.
Is the base game worth buying before Lazarus?
For anyone who wants the story, buying the base game first is unavoidable because Lazarus depends on it. The current Steam US promotion lowers Standard to $29.99 until 2 November 2026, while the announced expansion reference price is $9.99. Players who prefer the slower, precision-focused survival-horror loop may also find that the base campaign better matches their taste; Lazarus is explicitly positioned as the faster combat chapter.
The base game launched on 5 September 2025. Bloober Team says it recouped development costs within nine months, and reported milestones include 500,000 digital units by 26 November 2025 and three Digital Dragons 2026 awards, including Game of the Year. Steam’s displayed English review score is 87% Very Positive from 4,373 reviews, with recent reviews at 85% Very Positive from 241 reviews; these figures are volatile.
TechTimes, citing Metacritic, reports a PS5 score of 77 from more than 80 critic reviews. That score is a historical aggregation, not a prediction of Lazarus quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share a Lazarus purchase between Steam, PlayStation and Xbox?
No. The expansion follows the platform and storefront license that owns the base game. A Steam purchase does not unlock a PlayStation or Xbox copy, and a console disc cannot satisfy the Steam dependency.
Will a physical PS5 or Switch 2 copy contain Lazarus on the disc or cartridge?
No physical Lazarus package has been announced. Retail copies provide the base game, while the expansion is planned as a separate digital download tied to the same platform.
Does the free Photo Mode update include any Lazarus content?
No. Photo Mode and the Halloween Pumpkin Head skin are free updates for the base game. They are separate from the paid prequel campaign and do not grant its abilities or story.
Can I buy Lazarus before its release date?
Steam marked the add-on as unavailable on 29 October 2026, with an expected unlock about four weeks later. Console pre-orders and regional checkout timing may differ, so use the store page for your platform once listings open.