DayZ Badlands launches October 15, 2026 for about $24.99 on PC, Xbox and PS5. All confirmed dates, pricing and edition details in one page.
DayZ Badlands Release Date, Price & Platforms
Quick answer: DayZ Badlands releases on October 15, 2026 for approximately $24.99, on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The date comes from Bohemia Interactive's Steam announcement "DayZ Badlands | Coming October 15, 2026" (August 27, 2026) and the price from the official "DayZ Badlands Price Announcement" (October 2, 2026). The Steam store page still shows a coming-soon listing with the release date "15 Oct, 2026" as of the Badlands pre-launch (October 2026).
- Release date: October 15, 2026, all platforms, same day as Update 1.30
- Price: approximately $24.99, regional pricing applies
- Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, PS5
- Pre-order: none — the store page only offers a wishlist button; no season pass has been announced
- Base game required: Badlands is a paid DayZ expansion, so you need DayZ installed
Official source: DayZ Badlands | Coming October 15, 2026
When Does DayZ Badlands Release?
DayZ Badlands launches October 15, 2026, simultaneously with the free Update 1.30 for the base game. Bohemia confirmed the date in its August 27, 2026 Steam post published straight after the Gamescom teaser, then repeated it four days later: "Long story short, DayZ Badlands is coming to all platforms on October 15." The Steam listing for the expansion carries the same date, "15 Oct, 2026", flagged as coming soon (store data checked October 10, 2026).
Neither announcement gives a launch hour or a timezone, and Bohemia has not posted one as of the Badlands pre-launch (October 2026). Treat any page quoting a specific launch time as unconfirmed until the store page flips to released.
| Date | Milestone | Source tier |
|---|---|---|
| April 15, 2026 | Dev Blog Week 63 reveals Nasdara Province at 267 km², the largest official DayZ terrain | Official |
| July 15, 2026 | Update 1.29 "Road to Badlands" hits stable on all platforms | Official |
| August 27, 2026 | Release date announced: October 15, 2026 | Official |
| August 31, 2026 | "Coming to all platforms on October 15" restated in a Steam post | Official |
| September 16, 2026 | Update 1.30 Experimental opens with motorbikes | Official |
| October 2, 2026 | Price announced at approximately $24.99 | Official |
| October 8, 2026 | Creator Program early access begins (runs to release morning) | Official |
| October 15, 2026 | Badlands and Update 1.30 release on PC, Xbox and PS5 | Official |
The October 15 slot is a habit at this point: Frostline, the previous DayZ expansion, also launched on October 15 (2024).
How Much Does DayZ Badlands Cost?
The official answer, word for word from the October 2, 2026 announcement: "The DayZ Badlands expansion is priced at approximately $24.99. Regional pricing may apply." Bohemia frames the number against Nasdara being a brand-new terrain built specifically for DayZ.
Official source: DayZ Badlands Price Announcement | Creator Program
| Pricing fact | Value | Source tier |
|---|---|---|
| Headline price | Approximately $24.99 | Official (October 2, 2026) |
| Regional pricing | Applies — local currencies and taxes vary | Official |
| Steam listed price | Empty while the page is coming soon (checked October 10, 2026) | Official (store data) |
| Earlier official wording | "Under $25" phrasing from mid-2025 | Superseded |
| Pre-order price / deposits | None — wishlist only | Official |
| Collector's Vinyl Box Set | $140, includes a Badlands DLC code | Official (October 9, 2026) |
Several pages, including competitor wikis, still quote the earlier "under $25" wording from 2025 or claim the date is undecided. The current official line is approximately $24.99 and October 15, 2026. Also note the $140 Collector's Vinyl Box Set announced on October 9, 2026 (IGN store in North America, bistudio store in Europe) is merchandise that happens to include a DLC code — it is not a game pre-order, and no game pre-order exists.
There are no announced editions, bundles or season pass as of the Badlands pre-launch (October 2026) — just one expansion at one price. Whether that price is fair for what you get is the subject of our Is DayZ Badlands Worth It? breakdown.
Which Platforms Is DayZ Badlands On?
DayZ Badlands is confirmed for three platforms at launch on October 15, 2026:
| Platform | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Confirmed | Steam page lists Windows only; system requirements are not yet published |
| Xbox Series X|S | Confirmed | Announced alongside the Gamescom trailer; an Xbox store page exists |
| PlayStation 5 | Confirmed | Same announcement wave, same release date |
| Xbox One / PS4 | Not announced | No last-gen version has been stated by Bohemia |
Two follow-up questions get honest "not confirmed" answers right now:
- Game Pass: DayZ itself is in Game Pass, but whether the Badlands DLC is included or must be bought separately has not been stated by Bohemia. The Frostline precedent (a separately purchased DLC) is the reasonable assumption, not a promise. Details live in Game Pass, Crossplay & Platforms Explained.
- Crossplay: hosting providers reported through 2026 that Xbox and Microsoft Store PC share a player pool while Steam and PlayStation stay separate (community/host reporting, not an official statement). Whether Badlands changes any of that is officially unconfirmed.
What You Get For the Money
Badlands is a DLC, not a standalone game: it requires the base DayZ install and is listed on Steam as downloadable content with an 18+ rating. It is the third paid DayZ expansion — Livonia went free into the base game in April 2024, Frostline arrived in October 2024, and Badlands follows.
The headline content, all officially announced:
- Nasdara Province — 267 km², described by Bohemia as the largest terrain ever made for DayZ, west of Chernarus and bordering Takistan's western frontier (store page)
- More than 5,000 rebuildable structures across roughly 20 derelict-house variants, worked on with the new trowel tool (rebuilding system explained)
- Sandstorms as a core feature, confirmed on track for October 15 in the price announcement (sandstorm guide)
- Motorcycles — a Jana moped and an enduro bike, usable on every map from 1.30 (motorbike guide)
- Radio gameplay with Morse code pointing at underground shelters, plus underground facilities built on the new terrain-hole system
- New regional wildlife: dogs, desert monitors and mouflons (wildlife threats)
- New regional firearms, clothing, loot and diseases
Map size, regions and landmarks for the 267 km² province are covered in Nasdara Map Overview and Map Size & Regions; the free update shipping the same day is tracked in DayZ Update 1.30 Patch Notes.
Pre-Launch Access: Who Plays Early?
Bohemia runs a Creator Program with Lurkit from October 8 to the morning of October 15, 2026 — roughly six to seven days of creator streaming under an embargo that lifts on release morning. The radio gameplay feature is deliberately held back until public launch, and creators are asked to tag streams as spoilers. There is no public beta and no early-access window for regular players; everyone buys in on October 15.
Still unconfirmed as of the Badlands pre-launch (October 2026): exact regional prices on each storefront, a launch hour/timezone, Game Pass inclusion for the DLC, crossplay behavior for Badlands servers, PC system requirements and Steam Deck verification. Anything claiming precise spawn points, coordinates or achievement lists for Nasdara right now is unverified — those details arrive with the release itself.
FAQ
When does DayZ Badlands come out? October 15, 2026, on all announced platforms, alongside the free Update 1.30. The date has been official since the August 27, 2026 Steam announcement.
How much is DayZ Badlands? Approximately $24.99, with regional pricing applying. No final storefront price is displayed while the listing is in coming-soon state.
Is there a DayZ Badlands pre-order or deluxe edition? No. The store page only offers a wishlist button, and no season pass, deluxe edition or pre-order bonus has been announced. The $140 vinyl box set is merchandise.
Do I need to own DayZ to play Badlands? Yes — it is a DLC for the base game, which you can grab on Steam.
Is DayZ Badlands on Game Pass? The base game is; DLC inclusion is not confirmed by Bohemia. Read Game Pass, Crossplay & Platforms for the full picture.
Does it launch on PS5 and Xbox the same day as PC? Yes — "coming to all platforms on October 15" is the official wording.
Related Guides
- Is DayZ Badlands Worth It? Price vs Content — decide whether $24.99 is justified before launch day
- Game Pass, Crossplay & Platforms Explained — what is confirmed and what is not, platform by platform
- DayZ Update 1.30 Patch Notes & Release Info — the free update shipping alongside the DLC
- DayZ Badlands Beginner Starter Guide — what to do in your first hours on October 15
More DayZ Badlands Guides
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DayZ Badlands Game Pass inclusion is not confirmed, DayZ crossplay stays Xbox plus PC only, and all platforms launch October 15, 2026.
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DayZ Badlands zombies are region-specific infected with a sun-bleached look and a reworked three-angle attack. Confirmed before launch on October 15.
Should you buy DayZ Badlands for $24.99? We weigh the 267 km² Nasdara map, rebuilding and bikes against the pre-launch unknowns.
Nasdara is 267 km², the largest official DayZ map. Every confirmed region and landmark before launch, plus what has no coordinates yet.
Soviet-era military bases hold Nasdara's top loot, now guarded by territorial dogs. What is confirmed about DayZ Badlands military loot before launch.
DayZ Badlands motorbikes: Jana moped (about 70 km/h) and enduro (about 130 km/h) ship with update 1.30 on October 15, 2026 and ride on Experimental now.