Monday, July 6, 2026
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Cronos: Lazarus DLC reveals action-heavy gameplay as you play the Warden

2 min read Editorial

Bloober Team has released a developer diary trailer for Cronos: Lazarus, the upcoming paid expansion for its acclaimed survival horror title Cronos: The New Dawn. The footage highlights a significant shift in gameplay tone, moving away from the resource-management focus of the base game toward a more action-oriented experience.

Playing as the Warden

In the main campaign, you played as a protagonist aided by the enigmatic Warden, who provided technology and narrative clues. Cronos: Lazarus flips this dynamic, allowing you to step into the Warden’s boots. The expansion explores the character’s backstory while you undertake a secret mission that the antagonist organization, the Collective, is desperate to stop.

The trailer shows the Warden utilizing advanced gear not available in the base game. You will have access to powerful weapons capable of dismantling enemies quickly, alongside tactical abilities like teleportation to dodge incoming attacks and holographic decoys to distract foes.

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A close-up of a holographic projection device emitting a shimmering blue decoy figure amidst smoke and debris in a gritt
New tactical abilities like holographic decoys add strategic depth to the Warden's arsenal.

Increased Threat Level

This new arsenal does not make the game easier. To balance the Warden’s firepower, enemies in Cronos: Lazarus are described as more numerous and aggressive than those in the original title. Underestimating these threats can lead to quick defeats.

The expansion also introduces a persistent hunter dispatched by the Collective to eliminate you. This mechanic draws comparisons to Mr. X from Resident Evil 2, requiring players to master evasion and combat techniques to survive prolonged encounters.

Release Window and Platforms

Cronos: Lazarus is scheduled for release in Fall 2026. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.

What this means for you

If you enjoyed the atmospheric tension of Cronos: The New Dawn, this DLC offers a chance to explore that world from a different perspective with higher-octane gameplay. Fans of action-horror hybrids like Resident Evil 4 may find the new mechanics particularly appealing, though purists who preferred the slower pace of the base game should be aware of the tonal shift.

Source: Windows Central

Over to you: Are you excited for the action-focused shift in Cronos: Lazarus, or did you prefer the slower survival horror pace of the base game?

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Windows & Microsoft news editor at 9to5Windows. Covering everything from Windows 11 builds to enterprise updates.