DayZ Badlands – Explore the Vast, War-Torn Sands of Nasdara
DayZ Badlands is the next major expansion for DayZ, delivering players into the vast, sand-swept province of Nasdara. This 267 km² map will be the game’s largest official terrain yet, set west of Chernarus and bordering Takistan’s frontier. It’s a silent, desolate land shaped by old proxy wars and now reset by infection—leaving survivors to decide what rises from the vacuum.
Key Features of DayZ Badlands
- 🌵 267 km² desert map – The largest official DayZ terrain yet, set in Nasdara Province.
- 🏜️ Arid, war-torn environment – Scarred by past proxy wars, featuring abandoned cities, military bases, and oil infrastructure.
- 💧 Harsh survival challenge – Manage extreme drought, heat, and scarce water supplies.
- 👕 Region-specific gear – New clothing, items, and firearms tailored for desert survival.
- 🧟 Unique infected variants – Battle infected adapted to the desert biome.
- ⚔️ Player-driven storytelling – Choose to explore, dominate, rebuild, or survive on your own terms.
- 🎮 Coming 2026 – Available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation for under $25.
A Massive New Desert Map
Nasdara offers a brand-new environment in the DayZ universe: a massive desert expanse of cracked earth and drifting sands. Abandoned Middle Eastern–style cities crumble beside Soviet-era military facilities, modern oil refineries, and other remnants of a region that once thrived. This setting promises the most detailed and ambitious environmental design in DayZ so far.
Survive Extreme Heat and Drought
Water and Ammo Are Precious Resources
Surviving here means managing relentless heat and drought. Water is as valuable as ammunition, with dry wells and harsh conditions ensuring thirst is a constant threat. Players will need to think strategically about every resource they find.
Region-Specific Wildlife and Infected
Expect to encounter new infected variants and wildlife adapted to this desert environment. Survival depends on scavenging for local gear, clothing, weapons, and items unique to Nasdara’s harsh climate.
Choose Your Path in the Badlands
Forge Your Own Survivor Story
The Badlands truly live up to their name, offering players the freedom to shape their own stories. Will you travel between abandoned towns, uncover secrets buried in the dunes, or embrace violence in a fight for dominance among the ruins of past conflicts?
A Blank Canvas for Factions and Adventure
As one of the few remaining survivors, you decide what emerges from the vacuum. Explore, rebuild, dominate, or simply try to stay alive—the future of Nasdara is in the hands of its players.
DayZ Badlands Release Date and Price
DayZ Badlands is planned for release in 2026 on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation. The expansion is expected to be priced below $25. Players can wishlist it now on Steam to stay updated.
Stay Tuned for Developer Insights
In the coming months, official development blogs will share more about the map, its new assets, and the design approach behind this unforgiving new environment.
DayZ Badlands FAQ
The release of DayZ Badlands is set for 2026.
Yes, it will be available on all platforms: PC, Xbox and PlayStation.
There is no definitive answer for this currently, but it should be less than $25.
There are currently no plans for pre-orders or early access.
Yes!
As our first non-European/non-Far East terrain, Nasdara requires entirely new additional assets, brand new terrain, and more. The 267km² map size, combined with complex war-torn environments, makes this our most ambitious project to date.
DayZ Badlands will be located in the Nasdara Province. It is situated along the westernmost borders of Takistan, a well-known terrain from Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead that lies west of Chernarus.
Nasdara will be 267km², making it the largest DayZ official map.
Nasdara is an entirely new terrain, not ported, adapted, and modified from existing terrain like Sakhal. While geographically connected to Takistan’s western border (itself located west of Chernarus), Nasdara represents a completely original creation for DayZ Badlands—never before seen in either the DayZ or Arma universes.
Nasdara is not based on any real-world location. This fictional borderland draws inspiration from Middle Eastern landscapes, while its conflicts and history extend as the alternate narrative of the Arma 2 universe.
Set along Takistan’s western frontier, Nasdara is a resource-rich region where global superpowers waged endless proxy wars for control. Now ravaged by conflict and reset by the outbreak, this land exists in a power vacuum—and you, the remaining survivors, will determine what happens next.
Not quite. While DayZ Frostline is mainly about on surviving Sakhal’s “late winter” snowy wilderness, DayZ Badlands should provide a much different challenge: navigating a drought-stricken “spring” in Nasdara’s war-torn expanses. The open desert terrain and legacy of conflict create natural hotspots for player encounters—where scarce resources and strategic locations invite tension with, or refuge from, other players. Extreme weather elements are addition on top of that experience. Meanwhile, Frostline’s blizzards and isolation turn the environment itself into the primary adversary. Both terrains test survival skills, just through different extremes of the DayZ experience. Each is deeply rooted in DayZ’s DNA while offering distinctive flavors.
Yes. Marking a first for DayZ, Nasdara is our first non-European/non-far east terrain. You can expect authentic regional architecture, city layouts, houses, and environmental storytelling. Our team is now undertaking the most ambitious asset production in DayZ’s history to breathe life into this desolate land.
Yes, always. We love dev blogs because they not only give the community something to look forward to, but also help us showcase our work and provide materials for creators to share with their communities. Keep in mind that this is still at the announcement phase. We have not yet pulled back the curtains. Exciting times ahead! While we don’t have exact dates for the dev blogs yet, you can expect to get more glimpses behind the scene in the coming months—through text updates, videos, and live streams. Make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, our newsletter, and more. Don’t miss out!
No info for now.
sam van mieghem says:
Codered08 says:
Benjamin Thörnblom says: