DayZ
Bohemia Interactive's open-world survival game just got its biggest expansion ever: Badlands launched October 15, 2026 with the 267 km² Nasdara desert map, and it sold 320,000 copies in its first week while peak players hit 435,000.
Badlands: the new desert map
Nasdara sits in the westernmost part of Takistan - drought-stricken wilderness, abandoned oil industry, border crossings and settlements where the environment kills as often as the infected do.
Heat, drought, sandstorms
New environmental threats plus new diseases: Silicosis, Irritated Eyes and Heat Stroke. Water matters twice - it hydrates and cools you.
Rebuilding
Restore ruined houses, wells and irrigation-tunnel entrances into shelters. Their condition differs per server, so communities leave a mark on the map.
Motorbikes
The Jana 50 motorbike (free in 1.30 for all players) is the fast way across Nasdara's enormous terrain.
Underground
A new terrain-hole system opens irrigation tunnels, road tunnels and bunkers - some hiding valuable loot.
New weapons
Lee Enfield with bayonet, Luger, MP-18 with drum mag, SCR16, plus golden KA-M and revolver variants.
New wildlife & gear
Dobermanns, German shepherds, desert monitors, mouflon, catfish - plus desert clothing sets, dust goggles and waterskins.
Update 1.30: free for everyone
The free patch shipped alongside Badlands (1.86 on consoles) - only the Nasdara map itself is paywalled.
| What | Who gets it |
|---|---|
| Nasdara map (267 km²) | Badlands owners only - joining a Nasdara server requires the DLC |
| Jana 50 motorbike | Everyone, free in 1.30 |
| New actions & weapon color variants | Everyone, free in 1.30 |
| Full wipe on official servers | All platforms - Bohemia calls 1.30 "a fresh start for everyone" |
Wipe notice: Update 1.30 wiped official servers on every platform - everyone starts from scratch. On community servers the wipe is the owner's call, and mods need time to catch up to the new version.
Getting into Nasdara
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Own the base game | Badlands is an add-on - buy DayZ first on Steam, Xbox or PlayStation. |
| 2. Buy Badlands | ~$24.99 list price. The Hot & Cool Bundle pairs it with Frostline if you want both DLCs. |
| 3. Update to 1.30 | Nasdara only exists on 1.30 servers - patch before you try to join. |
| 4. Pick a Nasdara server | Official servers are the safest first stop; community servers need their own 1.30 update first. |
| 5. Pack for the desert | Extra water, eye protection for sandstorms - and don't trust the heat. |
Reception check: the DLC sits at Mixed reviews (~60%) - mostly server and stability complaints in week one, not the map itself. Bohemia's first 1.30 patch landed October 21 with more hotfixes announced.
FAQ
Is DayZ free?
No - the base game is paid on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation. Update 1.30 is free for all owners; the Nasdara map needs the paid Badlands DLC.
Do I need Badlands to play 1.30?
No - the update is free and brings motorbikes and other content to everyone. You only need the DLC to enter Nasdara servers.
Was there a wipe?
Yes - official servers fully wiped with 1.30, on every map. It's a fresh start for all players.
Is DayZ cross-platform?
No - console players share servers with their own platform (Xbox/PlayStation), PC stays separate.