New idea about new mode survival

Hey there, I’m a player from eastern Russia. Recently, I’ve been thinking about a way to expand the Survival Mode gameplay (not Story Mode!) — either as a mod or a DLC.

What’s the idea?
I think it would be interesting to give players a specific objective in Survival Mode, beyond just… well, surviving. For example:

The player starts in late autumn, when snow has already fallen, and the opening cutscene informs them that evacuation will only be possible in late spring, once the snow melts. Due to the extreme cold and the geomagnetic storm, rescue is impossible. That, in essence, becomes the player’s goal — to survive until spring and make it to the evacuation point.

What could make this stand out? Exactly — by making survival more hardcore. For instance:

Almost every piece of clothing would now have a size stat, which needs to match your character’s size. If an item is too large, it provides less warmth and wind protection. If it’s too small, it can’t be worn at all. This would make certain finds more valuable and encourage players to repair gear more often, rather than just swapping it out.

There could also be a “HARDCORE MODE,” where your character starts with several ailments — from a sprained ankle to missing a few fingers, which would make certain actions take longer and be less effective. The trade-off would be that the player spawns with a few valuable items and/or better clothing. All of this would be randomised, of course.

I think this could breathe new life into Survival Mode and make it feel fresh again. Let me know what you think — I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Oh, and one more thing… If a small team of developers were to take this on, would anyone be able to estimate how much it might cost?