Updated at: 17-04-2023 - By: Leo Hall

The next God of War game, which would eventually be named Ragnarok, was one of the most unexpected announcements made at the PlayStation 5 event in September 2020. Santa Monica Studio, creators of most God of War games, is hard at work on the sequel to 2018’s God of War. The demo for Ragnarok was cut short, but after a new trailer debuted at the PlayStation Showcase in September 2021, we now know a great deal more.

We’ve researched the God of War sequel as thoroughly as possible to bring you the latest information. Find the God of War Ragnarok trailer, release date, and more right here. (Warning: The plot of God of War, the 2018 game, will be spoiled if you read any further.)

Release date

It’s possible that God of War: Ragnarok won’t arrive until November 2022. Bloomberg claims that PlayStation will reveal the official release date later this month. While it’s possible that we’ll see a release in November, there’s always a chance that we’ll be forced to push it back.

The original release date for God of War: Ragnarok was set for 2021. The trailer used to announce the game in 2020 gave a release window of that length. However, the date was eventually moved to 2022. The official release date of the game was not announced by Sony during the September 2021 PlayStation Showcase, as was widely anticipated.

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The release window of 2022 is not completely unrealistic in light of the development schedule. In April of 2019, God of War 2018’s creative director Cory Barlog teased the sequel with a clever Twitter thread. Each post’s initial letter spells out “Ragnarok is coming”; he claims he’s writing about his time making God of War. Since the development team can recycle some of the original game’s assets and animations, a release in the fall of 2022 is still possible, even if work on the sequel didn’t begin until April 2019.

In April 2022, on the four-year anniversary of the reboot, Santa Monica Studio released a video updating fans on the progress of Ragnarok.

Barlog stated that the team was still working diligently and that there was currently nothing to show for their efforts. As soon as Barlog and his team are ready to share information, “I guarantee you, the very second,” he said.

A listing for God of War Ragnarok merchandise appeared on a website called Entertainment Earth at the end of May 2022, prompting speculation that a release date announcement was imminent. Since the merchandise went live, it has received a lot of attention and has since been removed, which may indicate that a major reveal is imminent. Also announced were the June 2022 PS Plus games, which include the 2018 installment of the God of War series.

For this reason, it’s plausible that Sony will host a massive God of War Ragnarok showcase later in the summer of 2022, well in advance of the game’s release.

Platforms

A PlayStation Blog post confirmed that, yes, God of War: Ragnarok would be coming to the PS4, as well as the PS5. From a purely commercial standpoint, it makes sense to release on both platforms simultaneously. The catch is that Sony will likely limit the scope of Ragnarok in order to maximize sales on less powerful hardware, despite the fact that the game’s development costs are high.

Since Horizon: Forbidden West, another PlayStation exclusive, was a game that appealed to players of all ages, it makes financial sense to release the game for the PS4. It makes sense to release Ragnarok on both systems at the same time in 2022, provided that the PS4 version doesn’t delay the launch of the PS5 version. There are a lot of PS4s out there; over 117 million to be exact, guaranteeing strong sales of last-gen consoles.

Trailer

At the PS5 event in 2020, a teaser trailer was unveiled, and that was the last we heard of the project officially for an entire year. Aside from a logo and a release date, it didn’t showcase any gameplay or anything else. The only mention of the game’s title was the line, “Ragnarok is coming 2021.”

Then, in September of 2021, Sony released a three-minute trailer introducing fans to both returning and brand-new cast members. Mimir, Freya, Tyr, and Thor all made appearances, as did an older Atreus. But it also gave us our first look at gameplay, which is reminiscent of the original game while also teasing some new additions. Kratos is seen brandishing Blades of Chaos, while Atreus rides a magical stag.

The trailer features extensive gameplay footage without giving away any of Ragnarok’s surprises. Considering how far the game has come in 2018, it’s safe to assume that Ragnarok will also contain some pleasant surprises. The trailer concludes with a glimpse at a new character named Angrboda, a young girl who may play a significant role in the story.

Gameplay

We got our first look at God of War Ragnarok in action at the September 2021 PlayStation Showcase, and while we saw a few new features (like the Runic Summon for Atreus), Santa Monica Studios probably still has a lot more to show. The trailer spent a lot of time highlighting familiar elements, such as the iconic boat riding sequences, exploration, and nonstop action.

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Grace Orlady, senior community manager at Santa Monica Studio, said, “As a team, we’ve worked hard to take our learnings from God of War (2018) and improve upon combat to feel fresh, yet familiar.”

One of our primary goals for God of War Ragnarok was to expand the options available to players during battle. If you want to fight alongside our duo in a way that feels uniquely expressive, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to do so, whether through hard-hitting combos, a mastery of elements, or clever defensive tactics.

Closer to the game’s release, we can expect a more in-depth look at the gameplay, but we do know that Ragnarok will have even more environments to explore than its predecessor, including “otherworldly jungles” and “intricate subterranean mining networks.”

Like its predecessor, this game will use a single camera view to tell its story. This was one of the highlights of God of War because it made the whole experience feel more individual. The uninterrupted camera shot works well with the story’s theme of a father and son’s love for one another.

Sony has made accessibility features a top priority, and we know that they will be heavily integrated into Ragnarok. Features such as high-contrast mode, custom controller mapping, and a slew of gameplay aid mechanisms will ensure that as many people as possible will be able to enjoy the game.

Multiplayer

Even though the God of War series has included multiplayer before (in God of War: Ascension in 2013), Ragnarok is probably only going to be a single-player experience. The first game was a masterpiece thanks to the Santa Monica studio’s dedication to the story over extra features like an unnecessary multiplayer mode. There isn’t enough time for the team to implement a substantial online multiplayer mode before the game’s rumored release this year.

It’s not impossible, but it’s also not very likely. Asynchronous online features, like the notes in the Dark Souls games, could be added. But we don’t anticipate anything resembling cooperative or competitive play alongside other players.

DLC

Given how little we know about Ragnarok at this point, it’s difficult to say whether or not the game will receive downloadable content in the future. New weapons and a New Game mode were added to God of War 2018 after its initial release. We wouldn’t put money on any major alterations or additions to the story at this time. We wouldn’t expect Ragnarok to buck the trend of the God of War series not having substantial downloadable content additions.

Pre-order

Finally, you may be thinking about whether or not to pre-order the upcoming God of War game. The product is not yet available for pre-order, but it likely will be as soon as we learn the official release date.

5 Ways God of War 2 Could Be Even Better Than The First

1. A Bridging of the Gap

God of War 2018 told a self-contained story that alluded to and occasionally brushed up against Kratos’s legendary past, but didn’t spend much time bridging the gap between the wrath-fueled, fire-and-brimstone Kratos of Greece and the more relaxed version we find in Norway. The next God of War game should delve deeper into how Kratos went from seemingly dying on a cliff in a godless land to establishing a new life in the land of Norse gods, as these two personae continue to feel distinct from one another.

The late-game reveal that Kratos’s wife is a giant makes it seem like covering their relationship in flashbacks is a no-brainer, which is good news.

2. More big boss fights!

The original God of War games were distinguished not only by their superb combat but also by the quality of their boss fights, which were frequently so large that they counted as separate levels in and of themselves. In God of War 2018, we got a taste of that with the brief but satisfying Dragon Boss fight, but otherwise, boss fights felt like they were against exceptionally difficult versions of the game’s normal enemies, with the occasional breathtaking cutscene interspersed. Though the battles against Baldur are excellent in their own right, and large bosses shouldn’t be prioritized over smaller set pieces or more difficult skill tests like the Valkyries, I couldn’t help but feel like something essential from the original God of War games was missing. Battles like the ones you’d find in God of War 1 against the Hydra, God of War 2’s against the Colossus of Rhodes, God of War 3’s against Poseidon, Ascension’s against the Hecatonchires, and so on.

3. Balance the Old Combat With the New Combat

I’d be hesitant to make major changes to God of War’s combat in the next installment, especially since the Leviathan Axe has become as recognizable a weapon as Kratos’ Blades were in the first game. It would be great if the sequel also introduced some fresh ways to fight, perhaps by utilizing a wider variety of weapons. Air combos, a staple of the original God of War’s combat, are noticeably absent from the 2018 remake. When your opponent is launched into the air, you can’t follow them up and smack them around or grab them and bounce them off the floor and smack them around again before knocking them away. This method of combat is obviously incompatible with the Leviathan Axe, but if the Blades’ move set could be modified to allow for a more aerial form of offense, it would be a fantastic throwback to times long past. The blades and the leviathan axe can only do so much; I hope we also get to see something completely different, a weapon that offers an alternative to combat.

4. Unlock the Other Realms

In God of War 2018, one of the biggest teases was seeing all nine realms on the realm map in the Bifrost, but only exploring three of them (Midgard, Helheim, and Alfheim). Muspelheim consisted primarily of fights, Niflheim featured a roguelike maze with loot, and Jotunheim was a barren wasteland where the game concluded. Only Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, and Asgard remain entirely uncharted at this point. Since Freya and Thor still have some business with Kratos, it seems likely that we will get to visit all three of these, but especially Vanaheim and Asgard.

5. New Game And Bonus Costumes At Launch

At launch, one of God of War 2018’s few issues was the lack of content once the main story was completed. While the Valkyrie hunt was a fun and challenging way to wrap up the game, it didn’t inspire the player to play through the campaign again. New Game was implemented three months after the game’s release; hopefully, with the framework in place, it will be present from the start in the future. Extra outfits should be reinstated as well. What better reason is there to replay the game than to see Kratos in a suit and tie, the Cod of War, or a chef armed with fish hooks?

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Game System Requirements

System requirements for Santa Monica Studio’s upcoming God of War sequel cannot be determined at this time. Even with the PlayStation Plus Pass, Ragnarök’s PC release is still in the future. But as soon as we learn more about the PC version of this game, you can count on an update from us.