State of Play Shock: Sony Shadow-Drops a New God of War on PS5—Grab Your DualSense!
Announced, released, downloadable. In just three minutes, Sony turned a persistent rumor into a playable PS5 reality. Kratos is back to his Spartan roots—and he didn’t wait for you to be ready.
God of War: Sons of Sparta crashed the very end of the February 2026 State of Play with an instant shadow drop. This 2D Metroidvania, developed by Santa Monica Studio and Mega Cat Studios, dives into Kratos’s origins for $29.99. But the night didn’t end there for the franchise.
Image credit: Santa Monica Studio
Back to Kratos’s roots (and a surprise co-op mode)
God of War: Sons of Sparta isn’t just another tale of the Ghost of Sparta at the height of his power. This time, we go way back—to when Kratos was just a young warrior enduring the brutal Spartan Agoge, the legendary military training program. At his side: his brother Deimos, a familiar face for fans since God of War: Ghost of Sparta on PSP. Together, the brothers take on humanity’s foes, armed with shield and spear, and unleash powers gifted by the gods.
But here’s the real curveball: a two-player co-op mode. In a 2D Metroidvania focused on exploration and combat, playing as Kratos and Deimos at the same time opens up fresh gameplay and narrative possibilities. The blend of platforming, exploration, and mythological monster brawls promises an experience true to the franchise’s DNA—but from a whole new angle.
Deluxe edition and juicy bonuses for eager fans
Even with the surprise launch, Sony didn’t skimp on the extras. Alongside the standard $29.99 edition, there’s a Digital Deluxe Edition on the PlayStation Store packed with a generous haul of digital goodies:
- A digital artbook
- The game’s original soundtrack
- Exclusive PSN avatars
- Several in-game bonuses: a spear attachment (Arrow of Virtue), an upgrade material, a belt gem, and in-game currency (Blood Orbs)
Perfect for anyone itching to dive straight into the Agoge. The attention to detail here shows that Santa Monica Studio and Mega Cat Studios see Sons of Sparta as a full-fledged project, not just a side quest between mainline games.
And that’s not all: the original trilogy is getting a full remake
The shadow drop of Sons of Sparta would’ve been enough to make the night legendary. But just before that, Santa Monica Studio dropped an even bigger bombshell: a complete remake of the original Greek trilogy—that’s God of War, God of War II, and God of War III. The project is just getting started—no gameplay footage yet—and TC Carson, the original voice of Kratos, was quick to temper expectations. “News on this project will probably stay quiet for quite a while,” he warned. Translation: it’ll be years before we see these classics reborn.
Plenty of questions remain: Will all three games be merged into one, or will each get its own remake? Will the studio use the over-the-shoulder camera from the recent games, or stick to classic action gameplay with a modern facelift? No answers yet, but the official announcement is enough to set imaginations on fire.
Sony’s been on an announcement spree lately, and the God of War franchise is now breaking out far beyond gaming. An Amazon Prime Video series is in the works, starring Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy) as Kratos, with Mandy Patinkin, Alastair Duncan, and Callum Vinson joining the cast. Filming is set to kick off in 2026, aiming for a 2027 release. The show will draw heavily from the 2018 and Ragnarök games.
God of War is conquering every front
With a game you can play right now, a trilogy remake on the horizon, and a TV series in the works, Sony’s strategy for God of War is crystal clear: keep the franchise in the spotlight, in every form possible. Sons of Sparta bridges the past and future, giving fans something meaty to chew on while bigger projects simmer behind the scenes.
But here’s the big question: what about the direct sequel to God of War Ragnarök? Santa Monica Studio is keeping that under wraps, but with so many projects in the pipeline, it’s clear the studio has mapped out years of Kratos content. If the February 2026 State of Play proved anything, it’s this: Kratos isn’t done haunting our screens—no matter their size.
