God of War Ragnarök: Everything We Know

When Santa Monica Studio first lifted the veil on God of War Ragnarök in 2020, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. And most of those teary eyes, wouldn't you believe, came from Xbox users, who knew all too well that the sequel to one of PlayStation's biggest releases was going to capture the eye of just about every gamer and their neighbors for the next two years without fail.

The good news is, PlayStation fans won't have to wait all that long until the release of God of War Ragnarök, as its November release is but a stone's throw away. But what else do you need to know about the upcoming game, exactly? Here's everything we know about Ragnarök.

What Is God of War Ragnarok?

God of War Ragnarök is a third-person action-adventure game by Santa Monica Studio, a globally recognized firm that's best known for its incredibly long line of award-winning God of War entries. Ragnarök will, of course, serve as a direct sequel to 2018's God of War, and will be available as a console exclusive for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

Story

God of War Ragnarök picks up with Kratos and Atreus during the aftermath of 2018's tale. Set three years after the fall of Baldur, Kratos and Atreus have now embarked on a quest to prevent the prophesized Ragnarök, a drastic event that predicts the fall of the Gods. However, with Thor, God of Thunder, seeking revenge for the death of his half-brother Baldur, and Freya, a friend-turned-enemy, also looking to avenge his death, both Kratos and Atreus will need to confront the consequences of their past decisions.

With Ragnarök on the horizon, and a nexus of long-term rivals breathing down their necks, the blossoming duo will need to do all in their power to not only prevent their own deaths, but the end of the Norse world as they know it.

Gameplay

God of War Ragnarök will deliver a similar gameplay blueprint as its original game: combat-heavy, and rich on the puzzle-solving and exploration. Just like before, players will control Kratos, who will once again come shackled to his trusty Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, two iconic weapons that will be used to conquer not only armies of enemies in a familiar hack and slash format — but mountains, skies, and the Norse world itself.

Ragnaròk will be single-player only, and will feature an open world setting, which will include nine explorable realms, three of which were previously cordoned off in 2018's God of War. True to its roots, the game will also incorporate an over-the-shoulder free camera, which will be presented in a continuous shot. In short, this means no cutaways, nor any loading screens to divert the player from the story or the action. Again, Atreus will assist Kratos through the power of AI, using a volley of arrows to belittle enemies in the heat of battle. Think God of War — but bigger, bolder, and, well, better.

Development

It wasn't long after the successful launch of the first God of War game that Santa Monica Studio got to work on drawing up ideas for the sequel. Although word was kept relatively quiet about it ever happening, a series of cryptic tweets on social media did eventually lead eagle-eyed fans to spot an emerging pattern: “Ragnarök is coming.”

Ragnarök was formally announced during the PlayStation 5 showcase back in September 2020, with a release window of 2021. However, due to the impact of COVID-19, the game was eventually nudged back to an undisclosed date in 2022. Since then, the game has undergone multiple changes, though it's been mostly plain sailing for Santa Monica Studio. Or at least, nothing in our peripherals suggests otherwise, anyway.

Trailer

Santa Monica Studio published the first official sneak preview trailer of God of War Ragnarök on September 16, 2020. Comprised of only a thirty-second image of the series' instantly recognizable logo, the short but effortlessly powerful announcement paved the way for a slew of additional previews, which have come to light in the two years since the sequel's inception.

Since the preview, God of War Ragnarök has received four additional trailers: a gameplay trailer, an extended preview trailer, a “Father & Son” cinematic trailer, and a launch trailer. These are, to our best knowledge, the only four trailers that will release before the game's November release window.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

God of War Ragnarok will release on November 9, 2022 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. At the time of writing, neither Santa Monica Studio nor PlayStation has mentioned anything about the sequel releasing as a day-one exclusive on PlayStation Plus Premium or PlayStation Plus Extra. Not that this comes as a major surprise or anything, what with it expected to be Sony's meatiest cash cow of 2022 and all.

God of War Ragnarok will be available to purchase both physically and digitally in one of four editions: Standard Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, Collector's Edition, and Jotnar Edition. You can see what comes included in each version down below.

Standard Edition — $59.99+

• God of War Ragnarök (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Digital Deluxe Edition — $79.99

• God of War Ragnarök (PlayStation 5)
  • Kratos Darkdale Armor
  • Atreus Darkdale Attire
  • Darkdale Blades Handles
  • Darkdale Axe Grip
  • Official God of War Ragnarök Digital Soundtrack
  • Dark Horse Digital Mini Artbook
  • Avatar Set
  • PlayStation 4 Theme

Collector's Edition — $199.99

• God of War Ragnarök (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5)
• Steelbook Display Case
• 2″ Vanir Twins Carvings
• Dwarven Dice Set
• Knowledge Keeper's Shrine
• 16″ Mjölnir Replica
  • Darkdale Armor
  • Darkdale Axe Grip
  • Darkdale Blades Handles
  • Darkdale Attire
  • Dark Horse Digital Mini Artbook
  • Avatar Set
  • PlayStation 4 Theme
  • Official God of War Ragnarök Digital Soundtrack

Jotnar Edition — $259.99

• God of War Ragnarök (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5)
• Steelbook Display Case
• 2″ Vanir Twins Carvings
• Knowledge Keeper's Shrine
• 16″ Mjölnir Replica
• 7″ Vinyl Record
• Falcon, Bear, and Wolf Pin Set
• Legendary Draupnir Ring
• Brok's Dice Set
• Yggdrasil Cloth Map
  • Darkdale Armor
  • Darkdale Axe Grip
  • Darkdale Blades Handles
  • Darkdale Attire
  • Dark Horse Digital Mini Artbook
  • Avatar Set
  • PlayStation 4 Theme
  • Official God of War Ragnarök Digital Soundtrack

For more updates on God of War, be sure to follow the official social handle here.