Sony just pulled off a massive surprise at their February 12, 2026 PlayStation State of Play event—and God of War fans have every reason to celebrate. Not only did they shadow drop a brand-new God of War Metroidvania available right now, but they also confirmed the long-rumored Greek Trilogy remake is officially happening.
A 20th Anniversary Celebration Like No Other
After nearly four years of silence since God of War Ragnarök, Santa Monica Studio is celebrating the franchise’s 20th anniversary by doing something completely unexpected—looking backward while fans wait for the next mainline entry. This dual announcement marks one of PlayStation’s boldest moves in recent memory, combining an experimental indie-style release with a commitment to preserve the series’ legacy.
“We’ve taken some big swings over the years in an effort to keep God of War exciting, surprising, and satisfying for players to enjoy,” Santa Monica Studio stated during the reveal. “We’re grateful to every single person who has joined us on that journey—you have made it possible to keep evolving this series and bring unexpected passion projects like Sons of Sparta to life.”
What’s Launching Today: God of War: Sons of Sparta
God of War: Sons of Sparta is available immediately on PS5, and it’s taking the franchise in a direction nobody saw coming. This isn’t your typical God of War experience—it’s a 2.5D Metroidvania with gorgeous hand-drawn pixel art that reimagines Kratos’ earliest days as a Spartan warrior.
Key Details About Sons of Sparta:
The Story: Set during Kratos’ harsh training at the Agoge (Spartan military academy), you’ll play as a young Kratos alongside his brother Deimos in a canon story that explores one of Kratos’ earliest adventures. This is the brother-bonding tale we’ve never seen before, focusing on duty, honor, and brotherhood before Kratos became the Ghost of Sparta.
Combat & Gameplay: God of War’s signature kinetic combat has found a new home in the Metroidvania genre. Kratos primarily uses his spear and shield, learning deadly skills as you progress. The game introduces powerful divine artifacts called the Gifts of Olympus that grant special abilities to take on a wide array of foes—both iconic enemies from the original trilogy recreated in 2D and brand-new creatures inspired by untapped facets of Greek mythology.
Developer: Mega Cat Studios, specialists in retro-style games, handled development in partnership with Santa Monica Studio. The writing team from God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök crafted the narrative.
Visual Style: This isn’t basic retro pixel art—Sons of Sparta features stunning hand-drawn pixel animation that brings Greek mythology to life in 2D with a level of detail and artistry that goes beyond typical throwback aesthetics.
Price:
- Standard Edition: $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99
- Digital Deluxe Edition: $39.99 / €39.99 / £32.99
Rating: Rated T for Teen (less intense than the typically M-rated mainline games, thanks to the pixel art style)
Digital Deluxe Edition Includes:
- Exclusive in-game bonus items
- Digital Artbook showcasing the hand-drawn pixel art
- Digital Soundtrack
- Young Kratos PlayStation Network avatar
Get God of War: Sons of Sparta on PlayStation Store →
The Original Voice of Kratos Returns
Here’s the nostalgia kicker that has longtime fans emotional—TC Carson, the original voice of Kratos from the classic Greek trilogy (2005-2010), returns to voice the character for the first time in over a decade. While Christopher Judge has brilliantly portrayed the older, wiser Norse-era Kratos since 2018, hearing Carson’s iconic voice as the narrator brings the story full circle.
“From the writing team at Santa Monica Studio that brought you God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök, Sons of Sparta is a tale of duty, honor, and brotherhood featuring TC Carson who reprises his role the first time in over a decade as the adult version of Kratos, our story’s narrator,” the studio confirmed.
For fans who grew up with Carson’s raw, rage-filled performance in the original trilogy, this is a powerful callback to the franchise’s roots.
God of War Greek Trilogy Remake: What We Know
The bigger long-term announcement? Santa Monica Studio has officially started development on a God of War Greek Trilogy remake, bringing back the original games that started it all—and TC Carson is confirmed to return as the voice of Kratos.
Key Details About the Greek Trilogy Remake:
Development Status: Don’t get too excited yet—this project is in the very early stages of development. Santa Monica Studio is asking for patience, promising that when they do share more information, “we aim to make it a big one!”
TC Carson Confirmed: “We’re thrilled to confirm that the original God of War trilogy is being remade—and what better way to announce it than with the legendary TC Carson who brought Kratos to life in the Greek saga,” the studio announced.
Fan-Driven Decision: Santa Monica directly acknowledged this remake exists because of overwhelming fan demand. “We know that remaking the Greek saga has been a frequent request—the genuine, passionate interest from fans to see the original games return is something we’re very thankful for and can’t wait to share more when the time comes!”
Format Unclear: We don’t know yet if all three games will be remade individually or condensed into one epic experience. Sony hasn’t revealed whether they’ll be sold separately or as a collection.
Gameplay Approach TBD: The million-dollar question: Will they preserve the classic fixed-camera hack-and-slash style that defined the originals, or convert everything to the modern over-the-shoulder perspective like 2018’s God of War and Ragnarök? That decision will fundamentally change how these games feel.
The Original Greek Trilogy Includes:
- God of War (2005) – The revenge story that started it all
- God of War II (2007) – Kratos battles the Olympian gods
- God of War III (2010) – The epic conclusion to the Greek saga
These games are beloved for their intense action, epic boss battles (Kronos, Poseidon, Zeus), and the raw, unbridled fury of Kratos as he tears through Greek mythology. The trilogy established God of War as one of PlayStation’s flagship franchises and set a new standard for action games.
Why This Experimental Approach Matters
God of War remains one of Sony’s biggest franchises, and for good reason. The series has successfully evolved from pure action spectacle to emotionally complex storytelling without losing what made it special. While many fans assumed the next game would continue after God of War Ragnarök’s events, Sony is instead exploring two very different directions simultaneously.
What Makes Sons of Sparta Unique:
Unlike most AAA spin-offs, this is a genuine experiment—a major franchise diving into the indie Metroidvania space with a modest $30 price point. It’s more comparable to what Ubisoft did with Rayman or Nintendo with smaller Mario spin-offs than typical big-budget expansions.
This also isn’t God of War’s first departure from 3D action. The series had a mobile game (God of War: Betrayal) in 2007, but Sons of Sparta represents a far more ambitious creative swing—a fully-realized Metroidvania that respects both genres.
The State of the Franchise:
Available Now:
- God of War: Sons of Sparta offers a nostalgic, experimental take on the franchise you can play immediately
Coming Eventually (Years Away):
- The Greek Trilogy remake promises to reintroduce classic Kratos to modern audiences
Unknown Timeline:
- The main series continuation after Ragnarök? Probably still happening, but Sony has given no official word yet
What to Expect From Sons of Sparta
Since Sony shadow dropped this game with no advance review copies, the community is still forming opinions. Here’s what we know about the gameplay experience:
Metroidvania Elements:
- Interconnected world design with areas that unlock as you gain new abilities
- Backtracking encouraged as you acquire Gifts of Olympus
- Exploration-focused progression alongside combat
Combat System:
- Spear and shield-based combat (predating Kratos’ iconic Blades of Chaos)
- Combo system adapted for 2D side-scrolling
- Divine artifacts that grant special powers
- Enemy variety mixing classic God of War creatures with new Greek mythology-inspired foes
Accessibility:
At a T rating instead of M, this is technically the most family-friendly God of War game ever made—though it still features combat and mythological violence, just presented in pixel art form.
God of War’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
Sons of Sparta is part of a broader celebration of the franchise’s 20th anniversary. Sony has been honoring the series throughout 2025-2026 with:
- Special merchandise releases
- Art gallery exhibitions showcasing concept art and development materials
- A limited edition 20th anniversary DualSense controller (released October 2025)
- Behind-the-scenes documentary content
- And now, two game announcements that honor both the past and future
The timing explains why Sony is simultaneously looking backward (remake) and experimenting (Metroidvania)—it’s about celebrating two decades of one of gaming’s most influential franchises.
Early Community Reaction
The gaming community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans praising Sony for:
- Taking creative risks with a major IP
- Bringing back TC Carson
- Actually listening to fan requests for the trilogy remake
- Keeping the price point accessible at $29.99
- Shadow dropping without the usual months-long hype cycle
The main question fans are asking: How long will Sons of Sparta be? At $30, expectations are for a 6-10 hour experience, but Sony hasn’t officially confirmed the game’s length yet.
How to Play Right Now
God of War: Sons of Sparta is available exclusively on PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Store. Simply search for “God of War: Sons of Sparta” or navigate to the New Releases section.
The game does not require PlayStation Plus to play, and both the Standard and Digital Deluxe editions are available for immediate download.
System Requirements:
- Platform: PlayStation 5 (PS5 exclusive)
- File Size: [Check PlayStation Store for current size]
- Internet connection required for download
- No physical edition announced
The Bottom Line
God of War fans are eating well in 2026. Whether you want to experience a brand-new experimental take on the franchise today or you’re excited to eventually replay the classics in modern form, Santa Monica Studio has delivered on both fronts.
Sons of Sparta represents the kind of creative risk-taking that keeps franchises fresh. It’s a $30 passion project that could have easily been a $70 full-price release if Sony had played it safe. Instead, they’ve created something genuinely surprising—a retro-styled Metroidvania starring young Kratos that honors the series’ roots while exploring entirely new gameplay territory.
The Greek Trilogy remake, meanwhile, is the safe bet that will undoubtedly sell millions when it eventually releases (likely 2027-2028 at the earliest, given the “very early development” status).
Since Sons of Sparta just dropped with zero advance warning and no reviews, it’ll be fascinating to see how the community reacts over the coming days. Either way, God of War fans have plenty to celebrate—both right now and in the future.
Have you downloaded Sons of Sparta yet? What are your thoughts on the Metroidvania format for God of War? Share your reactions in the comments below.
God of War: Sons of Sparta is available now exclusively on PlayStation 5 for $29.99.
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