As God of War approaches its 20th anniversary, significant updates and celebrations have been announced for the beloved franchise. The gaming community has been buzzing with news about new DLC, anniversary events, and rumors about future projects. We provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the God of War universe as of March 2025.
20th Anniversary Celebrations
God of War will officially turn 20 years old next week, marking two decades since the franchise first launched in 2005. To commemorate this milestone, Sony and Santa Monica Studio have organized several celebratory events and releases. The centerpiece of these celebrations is an exhibition at Gallery Nucleus in California, running from March 15 to March 23, 20255. This exhibition will showcase artistic works celebrating God of War’s rich history.
The anniversary celebration also includes special panels featuring prominent voice actors from the franchise. These panels will bring together cast members from both the Greek and Norse saga eras, including T.C. Carson and Christopher Judge (who both portrayed Kratos) and Danielle Bisutti (who played Freya). Santa Monica Studio has organized this event to reflect on the past two decades of the series.
However, it’s worth noting that the developers have explicitly stated that “there are no planned announcements” at these celebratory panels. This clarification was made to manage fan expectations, particularly amid ongoing rumors about potential new projects or remasters.
Dark Odyssey Collection DLC
One of the most significant recent announcements is the upcoming “Dark Odyssey Collection” DLC for God of War Ragnarök. This free update is scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations. The DLC will be available to all owners of God of War Ragnarök on PlayStation 5 and PC at no additional cost.
The Dark Odyssey Collection includes a suite of cosmetic items that give Kratos and his companions a distinctive black-and-gold aesthetic. The highlight of this collection is the Dark Odyssey armor and appearance set for Kratos, which pays homage to a classic skin that was previously only available to players who completed God of War 2 on the challenging God Mode difficulty.
The complete Dark Odyssey Collection includes:
- Dark Odyssey Kratos Appearance and Armor Set (Breastplate, Bracers, Belt)
- Dark Odyssey companion outfits for Atreus and Freya
- Cosmetic appearances for Kratos’s weapons (Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, Draupnir Spear) and their attachments
Additionally, the update will introduce a highly anticipated feature allowing players to customize their weapons’ appearances without affecting their in-game attributes. This update represents a significant quality-of-life improvement that fans have been requesting.
Game Updates and Promotional Offers
In conjunction with the anniversary celebrations, Sony has launched several promotional offers for the God of War franchise. There is currently a sale on God of War and God of War Ragnarök on Steam running until March 20, 2025. Furthermore, both games are available at no additional cost to subscribers of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers.
Players across platforms will also receive additional digital items as part of the celebration. These include Steam Points Shop anniversary items and a free PlayStation Network avatar for both PC and PS5 players, releasing alongside the Dark Odyssey Collection on March 20.
Earlier this year, in January 2025, God of War Ragnarok received a significant update that added new features to the popular action game. Additionally, in February 2025, God of War Ragnarok received a free update that included PS5 Pro enhancements and implemented features previously only available in the PC port.
Merchandise and Collectibles
For collectors and dedicated fans, Sony has announced various physical merchandise tied to the 20th anniversary. These include:
- Vinyl releases ranging from a comprehensive 13-disc vinyl set to individual LP sets for each game in the original trilogy
- New art prints featuring iconic scenes from the franchise
- A Jörmungandr plush toy
- A God of War 20th Anniversary Retrospective book
These collectibles offer fans tangible ways to celebrate and commemorate the franchise’s legacy beyond the digital realm.
Rumors and Future Projects
The God of War community has been abuzz with rumors about potential future projects, though many remain unconfirmed. Several insider reports have fueled speculation about a possible remastered collection of the original God of War Greek saga. According to rumors circulating in early 2025, this remaster announcement could be happening soon, though no official confirmation has been provided.
Regarding future main entries in the series, there are conflicting reports. One notable insider has claimed that the next God of War game might be a prequel rather than continuing into a new pantheon following the Norse saga. However, other sources indicate that Santa Monica Studio’s next big project, led by Cory Balrog, will not be a God of War title but rather a new science fiction IP. This new project has been described by film director Duncan Jones as potentially surpassing God of War as Balrog’s magnum opus.
In disappointing news for some fans, reports from January 2025 indicated that an unannounced live-service God of War game had been canceled. This project was allegedly in development by Bluepoint, the studio known for the Demon’s Souls remake. This cancellation occurred alongside the reported scrapping of another unannounced live-service title from Bend Studio, the developers of Days Gone.
Studio Changes and Personnel Updates
Recent months have seen several personnel changes within the God of War development ecosystem. The former God of War Art Director has joined Naughty Dog following the closure of Netflix’s AAA gaming studio earlier this year. This transition represents significant talent movement within Sony’s first-party studios.
On a positive note, several voice actors have expressed interest in returning to the franchise. Danielle Bisutti, who portrayed Freya, has publicly stated that she would be “more than happy” to return for a standalone God of War spin-off centered around her character. Additionally, Sunny Suljic, the actor who portrays Atreus, revealed that he modified his performance in God of War Ragnarok based on feedback from fans of the previous game, demonstrating the collaborative relationship between the development team and the community.
Conclusion
As God of War celebrates its 20th anniversary, the franchise continues to evolve while honoring its legacy. The upcoming Dark Odyssey Collection DLC represents Santa Monica Studio’s commitment to providing new content for existing games, while the anniversary celebrations offer fans multiple ways to engage with the franchise’s rich history.
Although no new game announcements are explicitly planned for the immediate anniversary events, the persistent rumors about remasters and potential new directions suggest that the future remains bright for the God of War franchise. Whether the next project will be a prequel, a remaster of classic titles, or something entirely new remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Sony considers God of War one of its flagship franchises heading into the latter half of the 2020s.
For now, fans can look forward to the Dark Odyssey Collection on March 20 and the ongoing anniversary celebrations as they anticipate what the next chapter might hold for Kratos and the world of God of War.
