God Of War Ragnarok Release Date, Gameplay, And CG Trailer - What We Know So Far

Since its debut in 2005, the Santa Monica Studio-developed "God of War" series has been a flagship franchise for the Sony brand. Having earned praise for its groundbreaking visuals, combat, story, characters, and the various mythologies that have been included within it, the internet is abuzz every time a new game is revealed. "God of War Ragnarok" was announced back in September 2020, and this same kind of hype train has followed, which has led to it winning Most Anticipated at both the Golden Joystick and PlayStation Blog awards.

With fans of the series eager to play the next chapter of Kratos' journey, information has been slowly trickling out regarding "God of War Ragnarok" and what can be expected from it. As in 2018's "God of War," Kratos will be joined by his son Atreus as the two battle in Aesir as Ragnarok — this universe's equivalent to the Apocalypse — is set to commence. But what are the greater details surrounding the game and what can the series' hardcore fans expect in this new journey? Here's everything we currently know about "God of War Ragnarok."

When it was first revealed, information regarding the release window of "God of War Ragnarok" was mostly vague with Sony saying that the game was likely due out for release sometime in 2022. Sure enough, Sony has confirmed that "God of War Ragnarok" will be released to the public on November 9, 2022. In line with previous releases in the series, the game will be a Sony exclusive and will release solely for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Pre-orders for "God of War Ragnarok" will go live on July 15 at 10:00 AM (EST) and will provide players with exclusive launch content.

In addition to the standard base edition of the game, "God of War Ragnarok" will also have three special editions that players can pre-order for additional content and perks. One such edition is the "Digital Deluxe Edition" which comes with unlockable cosmetics, the original soundtrack, an avatar set, and the "PlayStation 4 theme." The "Collector's Edition" comes with the aforementioned perks, as well as several physical items that might appeal to "God of War" fans, such as carvings, a steelbook display case, a dice set, and even a 16" Mjölnir replica. The ultimate tier is the "Jötnar Edition" which includes everything previously listed, as well as a 7-inch vinyl record, pin set, an additional dice set, and much more.

The core gameplay mechanics in "God of War" have always revolved around hard-hitting combat and epic cinematic moments. Judging by the three-minute gameplay trailer that was released in September 2021, "God of War Ragnarok" stands to only double down on the chaos. In the trailer, free flowing combat is shown as Kratos pillages large groups of enemies with a variety of his signature weapons, including what appears to be a flaming Blade of Chaos, axes, shields, and other blunt instruments.

As in 2018's soft reboot "God of War," Kratos will be accompanied by his son Atreus. In the preceding title, players have only been able to order Kratos' son to launch attacks against enemies. Whether or not his role within the gameplay will be expanded upon in "Ragnarok" remains to be seen. Regardless of if fans are intrigued or even annoyed by Atreus and his arc up to this point, most players would surely relish the chance to play as the son of one of the most fierce warriors in gaming history and see if his pedigree has served him well.

Coinciding with the unveiling of the game's release date, Sony Interactive Entertainment also released a CG trailer to showcase some of the intricate story beats that "God of War Ragnarok" will feature. The trailer heavily focused on the relationship between Kratos and his son Atreus as they take on hordes of enemies in Aesir, both on a plateau and in a snow-covered forest. The father-son duo easily dispatch of their adversaries before they are joined side-by-side as a more treacherous enemy approaches — a giant wolf god named Fenrir, whose mission is to kill Odin.

On top of the action, interchanging dialogue of Kratos and Atreus can be heard. The two give a motivating speech about not being alone, even when faced with extreme adversity and challenges. Given Kratos' history as a lone wolf type for the better part of the "God of War" series, to see him battling with his son is sure to be a feel-good sight for most fans.