PlayStation revealed a surprise 2D God of War spinoff on PS5 and announced a full remake of the original trilogy, with TC Carson reprising the voice of Kratos.
The landscape of PlayStation’s flagship franchise shifted suddenly when Santa Monica Studio and PlayStation revealed two linked projects for fans of Kratos: a surprise-release 2D action platformer and confirmation that the original three games will be rebuilt. The studio reminded the community of the series’ origins, noting that God of War first arrived on PlayStation 2 in March 2005 and that as the franchise approached the final month of its 20th anniversary year in March 2026, they wanted to deliver a meaningful surprise. These twin announcements were presented during PlayStation’s State of Play showcase and featured a familiar voice that ties the present to the series’ past.
The unexpected release, titled God of War: Sons of Sparta, is available now on PS5. Developed by indie studio Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with the writing team from Santa Monica Studio that worked on God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök, the game shifts to a 2D action-platform format. Despite its side-scrolling presentation, the title is billed as canonical: its narrative explores Kratos’ formative years and his training at the Agoge, alongside his brother Deimos. To bridge generations of fans, TC Carson, the actor who voiced Kratos in the original Greek-era games, returns to narrate the story as the adult Kratos.
Alongside the spinoff game, Santa Monica Studio confirmed that the original God of War trilogy is being remade for modern hardware. While details are still sparse and the project is in early development, this announcement acknowledges long-standing fan demand for refreshed versions of the Greek-era entries. A full remake implies a ground-up rebuild—updated visuals, reworked systems, and likely modernized controls—bringing the early chapter of Kratos’ saga in line with current technical standards. The studio framed the remake as a celebration of the series’ legacy and a way to make the original narrative accessible to newcomers who discovered Kratos through later installments.
Sons of Sparta intentionally diverges from the cinematic third-person action that recent entries embraced. The team opted for a 2D action-platformer design, channeling tighter, arcade-influenced combat and platforming while retaining the franchise’s grim mythic tone. The story centers on a young Kratos undergoing the harsh regimen of the Agoge, where his bond and rivalry with Deimos are explored. By positioning the narrative as canonical, Santa Monica Studio signals that this smaller-scale project will still carry weight in the series’ continuity rather than operating as a playful side story or alternate timeline.
One of the most notable ties to the original games is TC Carson’s involvement. Carson, who originally provided Kratos’ voice in the Greek saga, returns to provide the adult Kratos’ narration in Sons of Sparta. This choice emphasizes continuity: the project aims to evoke the atmosphere of the original trilogy even as it experiments with different gameplay. The use of a familiar vocal presence during the State of Play presentation reinforced the message that the remake and the new 2D title are complementary parts of a broader strategy to revisit the franchise’s roots.
Fans reacting to the surprise have split between excitement for the remake and curiosity about how a 2D Kratos tale will fit into the broader canon. Many had lobbied for remasters or remakes of the PS2-era titles for years; Santa Monica’s confirmation of a full trilogy remake directly addresses that demand. At the same time, the immediate availability of Sons of Sparta gives players new content to experience right away, providing a fresh angle on Kratos’ early life. Santa Monica Studio and PlayStation have pledged future updates as development progresses, but have not provided a timeline or release windows for the trilogy remake.
Moving forward, the community will look for technical and design details about the remade trilogy—how faithfully story beats will be preserved, what gameplay systems will be modernized, and whether aesthetic elements will be reinterpreted. For Sons of Sparta, players will be keen on combat depth, level design, and how the narrative integrates with the canonical history of Kratos and Deimos. Announcements and developer diaries will likely arrive in stages, with gameplay reveals and production updates clarifying how these projects fit into PlayStation’s long-term stewardship of the franchise.
Ultimately, the dual reveal—an immediate, playable 2D project and a long-term commitment to rebuild the original trilogy—demonstrates a two-pronged approach: delivering fresh experiences now while honoring and modernizing the series’ foundational entries. Both moves show Santa Monica Studio’s intent to keep Kratos’ story alive for both veteran fans and new players discovering the saga for the first time.