Los Angeles, April 1, 2025 – The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as Sony Santa Monica has confirmed that the long-rumored God of War 1 Remake is in the final stages of development and will be available to gamers by the end of 2025. Announced during a PlayStation State of Play event on March 31, 2025, this remake of the 2005 classic promises to bring Kratos’ original journey to a new generation on the PS5, with a PC release to follow in 2026. As one of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises, the God of War series has evolved dramatically over the years, and this remake aims to honor its roots while reimagining the brutal tale of vengeance that first introduced players to the Ghost of Sparta.
The original God of War, released on the PS2, was a groundbreaking action-adventure game that set the standard for cinematic storytelling in gaming. Directed by David Jaffe, it followed Kratos, a Spartan warrior driven by rage, as he sought to destroy the God of War, Ares, after being tricked into killing his own family. The game’s hack-and-slash combat, epic boss battles, and Greek mythology-inspired narrative earned it critical acclaim, selling over 4.6 million copies and spawning a franchise that has since sold over 65 million units worldwide. While the series underwent a soft reboot in 2018 with God of War (PS4), which shifted to Norse mythology and a more emotional, father-son story, fans have long clamored for a proper remake of the first game to bring its visuals and gameplay up to modern standards.
Sony Santa Monica’s announcement has delivered on that wish. The God of War 1 Remake is being rebuilt from the ground up, with a focus on preserving the original’s raw intensity while incorporating the advancements seen in the 2018 reboot and its 2022 sequel, God of War Ragnarök. A teaser trailer showcased during the State of Play event revealed a stunningly reimagined Mount Olympus, with Kratos standing amidst a fiery battlefield, his Blades of Chaos glowing with a fiery intensity. The trailer also hinted at updated combat mechanics, blending the fast-paced, combo-driven style of the original with the weighty, tactical approach of the newer games. Creative director Cory Barlog, who returned to oversee the project, stated in a PlayStation Blog post that the remake aims to “honor the game that started it all while making it accessible and thrilling for today’s players.”
Visually, the remake is a testament to the PS5’s power. Utilizing Unreal Engine 5, the game features fully remodeled environments, from the sun-scorched deserts of the original to the towering architecture of Athens, all rendered with ray-tracing for lifelike lighting and reflections. Character models have been overhauled, with Kratos’ iconic white ash-covered skin and red tattoo brought to life in stunning detail. The trailer’s depiction of the Hydra boss fight—a memorable moment from the 2005 game—showcased the scale and brutality fans can expect, with the PS5’s 3D audio and DualSense controller’s haptic feedback promising to immerse players in every bone-crunching strike. The game will run at 4K resolution with a 60 FPS performance mode, ensuring a smooth and visually spectacular experience.
The God of War 1 Remake also aims to deepen the narrative experience. While the original game was light on character development, focusing more on spectacle, the remake will expand Kratos’ backstory with new dialogue and cutscenes that explore his guilt and rage in greater depth. Voice actor TC Carson, who portrayed Kratos in the original trilogy, returns to reprise his role, bringing a familiar gravitas to the character’s early years. However, some fans on X have expressed mixed feelings about the remake’s approach, with one user noting, “I hope they don’t soften Kratos too much—he was a monster in the first game, and that’s what made him iconic.” Others are thrilled, with posts like, “Kratos on PS5 is going to be insane! 2025 can’t come soon enough!”
Set for release in late 2025, the God of War 1 Remake is poised to be a major event for PlayStation fans. Sony Santa Monica has confirmed that the game will launch exclusively on PS5, with a PC version following in early 2026, following the studio’s recent trend of staggered releases. The remake’s development has reportedly been in progress since 2022, running parallel to Ragnarök’s production, and its completion marks a full-circle moment for the franchise as it approaches its 20th anniversary. As Kratos prepares to wage war on the gods once more, gamers are ready to relive the journey that started it all, now reimagined with the power and polish of a new era.
