When is god of war ragnarok coming out ps4

 Videogamer.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Last updated on 2022-12-22 

Now that God of War Ragnarök is out on both PS4 and PS5, you might be wondering how good the game is looking on Sony's previous generation console.

Advertisement

The PS5 console is easier than ever to buy at the moment in terms of availability — there are PS5 bundles including God of War Ragnarök available on Amazon right now (in fact, at the time of writing) — but still, not everyone will be able to afford that investment in the current climate.

The PS4 sold hundreds of millions of units and lots of players are still using theirs, so how good is the PlayStation 4 version of God of War Ragnarök? Read on to find out!

Is God of War Ragnarök on PS4?

Yes, God of War Ragnarök is out now on PS4. Players who haven't already picked up some PS5 stock will be very glad to hear that.

You can order God of War Ragnarök on PS4 from retailers such as GAME and Amazon, or you could just order it directly on the console's built-in store.

Get the best of RadioTimes.com sent to your inbox. You'll never miss a thing...

Sign up to be the first to know about breaking stories and new series!

Email address

Sign Up

By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

How does God of War Ragnarök run on PS4?

If you've played a big new game on your PS4 in the last few years (The Last of Us Part 2 is one that comes to mind here), you might be wondering if God of War Ragnarök will make your trusty old console sound like it's about to explode due to overexertion.

We haven't been able to play Ragnarök on PS4 ourselves, given that our PS4 was traded off to CeX a while back, but we were pleasantly surprised to hear that it "looks and performs stupendously on the base PlayStation 4", according to a report from The Washington Post.

The article adds: "The image is sharp and crisp, especially with incredible high dynamic range color application. Even during its busiest action sequences, my eye was not able to perceive significant frame drops."

Do expect some noise from the older console, though. The report notes that "the PS4 fans will kick into overdrive for much of the game. I tested the game on a PS4 slim model [...] the fan was audible from a few feet away."

If you are planning to play on PS4, another thing to expect is loading time increases. The report states: "On PlayStation 4, loading into a save took about 50 seconds, as opposed to the mere handful of seconds on PlayStation 5."

More like this

Now that the game is out, graphics comparison videos have started doing the rounds online as well. The one below is worth checking out as it does side-by-side shots of the PS5, the PS4 and the PS4 Pro. Take a look below to see what you're in for!

As with the 2018 God of War game, you'll notice that all the loading should be hidden away once you're actually into a game, which remains a very nice touch. (We suspect that the travel between realms segments might take a bit longer on PS4, but that's not much of a price to pay.) And so, the end is not yet nigh for the PS4. There's life in the old dog yet.

Latest deals

Read more on God of War:

  • God of War Ragnarok review - our final verdict
  • God of War Ragnarok cast - all voice actors
  • God of War Ragnarok New Game Plus - when could it come?
  • God of War Ragnarok chapters - are you near the end?
  • God of War Ragnarok trophy guide - get the platinum
  • God of War Ragnarok ending explained - is there a secret scene?
  • God of War Ragnarok play time - how many hours?
  • How tall is Thor in God of War Ragnarok?
  • How old is Kratos in God of War Ragnarok?
  • When will God of War Ragnarok come to PC?
  • God of War PC review - is it worth playing?
  • God of War PC requirements - all the specs you need
  • God of War PC controls - full list of key bindings
  • God of War games in order - play them all

Hungry for more gaming? Visit our video game release schedule, or swing by our hubs for more Gaming and Technology news.

Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide.

Advertisement

The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.

God of War Ragnarök is only a few short weeks away. The follow-up to Polygon’s 2018 Game of the Year promises to be one of the biggest games of 2022, and yet much of it is still shrouded in mystery.

Still, for all we don’t know about Ragnarök, there’s at least some info we do know. Since announcing the game in 2020, PlayStation and Santa Monica Studio — the developer behind the series — have revealed some major details over the course of a years-long drip feed. We’re going to walk you through everything we know about the latest God of War entry, from its release date, to its story, to the ways in which it’ll revitalize its crunchy, much-beloved combat.

[Spoiler warning: This post contains spoilers for the end of the God of War (2018)]

It’s coming out this November

God of War Ragnarök will launch on Nov. 9 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Santa Monica Studio announced in early October that the game had gone “gold,” essentially meaning the game is mostly complete and that manufacturers are able to start printing hardcopy discs.

With previews out for the first few hours, the Washington Post has also reported that the game “runs beautifully on PS4,” which should be encouraging if you haven’t nabbed a PlayStation 5 just yet.

New and old faces abound

Kratos and Atreus — the father-son duo that anchored the 2018 reboot — are, of course, back for the sequel. They’ll be assisted once again by Mimir (the talking head who also happens to be the world’s smartest man) as well as the Huldra brothers, Brok and Sindri. Freya will be taking her villain turn in Ragnarök, due to the fact that Kratos killed her son, Baldur, in the first game.

Ragnarok will also see the addition of several new characters, many of which we heard tale of in the original game. Thor and Odin will be major antagonists for Kratos in the upcoming sequel, and are presumably also pissed at Kratos for killing their kin, Baldur (as well as Thor’s idiot sons, Magni and Modi).

To face Odin and Thor, Kratos and Atreus will gather some new allies as well, like Tyr, the Norse god of war. Angrboda, a fire giant who is also the mother of Loki’s children in traditional Norse myth, will play a big role in Ragnarök as well.

The game is all about fate

God of War (2018) ended with an ominous mural in Jotunheim that depicted Kratos’ death. But the marketing for God of War Ragnarök has focused heavily on how one can escape one’s fate, and if such a thing is even possible. This seems to play into that idea that Ragnarök — the Norse apocalypse — will not happen in the same way it does in the old myth (although it is beginning with Baldur’s death and Fimblewinter, just like the story).

In a way, Kratos has already shifted the prophecy with his presence. There is no Kratos-like figure in the myth of Ragnarok, so whatever role he has to play is something we can’t fully understand. And Atreus’ fate has already shifted slightly from the wall in Jotunheim, as it only refers to him as Loki, the name his giant mother wanted to call him.

The question is whether the pair can shift fate so much that they not only avoid Kratos’ death, but the destruction of all nine realms due to Ragnarok.

You’ll visit all 9 Norse realms

Speaking of the nine realms, you’ll be able to visit all of them in God of War Ragnarök. In God of War (2018), Kratos and Atreus were able to travel to and explore Alfheim, Helheim, and Midgard. Muspelheim and Niflheim were explorable, but were mostly used for the arena and roguelite mini-games respectively. Jotunheim was also in the first game, but only briefly at the end in a completely linear sequence.

Santa Monica Studio confirmed that not only will you have reasons to return to the realms you’ve already been, but that you’ll also travel to Asgard, Svartalfheim, and Vanaheim in Ragnarök. It’s currently unclear if Muspelheim and Niflheim will be fully explorable this time around, or if they’ll have new versions of their old mini-games.

Related

God of War Ragnarök pre-order guide

The single camera shot returns

One of the most memorable aspects of God of War (2018) is its single-shot camera, which never cuts away from the game — even for its loading screens. This feature is coming back in Ragnarök, and the camera will follow our heroes in much the same way.

Cory Barlog isn’t directing it

Cory Barlog, the director of God of War 2 and God of War (2018), is taking on an advisory role for God of War Ragnarök. The game is instead being directed by God of War veteran Eric Williams, who has worked on every previous God of War game (including 2018) in some capacity.

If you loved God of War (2018) and the director shift is making you nervous, don’t panic. All God of War games shift directors. In the franchise’s near 20-year history, Barlog is the only person to direct two games in the franchise. In an interview with IGN, Barlog even credits Williams with helping him determine how much of the original trilogy’ DNA should carry forward into the Norse era.

Combat is more aerial this time around

Compared to the original God of War trilogy, combat was far more methodical in God of War (2018). Kratos was still a spinning blade of death, but one that was planted firmly on the ground. That seems to be changing a bit in Ragnarök. It doesn’t appear that Kratos will be getting his old jump button back, but there are several new Ragnarök clips that feature Kratos grappling onto platforms with his Blades of Chaos and vaulting off of platforms into a group of enemies.

We won’t know the full extent of Kratos’ new abilities until the game is out, but it seems safe to say that mobility is going to be a much bigger part of his arsenal this time around.

It will probably come to PC (eventually)

God of War Ragnarök will launch on both PS4 and PS5, so if you’re a God of War (2018) player who hasn’t upgraded to the most recent generation of console yet, don’t worry.

If history is any indication, the game will also likely come to PC, as the 2018 game launched on Steam earlier this year. However, Sony hasn’t announced a release date for the PC version of Ragnarök, and the publisher typically waits several years before bringing its big exclusives to the PC audience. Don’t expect a PC version until at least the summer of 2023, although we’d wager it’ll probably be more like early 2024.

It’s the capstone to God of War’s Norse saga

Earlier this year, Barlog and Williams confirmed that God of War Ragnarök will end the Norse saga of the franchise, making this era a duology, and setting it apart from the franchise’s Greek trilogy.

It’s currently unclear what this means for God of War as a franchise, but it seems unlikely that this is the last time we’ll ever see a God of War game out of Santa Monica Studio. Whether the legacy continues with Kratos at the helm is another question entirely, but God of War (2018) already teased that other realms and pantheons — Egyptian, Japanese, and Celtic to be specific — exist in this world.

With Kratos’ knack for finding evil and corrupt gods, we’re willing to bet he’ll be back to face another culture’s deities eventually.

Photo mode is coming at a later date

Who doesn’t love taking goofy pictures with a god and his Boy? Well if you said “everyone loves that!” aloud while reading this, then you’re going to be a little disappointed. Santa Monica Studio confirmed that, while a photo mode is in the works, it won’t be available when the game comes out this November, and will get added to the game after launch.

If you’re into digital photography, it might be a good idea to make a few different save files so that you can pop back to specific moments and get some great shots from key narrative points.

The first few hours feel like a God of War (2018) expansion

Now that we’ve played the first seven hours or so, it’s clear that God of War Ragnarök is very much in line with its predecessor. At least in the early hours, it feels more like an expansion than a full-fledged sequel.

To be clear, this isn’t a bad thing. God of War (2018) is one of the best games ever made, and spending more time in that world and with those characters is extremely welcome. But it’s worth knowing that this isn’t going to feel like the jump from God of War 3 to God of War (2018) — at least not at the outset.

As the game goes on, Santa Monica Studio could absolutely make some major changes that we’re not expecting. But for now, it’s an excellent — albeit a little safe — sequel to God of War (2018).

God of War Ragnarök guides and walkthroughs

  • Beginner’s guides 4

    • 13 tips to know before playing God of War Ragnarök
    • PSA: God of War Ragnarök is mean to animals
    • God of War Ragnarök tech analysis: Which visual mode should you play?
    • The accessibility settings you should try from the start

  • 100% completion guides 5

    • God of War Ragnarök Svartalfheim 100% completion guide
    • God of War Ragnarök Alfheim 100% completion guide
    • God of War Ragnarök Vanaheim collectibles guide
    • God of War Ragnarök Midgard 100% completion guide
    • Full God of War Ragnarök trophy list

  • All collectibles guides 4

    • Where to find every Odin’s Raven
    • Where to find every Artifact
    • Where to find every Nornir Chest
    • God of War Ragnarök’s best armor (and where to get it)

  • Explainers 5

    • Don’t sleep on God of War Ragnarök’s powerful mod tokens
    • Should you go to Alfheim or Niflheim first?
    • Can you turn off Atreus and Mimir’s puzzle hints?
    • Where to find the second Muspelheim seed
    • How to change the look of Kratos’ armor

  • Side quests 2

    • God of War Ragarnök’s first great side quest is easy to miss
    • Why it’s worth finding the Wishing Well

  • Story guides 4

    • The God of War plot up to God of War Ragnarök
    • God of War Ragnarök full chapter list and story progress
    • How God of War Ragnarök’s characters compare to actual Norse myth
    • God of War Ragarnök full casting list

Sign up for the newsletter Patch Notes

A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon

Just one more thing!

Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity.

Email (required)

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. You can opt out at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Will the God of War Ragnarok game be on PS4?

Our return to Midgard and the rest of the nine realms is nearly here. God of War Ragnarök launches on PS5 and PS4 on November 9, and I've had the lucky opportunity to scout ahead and go hands on with the PS5 version of Kratos and Atreus' continuing journey. No big story spoilers lie ahead […]

Is God of War Ragnarok the last PS4 game?

Head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst has hinted that Sony will continue to support cross-gen games across PS4 and PS5.

Is God of War Ragnarok PS4 exclusive?

God of War Ragnarok is available on PS4 as well as PS5, and you can even upgrade your game if you later switch to a PS5.

What month is God of War Ragnarok coming out?

The God of War Ragnarök release date is Wednesday 9th November 2022, the developers have confirmed. You can order your copy from the likes of GAME. This winter release date was revealed on the same day as the 'Father and Son' CGI trailer, which you can take a look at below!