Sony's flagship franchise, God of War, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a surprise new title. This entry travels back to a time before fatherhood and godhood, focusing on the journey of Kratos as a hot-blooded Spartan youth in Greece.

Santa Monica Studio unveiled the new title, God of War: Sons of Sparta, during Sony's State of Play online showcase on the 13th. It features Kratos before his Nordic saga as Atreus's father and before his vengeful crusade against Zeus.

In this title, Kratos undergoes brutal training alongside his brother, Deimos, to emerge as a true Spartan warrior. When a fellow trainee suddenly vanishes, the brothers vow to track them down, sparking an unexpected adventure.

God of War: Sons of Sparta is a 2D action-adventure title that leans heavily into a classic aesthetic. You can expect environmental puzzles and boss fights that push your Spartan training to its limits. Through adversity and cooperation, Kratos and Deimos learn the true meaning of brotherhood and friendship, all while delivering the intense action and cinematic storytelling the series is known for.

Developed by retro-gaming experts Mega Cat Studios with input from the Santa Monica Studio writing team, Grace Orlady, Lead Community Manager, noted, 'God of War: Sons of Sparta, featuring writers who worked on God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök, explores themes of duty, honour, and brotherhood.' She added, 'It adapts the series' dynamic combat for a new genre, where Kratos learns lethal skills with spear and shield while wielding powerful relics, all presented through stunning hand-drawn pixel animation.'

God of War: Sons of Sparta was released on the 13th and officially supports Korean. It is available on the PlayStation Store for 34,800 KRW for the Standard Edition and 44,800 KRW for the Digital Deluxe Edition.

Finally, a remake of the original trilogy detailing Kratos's Greek myth journey has been confirmed. It will be fascinating to see how his desperate quest for vengeance is reimagined. The project is currently in the early stages of development, so expect a bit of a wait for further details.