God of War Remaster & 20th Anniversary Celebration Update

Sony Santa Monica is celebrating God of War's 20th Anniversary in grand fashion, but everyone has one question on their minds: is a remaster of the first God of War in development? While the studio has only formally announced a special art exhibit and some limited-time merchandise, speculation is running wild within the gaming community.

Since its initial release in 2005, God of War has been among the best-selling video game franchises, revolutionizing action-adventure storytelling through visceral combat and rich storytelling. Kratos' growth from a vengeful Spartan warrior to a rich, tragic figure has attracted millions. With God of War (2018) and Ragnarök propelling the brand to new levels, many are looking forward to reliving Kratos' origin with contemporary refinements.

Sony Santa Monica announced a memorial of God of War 20th-anniversary art exhibit featuring unseen artwork and concept pieces from the series. It is a decent way to celebrate the milestone, but others take this as a subtle hint towards a remastered compilation of the original titles.

The gaming community is abuzz with speculations. Some believe that the art show is just the start and that there might be a PlayStation 5 remake of God of War (2005) or perhaps even a God of War Greek Saga Collection in the works. Others remind us that Sony has a track record of releasing remastered classics (The Last of Us Part I, Demon's Souls), so a God of War rebirth would be an inevitability.

While Sony Santa Monica has been tight-lipped, the company has hinted "at more surprises ahead". This cryptic hint has only fueled suspense.  Looking at how other big franchises, including Resident Evil and Final Fantasy, have successfully reimagined older games, a God of War remake looks like an organic step.

Some of the most popular game series have celebrated their anniversaries with something greater than just art exhibits. Resident Evil released sweeping remakes of its classic titles, Final Fantasy VII received a full remake, and The Legend of Zelda tends to commemorate with better editions. If Sony Santa Monica wants to keep that pace of commemoration, a teaser for a remaster would be the perfect way to celebrate Kratos' twenty-year career.

Though there has not been an official remaster yet, the God of War fan community holds on to hope.  With Sony Santa Monica assuring us that there are more surprises in store, Kratos' classic adventures will likely make a comeback with refreshed graphics and gameplay or perhaps the next God of War Game will feature Calliope, Kratos' Daughter.

Fans will be eagerly waiting to find out whether it's a remake, a straightforward remaster, or perhaps something entirely new. Could we soon see Kratos' origins in glorious 4K? Only time will tell, but the twentieth anniversary already feels like just the beginning.