A new Developer Experience Series featuring perspectives from devs at Santa Monica Studio, EA Sports, and Bungie highlights game-specific ways to optimize gameplay with the DualSense Edge wireless controller. From adjusting trigger heights to rapidly blitz on the pitch in FIFA 23 to modifying back buttons for seamless weapon toggling in God of War Ragnarök, here’s a look into how you can make the DualSense Edge wireless controller work for your style of play.

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God of War Ragnarök

Developer: Santa Monica Studio

In God of War, you’re hitting the triggers a lot because that’s where your primary attacks and aiming are, so I ended up using the low stops for the triggers to make them feel more like regular buttons.
Jason McDonald, Design Director, Santa Monica Studio

In God of War Ragnarök, you want to move the character fairly quickly, especially in the middle of combat, so the left analog stick I set to the Quick setting, and I did the inverse of that on the right analog stick, which is used for camera movement, aiming, etc.
Mihir Sheth, Lead Combat Designer, Santa Monica Studio

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FIFA 23

Developer: EA Sports

The DualSense Edge wireless controller enables FIFA/FC players to personalize their FIFA/FC experience further, focusing on what matters more to them regarding the controller. Some players prefer their right stick to be perfectly precise for Skill Moves, while others favor a specific sensitivity when Switching. Some players will want to remap controls at a system level to suit their preferences. In contrast, others will be delighted with the ability to have a quicker-to-activate Sprint by adjusting the length of the triggers.

The DualSense Edge controller helped my defending game tremendously, as I can more easily keep Running Jockey active (L2 + R2) while activating Teammate Contain or player Switching by using the new back buttons (as L1 and R1). Having extra buttons on the back of the controller and personalizing them with the command you want can become invaluable when playing a decisive FUT Champions match or a rival derby in Career Mode.
Thomas Caleffi, Gameplay Producer, EA Sports

Among the most useful features that make the DualSense Edge controller stand out and particularly suitable for FC enthusiasts are its adaptive triggers and back buttons, which enable players to have faster reactions and play smarter on the pitch by swiftly switching between different team tactics or changing the team mentality without having to take their thumbs off the sticks. In addition to that, having the option to remap any button to match your preferences and adjust the sensitivity of the triggers will give FC fans more control and customization over their gameplay experience. It is certainly a more enjoyable and improved experience.
Danillo Abreu, Game Designer, EA Sports

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Destiny 2

Developer: Bungie

The DualSense Edge Controller has been amazing for letting me dig in deeper with Destiny 2’s pinnacle activities across both PvP and PvE! I’ve currently got two primary configurations I bounce between for Trials of Osiris and Raids – and, I’ve got a matching in-game loadout to compliment each one. Being able to seamlessly swap between the needs of Destiny 2’s pinnacle activities both in-game and out of game has been a game changer!
Andy Salisbury, Senior Social Media Manager, Bungie

As a massive fan of PvP modes in Destiny 2 like Iron Banner and Scorched, the ability to map my desired controller settings makes it really easy to tailor to my specific playstyle. If I’m going into Scorched, I want chaos. Being able to charge up this mode’s explode-y goodness and then mapping out exactly how I let that fire rain from above using the switchable back options is a blast. It keeps me in the flow, keeps me out of my head, and lets me enjoy the total mayhem that always ensues when taking this mode head-on. With the different options to both the front-side and back-side of the controller, it’s a more personalized experience and that personalization means more ways for everyone to play.
Liana Rupert, Community Manager, Bungie

Without our amazing QA team, both God of War Ragnarök and NG+ would not have been possible. Not only do they have incredible game knowledge, but our QA folks are also some of the most creative when it comes to coming up with unique playstyles.  

We went to a selection of our top combat specialists in QA to get their favorite builds that are now possible with NG+, scratching just the surface of the many powerful combinations that can be made with this update!

Can’t Touch This

Build by: Wilson Santiago, QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Glass cannon playstyle
• High mobility and damage output
• Last-second evades/counters
• Realm Shifts

This set-up will let you dance around your enemies until you get the perfect opening to strike with massive damage. Built around proficiency with last-second evades and counter-striking, this build uses Realm Shifts and increased damage against status-afflicted enemies to bob and weave between opponents while punishing every miss. If you’re confident in timing your dodges, this set-up can shred even the likes of Valkyrie Queen Gná and King Hrolf… just don’t get hit!

Armor

• [NEW IN NG+] Cloak of the Black Bear – Increases immunity duration while evading, last-second evades fire a volley of Bifröst shards.
• [NEW IN NG+] Gauntlets of Zeus – Increases Melee and Runic damage by 20%, but also increases damage received by 40%.
• Belt of Radiance

Enchantments

• [NEW IN NG+] Meign – Strength/Cooldown stat boost. 
• Vanaheim Set Bonus    
• Sigil of Doom
• Emblem of the Nine Realms  
• Memento of the Ailing
• Emblem of Elusion
• Boon of Valor or Boon of Wrath

Weapon Attachments

• Leviathan Axe: Grip of the Nine Realms
• Blades, Spear, Shield Rönd: Anything prioritizing Strength stat.

Relic

• Hilt of Hofuð

Spartan Rage

• Valor or Wrath

Companion – Weapons

• Atreus: Jötnar Bow
• Freya: Mardoll

Companion – Accessories

• Runic Potency III
• Nocked Proficiency III
• Sigil Amplification III

Companion – Runic Summon

• Atreus: Falcon’s Dive
• Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

While squishy compared other builds, the new Cloak of the Black Bear pairs perfectly with the Belt of Radiance to reward you for timing those last-second evades with both Bifröst damage and a Realm Shift. By equipping the Grip of the Nine Realms and the Hilt of Hofuð, you’ll also have two activated Realm Shifts at your disposal, which means you can cut through the toughest of enemies while they’re stuck in place long enough to make Heimdall jealous. 

This build is also amazing at keeping the Hex status applied on enemies, as Atreus and Freya can do so using only two arrows. Between Kratos and your companion, you should be able to keep your enemies consistently status-afflicted to make the most of your buffs.

This build allows Permafrost, Immolation, and Maelstrom gauges to fill incredibly fast, so you’ll be able to take full advantage of each Realm Shift to melt enemy healthbars.    

Status Striker

Build by: TJ Gilbert, Senior QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Bare-handed/Shield combat
• Frequent Runic and Rage usage
• Status Effects
• Stunning enemies

This set-up is built around rapidly applying the poison status and building up stun with bare-handed attacks, while also reducing the cooldown time on your powerful Runic Attacks and Relic for frequent use. Pummel your enemies into submission while building up Rage to release a massive wave of damage once you’re ready to unleash your Wrath.

Armor

• Giptumaðr’s Breastplate
• Lúnda’s Lost Bracers
• Fate Breaker Belt

Enchantments

• [NEW IN NG+] Lúnda’s Engraving – Bare-handed attacks, Parrying, and Blocking have a chance to deal bonus damage and poison enemies, lowering their Power Level.
• Boon of Wrath
• Stunning Fang
• Vanaheim Set Bonus
• Svartalfheim Set Bonus    

Weapon Attachments

• Leviathan Axe: Grip of Weighted Recovery 
• Blades of Chaos: Cursed Empress Handles
• Draupnir Spear: Hind of Weightless Recovery 
• Shield Rönd: Player Preference

Relic

• Hilt of Garm 

Spartan Rage

• Wrath

Companion – Weapons, Accessories, Runic Summons:

• Atreus and Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

This build uses the new Enchantment Lúnda’s Engraving to give you access to the powerful Vanir Poison Perk from Lúnda’s Lost Cuirass while having Giptumaðr’s Breastplate equipped to grant you Fortune’s Refresh. As both Perks scale off Luck, this build invests heavily in that stat to ensure you’ll have a high chance to proc their effects with your attacks.

Start the encounter by applying poison to your enemies with bare-handed attacks to make the most of your set buffs that increase damage against status-afflicted enemies. This set also increases stun and damage to stunned enemies, so using your fists and shield creates a lot of opportunities for extra punishment on top of status application. Use your Runic Attacks and Hilt of Garm to proc the Fortune’s Refresh Perk to restore Cooldown on your powerful abilities for frequent usage while consistently building up Rage.  

Once you have enough in your Spartan Rage Meter, make sure your enemies are status-afflicted and activate Wrath. With the Boon of Wrath and Vanaheim Enchantment Set Bonus, the shockwave from your activation will consume the status and deal massive damage!

The Minefield

Build by: Wilson Santiago, QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Frequent Rage usage
• AoE burst damage
• That noise Health and Rage Stones make when they get crunched
• Lots of Explosions

This build is all about the RAGE! Using pieces of the new Ares Armor, this set-up boasts high burst damage capabilities by maximizing the chance that Health and Rage Stones drop, turning each one into a deadly blast. Make even the most unassuming arenas a minefield of pain for your enemies with this explosively good combo!

Armor:

• [NEW IN NG+] Cuirass of Ares – Rage hits have a chance to drop a Health Stone. Health Stones will also grant Rage and all stones trigger bigger explosions.
• Giptumaðr’s Gauntlets 
• [NEW IN NG+] War Belt of Ares – Activating Rage when Rage Meter is fill increases all damage done for a short duration.

Enchantments:

• [NEW IN NG+] Mannvit – Runic/Cooldown stat boost.
• [NEW IN NG+] Fjölkyngi – Runic/Vitality stat boost.
• Niflheim Set Bonus
• Stone Idol of Souls  
• Seal of Runic Storm
• Eir’s Armament
• Boon of Valor

Weapon Attachments:

• All: Anything prioritizing high Runic and/or Luck

Relic:

• Hilt of Hofuð

Spartan Rage:  

• Valor

Companion – Weapons:

• Atreus and Freya: Player Preference

Companion – Accessories:

• All 3: Player Preference

Companion – Runic Summon:

• Atreus: Bitter Squirrel 
• Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

This build is very unique and a TON of fun! The primary goal is making use of exploding Health and Rage Stones as much as possible during the fight to turn the ground just as hostile to your enemies as Kratos.

With this set-up, you’ll get incredible value when you activate your Spartan Rage. The Boon of Valor and War Belt of Ares will both provide you a powerful damage buff, while the Cuirass of Ares increases the chance that a Health Stone will drop, as well as the damage caused when you explode them. Additionally, the Cuirass will synergize well with the Stone Idol of Souls Enchantment to give you more consistent Rage replenishment for frequent use.

With this build’s extremely high Luck stat, you’ll have a big chance for a stone to drop from any Runic Attack or Rage hit. Combine that with the Bitter Squirrel Runic Summon and you’ll be stomping stones left and right throughout every encounter. 

Once you’ve got the ground covered, get in close and activate the Hilt of Hofuð Relic to keep your enemies locked in place with a Realm Shift while you crush the stones to chain high damage explosions!

Zeus’ Wrath

Build by: Evan Gilbert, QA Analyst

Try this if you like:

• Huge AoE damage
• Crowd control
• Frequent use of Runic Attacks and Relic
• Swapping weapons

This build encourages repeated Runic Attacks and Relic usage through Cooldown buffs to keep the ground covered in high-damage AoEs while cycling weapons. Not only does this set-up mete out punishment to multiple enemies at once, but it also emphasizes crowd control and positioning capabilities so you can take full control over the battlefield like a true Spartan general.

Armor:

• Giptumaðr’s Breastplate
• Berserker Gauntlets
• [NEW IN NG+] War Belt of Zeus – Increases Melee and Runic damage by 20%, while increasing damage received by 40%.

Enchantments:

• [NEW IN NG+] Vald – Cooldown/Strength stat boost.
• [NEW IN NG+] Mannvit – Runic/Cooldown stat boost. 
• [NEW IN NG+] Hjartablóð – Vitality/Luck stat boost.
• [NEW IN NG+] Guiding Light Engraving – Chance to increase Strength, Runic, and Luck of Kratos’ weapons. 
• [NEW IN NG+] Fallen Stars Engraving – Greatly reduces damage taken when using a Runic Attack or Relic.
• Attuned Runic Gem
• Seal of the Runic Storm
• Boon of Wrath 
• Use for Multiple Enemy Encounters: Eir’s Armaments 
• [NEW IN NG+] Use for Boss Encounters: Radiance Engraving – Chance to grant a Blessing of Runic on any last-second evade.

Leviathan Axe:

• Attachment: Grip of the Nine Realms – Chosen for stat boost, do not use Momentous Shift unless necessary as it will consume your Permafrost gauge.
• Light Runic: Winter’s Bite
• Heavy Runic: Mists of Helheim

Blades of Chaos:

• Attachment: Pommels of the True Flame
• Light Runic: Flame of Anguish
• Heavy Runic: Meteoric Slam

Draupnir Spear:

• Attachment: Hind of Weightless Recovery 
• Light Runic: Whisper of the World
• Heavy Runic: Vindsvalr’s Windstorm 

Shield:

• Dauntless Shield
• Rönd of Expedition

Relic:

• Hilt of Hrotti

Spartan Rage:  

• Wrath

Companion – Weapons, Accessories, Runic Summons:

• Atreus and Freya: Player Preference

How does it play?

This build is especially great when dealing with groups of enemies. It has an emphasis on large AoE Runic Attacks and Cooldown reduction, so reaching multiple foes across any arena won’t be a problem. Frequent use of your Runic Attacks and Relic may leave Kratos vulnerable while he casts them, so be careful with your timing and positioning when using this build.

Begin an encounter by using the Hilt of Hrotti. This Relic will apply a mark to enemies that heavily reduces Cooldown when dealing damage to them. Then quickly use a Runic Attack from each weapon to activate the effect of the Seal of Runic Storm for additional Bifröst damage. If you need to group enemies up, use the Draupnir Spear’s Light Runic Attack Whisper of the World before you start applying your heavy-hitting AoEs.

Continue cycling through your weapons while using your Runic Attacks to build momentum which will result in even more buffs and reductions in cooldown times. Since you will be applying status effects with your Runic Attacks, once your Spartan Rage Meter has filled you can activate Wrath to deal heavy damage.

—-

We hope these builds have inspired you to jump back into God of War Ragnarök’s New Game + mode! There are countless combinations waiting to be discovered, we can’t wait to see what our community creates. 

Got a creative build? Share it with us on the official Santa Monica Studio Discord!For the latest updates around God of War Ragnarök, make sure you follow Santa Monica Studio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Change the way you play

New equipment, an increased level cap, new Enchantments – all this and more is introduced with God of War Ragnarök’s NG+ mode. As soon as you’ve beaten the game, you’ll be able to dive right into a NG+ save to experience the story again with many more gameplay options available from the start.

Your equipment, weapons (including the Draupnir Spear), and skills will carry over from your previous save, so you’ll be able to use your entire arsenal from the beginning of your journey. 

Please note that you will not start the game with access to Sonic and Hex arrows. All areas requiring either those arrows or the Draupnir Spear to access will not unlock until you have reached the point in the main questline in which they become available via the story.  

New Equipment

Armor of the Black Bear

Rest assured, we’ve been taking note of the requests to add Kratos’ cloak from the opening scene since the launch of God of War Ragnarök.

The Armor of the Black Bear will keep Kratos bundled up against the Fimbulwinter frost even after the sled chase. Its stats focus on Strength and Defense with a perk that rewards your last-second evades with a volley of Bifröst shards.

Your NG+ run will begin with the Armor of the Black Bear already equipped. 

Spartan Armor

If you want a serious test of your skills and to take on the toughest challenge you can get in God of War Ragnarök, the Spartan Armor is for you. With no Perk, no Stats, and locked at Power Level 1 – the Spartan Armor lets you take a more… well, spartan approach towards protection.

This set is perfect for those of you who want to strip down your power to the minimum and leave no room for error. If you’re brave enough to face the coming of Ragnarök pecs-first, then give the set a try!

If you’re more into the Spartan General look and less into the challenging gameplay, you can always transmog this armor onto another set to achieve the look without sacrificing protection.  

The Spartan Armor can be acquired for Hacksilver at Huldra Brothers’ Shop. 

Ares Armor

Returning favorites from God of War 2018’s New Game Plus are the Ares and Zeus armors with new visuals and Perks.

The Ares Armor rewards the lucky with a chance to drop a Health Stone on hit. When you stomp the Health Stone, you also get a rage gain alongside a bigger explosion.

The Ares Armor can be purchased for Hacksilver at Huldra Brothers’ Shop.

Zeus Armor

The Zeus Armor will enable the ultimate risk-reward playstyle. This set greatly increases your Melee and Runic damage, while also increasing incoming damage.

A single hit could be enough to take even Kratos down with the Zeus Armor equipped, so you’ll need to be mindful of where your enemies are while you prepare to deal out punishment with the raw power this armor provides.

The Zeus Armor can be acquired by defeating Gná the Valkyrie Queen and completing certain Remnants of Asgard on a NG+ save.

Spartan Aspis – New Shield

The Spartan Aspis returns in God of War Ragnarök and displays Kratos’ heritage boldly.

The Spartan Aspis is similar to the trusted Guardian Shield, but it has a significantly tighter Parry window. While more challenging to time, successful Parries yield a more damaging reward.  

The Spartan Aspis can be purchased at Huldra Brothers’ Shop with Hacksilver.

Armor Appearances

For those of you looking to keep things fresh, we’ve also remixed 13 of our existing armors with new color combinations and styles that were previously unavailable.

These appearances can be bought at Huldra Brothers’ Shop and applied to any of your existing Level 9+ armor in the transmog menu. The new Berserker Armor appearance can be acquired after defeating the Berserker King on NG+. 

New Level Cap

In NG+, both Kratos and your enemies will become more powerful with an increased level cap. You will be able to convert all your Level 9 equipment (armor, weapons, weapon components, and shields) into new ‘Plus’ versions that will provide additional levels of progression.

Converting your equipment will also yield a Gilded Coin that can be used to purchase one of the new Enchantments from the shop.

We’ve also added a quality-of-life adjustment to the shop, so you’ll be able to purchase and sell resources incrementally. Buy and selling materials to get your equipment in tiptop shape for your NG+ run is now smoother than Kratos’ scalp.

New Enchantments

Gilded Coins – Engraving and Badge Enchantments

If you ever agonized over an armor choice because you couldn’t choose a favorite Perk, the new Enchantments available in the shop are for you! These take a selection of powerful and versatile perks from Armor (Engravings) and Shield Rönds (Badges), allowing you to equip them in your Amulet as Enchantments.

For example, you can purchase the Dragon Engraving, which has the Dragon Scaled Breastplate Perk, Dragon’s Fury (Blocks and Parries grant a Strength/Defense stacking buff). You can equip that in your Amulet while wearing a different chest piece like the new Cuirass of Ares, allowing you to combine two different chest armor perks at once.   

The most powerful enchantments from the Gilded Coins will require certain Stat thresholds to be met to encourage and reward you for getting clever with your builds. With so many new options available, we can’t wait to see which combinations you make.

Berserker Soul Drops – Stat Boost Enchantments

Defeating the Berserker Souls on NG+ will also reward you with new Enchantments to equip. While not as flashy as some of the Perk Enchantments, these will give you big boosts to select stats so you can lean into whatever build you like best even more.

Burdens

Burdens are a new set of Enchantments that will allow you to equip negative Perks for a tailor-made challenge.

For example, the Burden of Evasion will automatically give Kratos the Frost status effect when he rolls.

For those of you seeking to ramp up the difficulty with an exceptionally brutal experience, you can combine Burdens with the Spartan Armor.

We’ve also added a new UI option called Show Difficulty (Difficulty HUD Visualization), which will display the current difficulty setting on the HUD, as well as how many Burdens you have equipped. Feel free to flex a little bit for your friends.

Burdens can be purchased at the Huldra Brothers’ Shop with Hacksilver.

New Progression Paths

New Skill Mod Plus

Upgrade your existing Skill Mod tokens using XP to further enhance the effects of your favorite Mods.

Platinum Tier Labors

Carry over any progress from your Kill Labors or Ratatasks and continue to unlock a new Platinum Tier of rewards.

Additional Stat Gains

Nornir Chests will now provide Yggdrasil Dew to allow players to push Stats far beyond their previous limits. 

Expanded Niflheim Arena 

The Sparring Arena in Niflheim in NG+ will give you a ton of new options to play with! Alongside a selection of new enemies for you to face off against, you will now be able to play as either Kratos or Atreus and choose any of the following companion characters to fight beside you: Atreus (with Kratos), Freya, Brok, Sindri, Angrboda, Ingrid, Thor, and Thrúd.

With any companion combination possible, we can’t wait to see how creative you can get in gameplay and in Photo Mode.

Endgame Bosses

Got comfortable fighting the Berserker Souls and the Valkyrie Queen Gná? We’ve made sure the toughest optional fights have a few switch-ups in NG+ so even if you’ve beaten them before, they’ll still pack a punch when you meet them again.

Other Enemy Adjustments

Available on All Difficulties in NG+

The Hateful and the Ormstunga, two of our optional mini-bosses, have been given a few new tricks. Be sure to pay them a visit when you can in your NG+ run.

Available on Give Me No Mercy and Give Me God of War in NG+

If you choose to play on Give Me No Mercy or Give Me God of War difficulties, all bosses and mini-bosses will have Runic Armor. Strategic Runic usage in these fights can make the difference between victory and defeat.

In NG+, enemies turning elite can now also happen on Give Me No Mercy in addition to Give Me God of War. Elite enemies will gain an increase in Power Level, so make sure you keep a special eye on them when you see one transform in combat.  

Black and White Render Mode

Looking to experience the story again with a more cinematic twist? After you beat the game once, you will have access to a new Black and White Render Mode for any subsequent NG+ or standard New Game saves. 

You can find the new mode under the Graphics & Camera settings menu.

Skip Cinematics

Pick your own pace when replaying the story with the option to skip cinematics in NG+.

We hope you enjoy NG+ in God of War Ragnarök, available now.

Starting from today through February 24, PlayStation Plus members can find a range of activities to participate in during PlayStation Plus Festival of Play – from earning digital collectibles, to joining tournaments, to getting exclusive double discounts on select popular games from PlayStation Store. Activities for those who are not PlayStation Plus members are available as well.

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God of War Ragnarök Game Trial 

(for PlayStation Plus Deluxe members)

Starting February 15

Get a taste of what it’s like to journey into each of the Nine Realms with Kratos and Atreus as they search for answers while Asgardian forces prepare for the prophesied battle that will end the world. As a PlayStation Plus member you’ll have access to God of War Ragnarök with a 3 hour time-limited trial starting February 15. Trophies and save progress from this trial will carry over if you decide to purchase the full game.

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PlayStation Stars Campaign 

(for PlayStation Plus members)

February 15 – February 24

PlayStation Stars is a loyalty program that is free to join and doesn’t require a PlayStation Plus membership. However, this month we’ll have unique digital collectibles during PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, including:

• PlayStation Plus members will receive a “Festival of Play Party Favor” digital collectible for checking into the ‘A Gift from PlayStation Plus’ campaign and playing any game.
• With Horizon Forbidden West joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog starting on February 21, you can get “A Gift from the Past” digital collectible by checking into the “Welcome to the Forbidden West” campaign and earning the following trophies. This campaign is only available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe members who have yet to earn these trophies.
  • “Save the Daunt”
  • “Attend the Embassy”
  • “Obtain 3 Stripes at a Hunting Ground”
  • “Used Dyed Flowers”
  • “First Rebel Camp Completed”
  • “First Tall Neck Overwritten”

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PlayStation Plus Double Discount 

(for PlayStation Plus members)

February 15 – March 1

We are kicking off our Double Discount promotion for PlayStation Plus members this week. Check out the sale here.

As a reminder, if you are both a PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Stars member, you can earn PlayStation Stars points with eligible purchases on PlayStation Store.

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Online Multiplayer Weekend 

(no PlayStation Plus membership required)

February 18 – February 19

We’re planning to hold an online multiplayer during the weekend of February 18-19 so you can go head-to-head with other players online during these dates even without a PlayStation Plus membership.

Additionally, PlayStation Stars members can earn a special digital collectible commemorating the online multiplayer weekend just for participating in this event. Be sure to check in the “PlayStation Stars: Free Online Multiplayer is Live” campaign.

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PlayStation Tournaments 

(for players with or without a PlayStation Plus membership)

February 18 – February 19

There will be a number of PlayStation Tournaments happening during this timeframe, featuring FIFA 23, NBA 2K23, and Guilty Gear. Also, since our online multiplayer weekend starts during this same timeframe, those without PlayStation Plus members will also be able to participate in the tournaments happening in this timeframe. Players who participate will get a chance to win a PlayStation Plus membership. Please see our website for details.

For more details about PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, please visit: https://www.playstation.com/ps-plus/whats-new/

Again we want to thank all of our players for your support throughout the years. The success of PlayStation Plus starts with you, and we are greatly humbled by the feedback and passion we’ve received from all of our players. We hope you’ll enjoy PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, and all the games we’ve got lined up for this month’s Game Catalog.

Happy gaming!

Starting from today through February 24, PlayStation Plus members can find a range of activities to participate in during PlayStation Plus Festival of Play – from earning digital collectibles, to joining tournaments, to getting exclusive double discounts on select popular games from PlayStation Store. Activities for those who are not PlayStation Plus members are available as well.

View and download image

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God of War Ragnarök Game Trial 

(for PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe members)

Starting February 15

Get a taste of what it’s like to journey into each of the Nine Realms with Kratos and Atreus as they search for answers while Asgardian forces prepare for the prophesied battle that will end the world. As a PlayStation Plus member you’ll have access to God of War Ragnarök with a 3 hour time-limited trial starting February 15. Trophies and save progress from this trial will carry over if you decide to purchase the full game.

View and download image

Download the image

Close

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PlayStation Stars Campaign 

(for PlayStation Plus members)

February 15 – February 24

PlayStation Stars is a loyalty program that is free to join and doesn’t require a PlayStation Plus membership. However, this month we’ll have unique digital collectibles during PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, including:

• PlayStation Plus members will receive a “Festival of Play Party Favor” digital collectible for checking into the ‘A Gift from PlayStation Plus’ campaign and playing any game.
• With Horizon Forbidden West joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog starting on February 21, you can get “A Gift from the Past” digital collectible by checking into the “Welcome to the Forbidden West” campaign and earning the following trophies. This campaign is only available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium/Deluxe members who have yet to earn these trophies.
  • “Save the Daunt”
  • “Attend the Embassy”
  • “Obtain 3 Stripes at a Hunting Ground”
  • “Used Dyed Flowers”
  • “First Rebel Camp Completed”
  • “First Tall Neck Overwritten”

View and download image

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PlayStation Plus Double Discount 

(for PlayStation Plus members)

February 15 – February 24

We are kicking off our Double Discount promotion for PlayStation Plus members this week. Check out the sale here.

As a reminder, if you are both a PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Stars member, you can earn PlayStation Stars points with eligible purchases on PlayStation Store.

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Enter to Win a Sony Bravia XR OLED TV and more  

(no PlayStation Plus membership required)

February 15 – February 24

We’re kicking off a new contest for your opportunity to win a Sony Bravia XR OLED 55A75K TV, Dolby Atmos Soundbar HT-A5000 and a Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. You can participate by going to our website and answering three questions about PlayStation Plus. You’ll have until Feb 24th at 11:59 PM local time to answer the questions. For more details, head to the website.

Participating regions: US, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Greece, Cyprus , France , Hungary, Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, UAE

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Online Multiplayer Weekend 

(no PlayStation Plus membership required)

February 18 – February 19

We’re planning to hold an online multiplayer during the weekend of February 18-19 so you can go head-to-head with other players online during these dates even without a PlayStation Plus membership.

Additionally, PlayStation Stars members can earn a special digital collectible commemorating the online multiplayer weekend just for participating in this event. Be sure to check in the “PlayStation Stars: Free Online Multiplayer is Live” campaign.

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PlayStation Tournaments 

(for players with or without a PlayStation Plus membership)

February 18 – February 19

There will be a number of PlayStation Tournaments happening during this timeframe, featuring FIFA 23, NBA 2K23, and Guilty Gear. Also, since our online multiplayer weekend starts during this same timeframe, those without PlayStation Plus members will also be able to participate in the tournaments happening in this timeframe. Players who participate will get a chance to win a PlayStation Plus membership. Please see our website for details.

For more details about PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, please visit: https://www.playstation.com/ps-plus/whats-new/ 

Again we want to thank all of our players for your support throughout the years. The success of PlayStation Plus starts with you, and we are greatly humbled by the feedback and passion we’ve received from all of our players. We hope you’ll enjoy PlayStation Plus Festival of Play, and all the games we’ve got lined up for this month’s Game Catalog.

Happy gaming!

Developer Santa Monica Studio set out to create unique side missions hosting small yet impactful narrative beats that accentuate the stories of its characters. These quests humanized not only protagonist Kratos but also the friends, allies, and family that the once ruthless God of War has found since the end of his journey in Olympus.

We spoke with Lead Player Investment Designer Anthony DiMento and Lead Writer Rich Gaubert to explore the implementation of a few of the game’s most memorable side quests.

Serving the bigger picture

God of War Ragnarök’s side quests are designed to expand not only on the world, but most importantly its characters and the larger themes arising from their journeys.

“We had a better sense of what we wanted from side quests this time. And I think that the impulse for many developers is to use them to flesh out the world and its lore.” Gaubert explains. “While that’s certainly part of it, we didn’t want that to be the main focus. The focus is on these characters and themes and ensuring that the critical path, storyline, and side quest storylines are pieces in a larger puzzle. That lore and world-building should be byproducts of exploring the characters rather than the other way around. It’s too easy to get lost in the minutia if it’s not anchored by characters, as they’re easier to relate to.”

The game’s first Favor, In Service of Asgard, is a perfect example of this approach. This quest sees Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir confront Mimir’s past of misguided attempts to win Odin’s approval, namely, persuading the dwarves of Svartalfheim to build mining rigs to generate resources for Odin. The mining came at a great cost, polluting the surrounding area and stripping Svartalfheim of resources, and now Mimir wishes to reverse the damage to heal the realm and clear his conscience.

The Favor not only explores one of Mimir’s deepest regrets, adding more context to his deep hatred of Odin, it also reflects on the broader theme of not running from the past – something Kratos has struggled with himself. While Kratos is not the focus of the Favor, in doing this side quest, the team at Santa Monica Studio was able to shine a new light on the once God of War as he helps Mimir right the wrongs of his past serving under a cruel master – touching on many broader themes for both characters including personal accountability and repentance. 

“It’s all about staying on target with your themes and having your supporting characters serve as mirrors of your hero, showing what may be a path not taken, or serve a warning of what might happen if the character stays on the course they’re on,” Gaubert continues. “They’re reflections of your hero, and we certainly apply that philosophy to our story in general, but also to the side quests and how they should serve the big picture.”

Looking for constants

When designing the side quests for God of War Ragnarök, the Player Investment team had to decide on several critical elements before they could begin crafting the stories. Questions such as “When and where should these quests open up?” and “Are the characters who drive the narrative going to have similar motivations before and after Ragnarök?” were essential to answer during development.

The key was to make the world feel like a dynamic, living place by offering players freedom in the timing and pace of tackling the quests:

“We wanted the world to feel connected and alive,” DiMento states. “We never want the player to regret their decision not to do a side quest as soon as it becomes available or if they decide to go back to it after the main story is completed. We just want you to play the content and to be able to enjoy it regardless of when you engage with it.”

But with this design philosophy, the team had to account for some tricky variables, such as characters leaving the party:

“In God of War Ragnarök, we have a bigger cast than in the previous game, but many of them are limited to specific parts of the story. So, we started looking for constants. Characters we would be able to lean on to help drive some of these quests. It was one of the big challenges of the side quests, but it was exciting to solve. In Service of Asgard was our first test to see if this would work. I went to the writers looking for a constant and they agreed to my suggestion of Mimir. There were moments in the beginning where we would leave him behind, but then we rewrote things to ensure he was always there while exploration was available.”

As those of you who have finished the main story know, there is an additional layer of complexity the team had to account for in creating Favors that can be played either during or after the main story. Side quests not only have to consider the constant, but they also had to allow multiple characters to accompany Kratos with an interesting perspective to offer on the situation. 

A great example of this is the tear-jerking Favor, The Weight of Chains. This side quest highlights another of Mimir’s past mistakes when he was trying to impress the All-Father at the expense of innocents – in this case his entrapment of a whale-like creature called a Lyngbakr. After extracting its blubber to create oil for Odin, instead of making the hard choice to kill the creature himself or let it go and risk All-Father’s ire, Mimir left the Lyngbakr chained for centuries hoping the situation would resolve itself with its eventual death. To Mimir’s shock, the group discovers that the Lyngbakr is still alive, trapped in perpetual torment. They resolve to help the creature, hoping that it might spend the rest of its days in freedom.

At first glance, some might miss the centrality of this Favor not only to Kratos and Mimir but also to other characters like Freya and Atreus.

“That one was very fertile for us because it’s a reflection of the whole cast,” Gaubert states. “It’s obvious for Mimir and Kratos because they literally have been captive. But it’s also a reflection of Freya, who’s been trapped in Midgard for so long, and, before that, a toxic marriage. And it even applies to Atreus, a son metaphorically trapped in the role his family has cast him in that he so desperately wants to escape.”

No matter when or who you undertake this quest with, it was designed purposefully by the team to provide you deeper understanding of these characters using a theme that has meaning to all of them.

Showcasing character growth

Side quests are by definition optional, so Santa Monica Studio also had to consider how to make undertaking them feel consistent with Kratos’ character. Part of his arc since the last game has been a gradual evolution from stoic pragmatist to a more nurturing and compassionate father. Though Kratos underwent a great deal of personal growth in God of War (2018), the team knew it would feel inauthentic to have him take on any old request just for the sake of being nice:

“It was that softening of Kratos that made it possible for us to have side quests,” DiMento said. “I don’t think they would have worked with the laser-focused killing machine he once was in the previous games. But we kept his stoicism intact by giving him personal reasons to partake in these side quests.”

“There generally tended to be an ulterior motive for him doing good. Otherwise, it would have felt false.” Gaubert continued. “Especially in the early parts of the game where he’s less altruistic and more protective of what he has. But in the post-game, the implication is that he is doing these side quests for unselfish reasons. So, building in those motivations from the get-go helped reduce the number of alternate lines we would have to write to account for his shifting motivations throughout the main story.”

The Secret of Sands is one of those Favors that sees Kratos doing a good deed for both personal and altruistic reasons. Beginning with Atreus hearing a cry of pain, the quest sends the group out on an adventure to free a creature called a Hafgufa from a tendril prison. The Secret of Sands is the first half of a two-parter that concludes with The Song of Sands; both reveal the extent of Kratos’ growth as a father and how he has grown more considerate of Atreus’ personal values:

“Kratos’ character growth continues as you choose to go off the beaten path and do the side quests. I think that’s something both the player and Kratos can realize along the way.” DiMento said. “In The Secret of Sands and The Song of Sands, if you do that story with Atreus, has him constantly asking Kratos, ‘Why are we doing this? Why do you want to help this animal?’ And then you get this really beautiful punchline-like moment of Mimir being like, ‘He’s doing this just because he wants to spend time with you.’”

Throughout this Favor, you are given additional nuance that explores just how much Kratos and Atreus’ relationship has evolved over the years. Because Kratos has been able to learn and grow as a character, he demonstrates not only a deeper understanding of what is important to his son, but also the proactive desire to act upon it without Atreus asking. Kratos ultimately helps the Hafgufa because he wants to spend time with Atreus doing something he knows is important to his son.

A team effort

Santa Monica Studio’s work implementing these side quests can’t be overstated. Gaubert highlighted how amazing it is to bring more life to the game and emphasize its themes by spending extra narrative time with its characters. And as DiMento states, it’s all thanks to the collaborative work of the entire team.

“The people at the studio across the board just have such a high bar for what we’re doing,” DiMento said. “We’re all just motivated by this desire to do great work. Being able to bring so many departments together to create this content and to do it in a way that was a little different than the critical path. To make the most of what we had was incredibly satisfying.”

God of War Ragnarök is available now on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

With the God of War Ragnarök cosplay guides, we wanted to make as many as we could to help provide resources for all our fans who want to take on creating our characters.

We’re happy to share that we’ve added ten additional characters from Lúnda’s workshops notes to the God of War Ragnarök cosplay page: Freya, Thor, Angrboda, Brok & Sindri, Týr, Thrúd, Heimdall, Odin, and Gná. 

Each guide contains character renders, close-ups of detailed pieces, and shots of their weapons/accessories. You’ll also find in the pages additional lore details handcrafted by our writers here at Santa Monica Studio and more sketches from B is for Boy artist Romina Tempest.

After you’ve taken a look at the new guides, make sure you check out the interview with Lead Character Artists Dela Longfish below on how the team approached creating the designs for Freya, Thor, and Angrboda. 

Community cosplay partners

In addition to the new guides, we’ve once again partnered with members of our extremely talented cosplay community to provide resources and tips on creating three of the characters from the updated guides – Freya, Angrboda, and Thor.

Freya – Ibelinn Cosplay

Cosplay Credit: Ibelinn Cosplay | Photo Credit: Katrix_Media

Representing Freya is none other than Ibelinn Cosplay, who did an enchanting Witch of the Wilds back when God of War (2018) released. We’re thrilled to partner with her to create Freya’s updated design in God of War Ragnarök.

Ibelinn has put together an expert guide on how to plan a cosplay, along with her how-to videos on creating the former Valkyrie Queen – you can see them here.

Angrboda – Kizuki Cosplay

Cosplay Credit: Kizuki Cosplay

To embody the Giantess of Ironwood, we’ve partnered with the wonderful Kizuki Cosplay, who brings a wealth of experience crafting intricate and detailed designs.

Bringing her expert and versatile skills to the creation of her cosplay, Kizuki has created a guide on making a wig for Angrboda, as well as tips on how she approached the other pieces of the costume, which you can see here.

Thor – The Ronin Cosplay

Cosplay Credit: The Ronin Cosplay

To become the God of Thunder, we partnered with The Ronin Cosplay, who has been a longtime pillar of the God of War cosplay community. From Kratos to Sigrun, Ronin has taken on some of the most complex character designs in our games and made them look absolutely incredible.

Ronin has provided us with his expertise in creating the intricate leather pieces for Thor’s armor in his guide, as well as insights into his process with his tips video – check them out here.

Interview with Lead Character Artist Dela Longfish

To provide insights into the three characters we’ve partnered with community cosplayers to make, we’ve sat down with Dela Longfish, a lead character artist on God of War Ragnarök, to discuss how these designs came to be.

Freya

God of War Ragnarök – Freya Cosplay Guide Pg. 3

Grace Orlady: At the end of the last game, Freya undergoes a traumatic event with the death of her son – changing her from friend to hunter, vowing vengeance on Kratos. How did the team want to go about changing Freya’s visual look to represent her emotional state at the start of God of War Ragnarök?

Dela Longfish: After the events of the last game, we knew we would be seeing a completely different side of Freya in God of War Ragnarök.

While we wanted to retain the iconic look of her design, we added a light armor under her clothing that is visible around her neck and shoulders. Not only did this show she’s ready for battle, but also using the armor in this way also allowed to make the costume darker to reflect the grief and rage she has because of the loss of her son.

Elements of her appearance were designed to look unkempt as we imagined she has spent sleepless days and nights in her endless pursuit of Kratos. Covered in a layer of dirt to show her rough living, we also smudged the kohl around her eyes intentionally made to resemble tears to show that behind all that anger there’s a layer of sadness she can’t escape from.

God of War Ragnarök – Freya Cosplay Guide Pg. 4

When we first meet Freya again, she is living on Midgard in the heights of Fimbulwinter. Did the harsh climate influence any aspects of her design?

We always imagined Gods have a stronger resilience to the cold than the humans in Midgard. With her single motivation to kill Kratos she has neglected any other mortal needs. The flame of anger she feels towards Kratos is all she needs to keep her warm while on the hunt.

Freya Concept Art by Shan Qiao and Rafael Grassetti

Which elements of Freya’s original look as the Witch of the Wilds did the team feel were important to maintain across this next installment?

We wanted this version of her costume to be an evolution from when we had last seen her. That meant that we retained a lot of the elements from her God of War (2018) look while building on top and around them. Players will recognize elements like the gold disc around her waist which was always a nod back to her royal position in Vanaheim.

Smaller elements of her costume like the weaving and shawl also remain consistent in her God of War Ragnarök design.

We also know that Freya was once the Valkyrie Queen. With her ability to fight somewhat restored at the beginning of the game as she pursues Kratos and Atreus, are there any particular visual references to her past as a warrior incorporated into her updated look?

In the beginning of God of War Ragnarök, we see firsthand her skill in fighting that made her the Queen of the Valkyries. Her ability is quickly evident, wounding Kratos and proving immediately she is equal to him in every way. The increased armor and covering in her design reflects a practical choice for more combat-ready clothing while she pursues Kratos. Not only does she have the leather undershirt now guarding her torso, but she also has additional leathers on her waist to provide additional protection while keeping extremely nimble.

Even using her ability to shapeshift into a falcon to deliver cunning attacks from the air all hint back to her role as the winged queen. You can see the falcon feathers in her hair have been kept in God of War Ragnarök.

While her sword was always present in God of War (2018), it was always sheathed on her back. This is the first time we see her draw it and use it to deadly effect. Throughout the game we see more elements from her past as a Vanir leader and Valkyrie return to her design as she reclaims her power and agency back from Odin.

God of War Ragnarök – Freya Cosplay Guide Pg. 15

Is there any aspect of Freya’s design that you especially want players to notice?

Some fans will notice elements from Baldur’s costume throughout her designs, such as the Twilight Pendant and the orange warps he wore around his legs that she now wears. These are mementos she carries with her to always remember her son.

Thor

God of War Ragnarök – Thor Cosplay Guide Pg. 3

When Thor’s design was shown after the first God of War Ragnarök trailer, the internet exploded (just a bit) with discussions. Were you expecting our take on Thor to be such a hot topic among gamers?

It’s always interesting seeing what catches fire across the internet. With a character like Thor that has so many great depictions in pop-culture, people grow a special connection to them. So, in that way it’s understandable a discussion is prompted when a new take on that type of character comes out.

Our hope is to be able to build that same connection between our characters and gamers. For our interpretation, we wanted a design that fit within the visual language of the world we had established in God of War (2018), while also complimenting the story and gameplay the team had in mind.

We wanted to design a character that embodied a thunderstorm, the concept of pure power coupled with a degree of chaotic unpredictability. As the strongest god in the Norse pantheon, we took inspiration from real world strongmen and powerlifters which gave him a solid build while also reflecting the general time period we reference for the game.

God of War Ragnarök – Thor Cosplay Guide Pg. 5

We’ve referenced Thor’s descriptions in the Eddas for a lot of inspiration in his design, was the teams’ visual interpretation of him from the myths pretty defined from the start or did it take a lot of iteration to settle on the final look?

We typically start any character design with a wide range of visual exploration. Thor was no different in this case. We had actually started concepts for him back on God of War (2018), but those early explorations were put on pause.

When the team began work on God of War Ragnarök, we started re-exploring what he would look like.  The myths were a big inspiration and depicted the God of Thunder as a great warrior, but also someone who was less than heroic at times, even dangerous and reckless in his actions.

We wanted his look to reflect those aspects and multiple artists did work with that in mind.  As the designs began to evolve and various elements began to resonate with the team our art director Rafael Grassetti did a pass and that is the final design of Thor seen in game.

Thor Concept Art by Rafael Grassetti

Mjölnir is not only an iconic weapon in modern pop culture, but also within the story of our game needs to be a worthy rival to the Leviathan Axe, which is now one of the most iconic God of War weapons. Could you take us through how the team created the Huldra Brothers’ (second) greatest creation?

There are so many good interpretations for Mjölnir already in pop culture. For us Thor’s hammer, which he always holds in his left hand, was inspired by the angled look of Norse artifacts and amulets of the time.

Artist Yefim Kligerman designed the hammer for the post credits scene in God of War (2018). Even back then to visually connect these two iconic weapons, Yefim included a runic skill tree etched into the face of the hammer in the same manner we find on the blade of the Leviathan Axe. This way we can see the signature craftmanship of Brok and Sindri in both weapons.

God of War Ragnarök – Thor Cosplay Guide Pg. 14

Is there any aspect of Thor’s design that you especially want players to notice?

Along with making sure we get the overall look we want for any character we also enjoy layering in small hints and design details.  Thor’s goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjostr, make an appearance in the bottom gold carved cap of Thor’s hammer. Keen-eyed players and cosplayers will also notice there are other goat motifs reflected in his design.

God of War Ragnarök – Thor Cosplay Guide Pg. 7

Angrboda

God of War Ragnarök – Angrboda Cosplay Guide Pg. 3

While we were able to visit Jötunheim at the end of the last game and saw parts of their culture represented through Faye’s art and the triptychs, Angrboda is the first Giant we meet that is actually from Jötunheim and currently calls it home. What were some of the key elements you wanted to include in her design to show visually how the Giants are unique from the Midgardians and Aesir?   

The Giants were master artisans and craft folks.  Even though Angrboda has been surviving on her own for so long, we wanted an elegance and beauty reflected in her design that we don’t find in the inhabitants of other Realms.

As one of the last living Giants, she represents that part of Atreus’s heritage which is something no one else can share with him. Not only does she carry with her the knowledge of her people, but she also physically carried individually carved marbles that contained the souls of the Giants.

Angrboda Concept Art by Rafael Grassetti

You mentioned Thor’s goats are referenced as motifs in his design, are there any nods to the Norse myths within Angrboda’s clothing?

Angrboda has a few serpent motifs recurring throughout her design, which was a nod to her being known as the mother of Jörmungandr in the myths. That theme can be seen most evidently in her gold hair accessory which is shaped like a snake, as well as in her brooches, necklace, and various patterns in her clothing.  

God of War Ragnarök – Angrboda Cosplay Guide Pg. 8

Angrboda has some of the most unique tattoos in the game in terms of color and design. Why did the team decide to go in this direction with her ink?

With each of the different mythical cultures in the game, the team will look for specific aspects unique to each that set them apart visually. Angroboda’s tattoos were an example of this in that they have a much more organic and natural feel to them than many of the other tattoos you see on other characters. We wanted all aspects of her design, including her tattoos, to reflect a unique aesthetic that is carried through their art and craftsmanship.

The yellow was a color that represented Faye and the Giants throughout God of War (2018). As one of the last of her people left, we wanted that shade to be present in her design. 

God of War Ragnarök – Angrboda Cosplay Guide Pg. 5

When it comes to visual storytelling, what aspects of Angroboda’s character are the most important to convey through her design?

Unlike some of the more fantastic characters and creatures of the game, we took a more subtle approach to the details in Angrboda’s design.  

For example, Atreus’ new look features a huge splash of yellow to honor his Giant heritage and connection to his mother. Angrboda, while being a Giant and living in Jötunheim, has clothing that features mostly shades of browns, teals, and grays. While her primary clothing pieces don’t have the same statement yellow piece that Atreus’ does, we still wanted to include smaller touches of the color to show her ties to the Giants and to Atreus.

Not only are her tattoos yellow as mentioned before, but you can also see other pops of yellow woven through her hair, in some of the stitching of her clothing, and in the bronze jewelry she wears. These were all layered throughout her design to give a consistent, but subtle, reference to the Giants.  

God of War Ragnarök – Angrboda Cosplay Guide Pg. 6

If you decide to cosplay a character from God of War, make sure you tag Santa Monica Studio on social or use the hashtag #GodofWarRagnarok! We always love to see your work.

To help you create even more perfect in-game shots, we’ve asked two of our most active community photographers to give you the advice you need to take your photo to the next level. 

Hosts of the podcast Photomode Unplugged and prolific contributors to the God of War photographer community, we’ve asked TheFourthFocus and DotPone to give us their top tips for those of you looking to get snapping in God of War Ragnarök.

Getting Started in Video Game Photography

TheFourthFocus 

Virtual photography is a great way for players to engage more with the games they love and, with its recent photo mode update, God of War Ragnarök has joined the photography party. 

By enabling a set of in-game tools that mimic the use of a real-world camera, the photo mode can be used to capture original and creative shots of Kratos and Atreus’ journey throughout the Nine Realms.

Found via the Options menu, the photo mode will freeze the game and allow players to move around the scene with a virtual camera. As with any type of photography, mastering the composition and arranging elements within the frame is key to a compelling image, so work the camera using the analog sticks to find a good angle. Pay close attention to the lighting direction and be sure to put emphasis on the chosen subject while avoiding distractions that draw the eye away – get these right and most of the hard work has already been done.

TheFourthFocus

Go-to settings

TheFourthFocus

For me, the most important settings in the photo mode are those that affect the actual composition of the shot and change how the camera captures the scene. Start off by adjusting how wide the view within the frame is, either by directly setting the Field of View angle or by changing the Focal Length to “zoom” in or out. 

Notice that a long Focal Length creates a narrow Field of View angle and vice versa, and that each can greatly influence the style of the shot.

As a general rule, a longer Focal Length is great for getting up-close or removing clutter from the frame, while a short Focal Length creates a wide angle that adds perspective distortion and can make shots look more dynamic. 

If it’s portraits that you are interested in, the 50 – 85 mm is a real sweet spot.

TheFourthFocus

Of course, there is no point in setting up a well-framed shot if the subject is completely blurry, so switch over to the Focus Distance setting to place the point of focus on the subject so they appear nice and sharp. 

A top tip here is to aim for the eyes as they create the strongest connection to the viewer. 

Next to this setting, you’ll also find the f-stop value which can be used to control the depth of field – essentially that is how much of a scene appears in sharp focus. Increasing the f-stop value will bring more of the foreground and background into focus, while decreasing it creates a shallow depth of field that can be used to separate a subject from the background and create a soft bokeh effect.

Portrait Shots

DotPone 

DotPone

Portraits are popular for a reason. They represent the character we grew to love (or hate) in the game. If, like me, you are a sucker for black background portrait shots with good lighting on the characters, you can’t go wrong with the main arena of The Crucible in Muspelheim. 

However, today I’m going to talk to you about another technique: framing.

You will want to capture more than the physical representation of the character in your portraits for them to stand out. You will want your portrait to display emotion in the viewers; therefore, the character must also show said emotion.

On the photography side of things, the composition will ultimately make or break your shot. A great way to take you closer to a good composition is by using an element of your foreground to frame something in the background. God of War Ragnarök gives you the perfect tool for this with the Blades of Chaos and its ballet of fire.

By using an animation where Kratos throws the Blades, I use its chains to frame his face and ensure the subject keeps eye contact with the camera. 

This choice makes it seem they are looking straight at the viewer when displaying their emotions. 

Then, by using one of the many facial expressions available in the photo mode and the options in the Shutter section to blur out everything but Kratos, I make sure that he is the first thing the viewer notices when looking at my picture.

Action Shots

TheFourthFocus

Getting good action shots can be challenging and is all about capturing a dynamic look that lets the image tell the story of what is happening. With a limited camera range, you’ll often need to get quite close to any enemies you want to photograph, but sometimes it is worth taking a hit to get the shot.

A wider Field of View can help to get the action in the frame, and a little camera roll is a really useful way to create a feeling of motion or even disorientation that works well with combat.

TheFourthFocus

As usual, it is also worth thinking about eyeline and trying to find a viewpoint that makes it look like the characters and enemies are in each other’s line of sight. This is a great way to make action and combat shots feel more engaged and believable.

Landscape Shots

DotPone

DotPone

God of War Ragnarök’s setting is the perfect subject for a photo mode! 

You get a ton of variety by visiting all Nine Realms in this game, from the fiery lava field arenas in Muspelheim to the paradisiac lush jungle of Vanaheim. 

However, these levels were brought to life by the talented developers at Santa Monica, and simply pointing the camera and snapping a shot isn’t enough to make them your own. If you want your pictures to stand out, you might want to look for a different angle or look to capture the less obvious thing.

In my opinion, landscape shots are some of the most complex because instead of having a single element, you want to draw the viewer’s attention to an entire location. 

I chose to capture a simple scene we take for granted while playing the game – a boat parked on the shore of the lake in Svartalfheim. I proceeded with a low-angle shot of one of the less obvious things in the lake and blurred out the vegetation in the foreground to give the image a sense of depth.

Locations and Filters

TheFourthFocus 

There are a whole host of stunning locations in God of War Ragnarök that make great subjects themselves, but they can also be useful to create a different feel to your shots in general. 

Many locations come with their own distinct colour palette and different lighting feel that can totally transform a portrait for example. Whether it’s the rich, warm tones of Ironwood or the cold blues of Niflheim, try visiting different realms for more varied results.

The same goes for the colour filters that are found in the photo mode and they are an obvious way to adjust the overall tones of the image in any location. 

Don’t just rely on the default values though, dial down the intensity for a more subtle effect, and shift the Vibrancy & Saturation settings to control how vivid the colours appear. Tweaks like this can be the thing that sets your shot apart.

TheFourthFocus

How to Get Involved in the VGP Community

DotPone

DotPone

The Video Game Photography community is ever-growing! Every time a new game comes out with a photo mode, more and more people from all over the world join the fun. This can feel quite scary and overwhelming, and you might feel lost. 

Don’t worry – we have the perfect guide to get you into the community.

The first step is to have an account on your social media platform of choice: Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, Discord, etc. 

Then all you have to do is use the hashtag #VirtualPhotography and the name of the game, in this case, #GodofWarRagnarok! 

Remember to tag your favourite studio and publisher accounts and your post will surely be seen by members of the community that will engage with it! See? Easy.

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God of War Ragnarök is out now on PS5 and PS4. 

For a closer look at what inspired the controller’s form factor and customization options, we sat down with the minds who helped design it. Here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the first-ever, highly customizable controller developed by PlayStation was created:

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High-quality case

The DualSense Edge controller comes with a sleek and sturdy shell-like case to keep your controller and its accessories safe and organized. One nice touch is the removable flap where the included braided USB charging cable can fit, allowing you to charge the controller while nestled within its case. 

Familiar form factor

The controller feels immediately familiar since PlayStation engineers set out to match the original DualSense controller’s shape and size. Close inspection of the DualSense Edge controller reveals subtle examples of its premium build quality, such as increased surface area for the grippy white plastic around the handles and extra texture on the touchpad and triggers. 

Adjustable trigger length

Players can adjust the length of the triggers with built-in switches for both R2 and L2 buttons. This makes on-the-fly customization easy, without needing to adjust any controller profile settings. One example from my time included jumping from God of War Ragnarök, where I wanted full range of the R2 button, to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, where clicking into a shorter trigger length helped me shoot faster.

Switchable stick caps

The DualSense Edge controller features three sets of stick caps that make quick customization easy. The two standard caps the same as the DualSense controller’s snappy sticks, while the sets of high and low dome caps offer a satisfying concave feel. I appreciated being able to swap in a high dome cap on the right analog stick, which provided a greater degree of finesse when taking aim in Call of Duty or Apex Legends.

Back button versatility

The DualSense Edge controller also features optional back buttons. The lever back buttons offer a longer, flatter form factor that’s quick to activate. The half dome back buttons feature a low profile and precise feel. They open up new options for button configurations, and once I acclimated to the new inputs I felt like a nimble powerhouse. One example includes… 

God of War Ragnarök

Assigning the dodge button to the left back button and Kratos’ Leviathan Axe retrieval/elemental attack charging to the right back button let me keep my thumb on the right stick and control the camera during every moment of combat. I reduced the length of the left trigger to speed up aiming ranged attacks but kept the right trigger at default to feel the adaptive triggers’ immersive magic during melee combat. The result was so satisfying I’m already planning my second playthrough of Santa Monica Studio’s stunning sequel after the DualSense Edge controller launches.

Customizable controller profiles

The options for optimizing your playstyle extend beyond the accessories and trigger adjustments to customizable controller profiles. A slick tutorial automatically pops up when you first plug your controller into the PS5 console. Some of the robust additional options include:

• Up to 3 profiles stored on the controller itself
• Custom button assignments (e.g. to set up an FPS profile, driving profile, action-game profile, etc.)
• Stick sensitivity and deadzone tuning
• Trigger deadzone tuning
• Vibration intensity
• Trigger effect intensity

Preset profiles for stick sensitivity

Diverse preset profiles for adjusting stick sensitivity offer a gentle onramp for players who may not want to dive into the deep end of customization out of the gate. Here’s what the system settings described (subject to change):

• Quick – The amount of registered input accelerates as you tilt the stick. Good for making quick movements. Gain the upper hand by quickly aiming in fast-paced shooters.
• Precise – Minimum input is registered when you tilt the stick. Good for making precise movements. Fans of shooting games may find the ability to aim slowly and accurately helpful.
• Steady – Registered input is limited even if you tilt the stick far. Enables smooth and stable movement. Ideal for when you need to move smoothly in action games.
• Digital – Tilting the stick even slightly will register nearly maximum input. Functions like the direction buttons on the controller. Get instant input reaction for your fighting and action games
• Dynamic – Registered input is limited when you tilt the stick slightly or far but accelerates in the middle range. Enables versatile gameplay in shooting games where you may need to aim carefully but also turn quickly

Function buttons

These two buttons are positioned below the thumb sticks, providing easy access for a DualSense Edge controller-specific menu that pops up whenever pressed, whether in game or in system menus. These buttons make it easy to snap between profiles, adjust headset volume, game/party chat audio balance, and more. The option to quickly jump directly into the controller profile menu after a couple quick button presses is crucial, allowing you to make quick adjustments without disrupting gameplay. The experience reminded me of jumping into edit weapon loadouts while waiting to respawn in Call of Duty. Speaking of…

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

The function buttons stood out when hopping into a Modern Warfare II match. I immediately realized I had the controller profile still set up for God of War Ragnarök, but thanks to the on-controller trigger switches I quickly adjusted them to a shorter length for snappier aiming and shooting. Following that, I used the function buttons to quickly swap to a profile I set up using the “Quick” preset as a base. I assigned jump to the left back button and crouch/slide to the right back button, letting me smoothly control my movement across the map while keeping my thumbs poised for a firefight. I also swapped the high dome cap in for the right analog stick, providing a greater degree of control while taking aim.

Heading into my hands-on experience with the DualSense Edge controller, I expected to be impressed by top-quality engineering and cool physical controller customization options. What surprised me was the intuitive on-console tutorial and frictionless menu navigation thanks to the function buttons. Whether you’re a competitive player looking for every edge, or simply interested in maximizing your gameplay options in your favorite games, the DualSense Edge controller is poised to deliver when it releases January 26, 2023.  

Learn more about the DualSense Edge wireless controller here.

Get it directly from PlayStation at direct.playstation.com

In the US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, the DualSense Edge wireless controller is available for pre-order only through direct.playstation.com (while supplies last). The DualSense Edge wireless controller will be offered at other participating retailers starting February 23, 2023.

In the spring of 2019, I found myself again in the offices of Santa Monica Studio, for creative discussions regarding the game’s sequel, God of War Ragnarök. Here the game’s previous director, Cory Barlog, introduced me to this new game’s director, Eric Williams. Cory and Eric have worked together for years on this franchise, and I immediately sensed Eric’s shared passion for the material and depth of experience. Having read the script, the scale of God of War Ragnarök became clear. This ambitious sequel’s story expanded upon the intimate character drama between Kratos and his son Atreus by introducing at least a dozen new characters, across all nine realms of Nordic mythology. The set pieces and action scenes were even more bombastic, and yet, the dramatic arcs were every bit poignant as those from the first story. In order to musically support this ambitious new narrative, I would need to fill God of War Ragnarök with new musical themes. At the same time, they would need to be interwoven with my material from God of War (2018). 

For that original game, I had jumped into the score with enthusiastic abandon, ready to completely reinvent the sound of the franchise to fit this entry’s more sophisticated tone. However, this time, I felt the pressure of writing music in the shadow of my own previous work.  Gamers the world over had forged emotional connections to my musical themes, and my work had won several major videogame industry awards. The thought of expanding on these ideas –  and daring to think I might improve upon them – exhilarated and terrified me.

I began composing God of War Ragnarök in the summer of 2019, fully aware that I was at the onset of a journey that would be among the most creatively challenging of my career.

Warning: the following contains moderate spoilers for God of War Ragnarök 

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New themes for new families 

God of War Ragnarök is a story of fractured families struggling to reform. To support that story, I needed two additional themes to represent families that Kratos and Atreus would encounter on their journey. 

Theme: Huldra Brothers 

The Huldra brothers, Dwarves Brok and Sindri, were supporting characters in the last game. They provided support for Kratos’ weapons as well as delightful comedic relief, and a heartwarming story of estranged brothers who reunite. Their role in God of War Ragnarök was greatly expanded, and now gamers travel to their realm of origin, Svartalfheim. I needed to craft them their own theme, one which could also tell us something of Dwarven culture. 

The Brok and Sindri Theme begins with a jaunty oom-pah ostinato performed on viola da gamba and nyckelharpa. 

The jovial nature of the theme is colored by a signature rhythmic meter, 7/4, that provides an asymmetrical imbalance. The groove is bouncy, but also becomes increasingly heavy as their theme evolves. 

The true charm for “Huldra Brothers” comes from the melody, featured prominently by a hurdy gurdy solo. (I am the credited performer of this solo, though I personally like to think we are hearing a character named Ræb playing their theme. More on him, later.) Their melody weaves around the asymmetrical meter with satisfying repeating patterns, featuring a “Scotch snap,” a frequent rhythm found in Scottish folk music.

The Huldra Brothers’ emotional B-Theme middle section implies there is more emotion to their story beyond mere comedic relief. And indeed, this theme evolves over the course of the story perhaps more than any other. At the end of their track, we hear their theme one last time, in a dark, melancholy cello solo – a shocking departure from the jovial tone at the beginning. Near the end of the soundtrack album, “Ræb’s Lament” is built around hurdy gurdy and orchestral variations of this melody. I will not spoil the narrative here, but suffice to say that if I did my job right, this comedic jaunty little tune will break your heart before final credits roll on God of War Ragnarök. 

Theme: Ragnarök

The last primary new theme I composed for this game was for another family, representing the antagonists from Asgard, Thor, his father Odin, and the impending prophesied event of Ragnarök itself. To create a musical force that could threaten Kratos was a mighty task (his theme begins with powerful low male vocals that radiate menace and strength). To try to write a villainous theme that dwarfed Kratos’ in terms of strength and raw power was a fool’s errand. So, I looked to the script for inspiration. 

Odin, as portrayed by Richard Schiff in God of War Ragnarök defies audience expectations. Eric Williams described him as a snake in the grass. He has a slight frame, and his vast power is most often implied. He is unafraid to use force, but would rather use psychological means to achieve his ends. Furthermore, I thought about the ominous impending doom of Ragnarök itself, which looms over the story’s horizon like a storm cloud. These ideas inspired me to energize the Ragnarök Theme with a slithering, dangerous, yet subdued ostinato. I wanted this string pattern to imply power and menace with a relentless triplet rhythm, one that rolls across the soundtrack like distant thunder.

This ostinato gets louder and louder as the story progresses. Above it, the main melody of the Ragnarök Theme offers a dark nobility and ominous foreboding, often sung by male choirs with an Old Norse text.

I spent about half a year sketching themes for this game, often tweaking back and forth with my creative partners at Santa Monica Studio. A few of them came easily, but several went through five or six drafts before I landed on something promising. I struggled especially with the Atreus Theme, as I found I was initially crippled by the intense pressure to write a theme that could measure up to my two most iconic melodies from God of War (2018). By the end, however, I was confident that my new themes for Atreus, Angrboda, the Huldra Brothers, and Ragnarök, would measure up to the melodies I had written for the last game.

Becoming Ræb 

Scoring God of War Ragnarök was an expansion of everything that I had done in God of War (2018), culminating in one of the biggest orchestral scores of my career to date. However, my contributions to the game would go beyond the music.

Back in the spring of 2019, Eric Williams and Cory Barlog ended our first creative meeting about the project by showing me concept art. I was dumbstruck when I saw, at the bottom of the stack, a stout Dwarven fellow holding a beautiful hurdy gurdy, with a familiar, and perhaps even dashingly handsome face! At first, I thought the game’s brilliant art director Raf Grassetti had drafted a sketch of me as a Dwarf as a gift. I was further dumbstruck when Eric and Cory told me this image was no joke – this was a character named Ræb, who they intended to put into the game as a character that Kratos and Atreus would encounter in their journey, and that they intended me to perform the motion capture and provide voice acting for him!

Over two years later, in the summer of 2021, I stepped into PlayStation’s Santa Monica Studio not as a composer, but as an actor. I arrived at the motion capture stage, and the crew put little sensors all over my body and on my hurdy gurdy. I learned that my body movements were being captured by these sensors and instantly converted into animation data for my digital avatar. 

Walking on to the stage, I was struck by how barren it looked – like an industrial warehouse with high tech equipment gathered around the edges of an empty space. Screens adorned the periphery, and when I looked at them I saw the real magic, a digital fantasy environment representing the tavern in Svartalfheim. Walking into the digital tavern, I noticed Ræb, and quickly realized he was walking because I was walking! I stopped, delighted like a kid playing with new toys, and started jumping around and flinging my arms, watching my digital avatar recreate my every movement in real time. It was like looking at a freaky fun house mirror where I saw a digital dwarf reflection of myself! I giggled uncontrollably as I moved my body and Ræb mimicked me.

To be an actor in a videogame, one must capture their motion, or do a mo-cap session. The crew told me that, typically, one or two sensors are placed on the hands to capture the motion of the arms, but that all detailed finger movement is typically animated later. However, because so much of my motion-capture work involved playing a musical instrument, they decided to try placing sensors on all of my fingers. They had never done this before! Sure enough, once they were done, I sat played hurdy gurdy and watched onscreen as the digital Ræb’s fingers rippled across his own hurdy gurdy keys, following my exact movements. 

Recording the hurdy gurdy performance turned out to be the easy part. I also had to pretend to be in a crowded tavern environment, and to mimic the physical mannerisms that result from various interactions with Kratos and Atreus. I threw myself into the moment, and had as much fun as I possibly could, trying not to think about the potentially awkward reality that I was wearing skin-tight pajamas, covered in dots, pretending to be a dwarf holding a hurdy gurdy, in the middle of a room with people staring at me. 

I loved the physicality of performing the motion capture. However, as fun as that was, it did not prepare me for the thrill of recording Ræb’s dialog a few weeks later. I worked with writer Matt Sophos, at a small recording studio in Los Angeles, who directed me through the vocal performances. Though I had never properly acted before, I found that my creative process as an actor working with Matt was the same as working as a composer with a director or producer when I am scoring narrative. In both cases, our shared goal is to make an audience feel something specific about what they’re experiencing. When I am a composer, I use notes, chords, and rhythms to achieve that goal. I quickly discovered that the only difference when I am an actor is that I use vocal rhythm, inflection, and tone to achieve the same goal.

I felt an electric thrill creating Ræb for God of War Ragnarök. The more I worked through the lines with Matt, the more I understood Ræb’s situation and in particular his feelings about Kratos’ companion Mimir. As I drove home from the recording studio, I was giddy, and my heart was pounding in my chest. I can safely say the few hours I spent recording Ræb’s dialog rank among the most exhilarating creative experiences of my life. While I don’t think I’ll quit my day job anytime soon, I would love the chance to explore this art form further!

To read more about my work on God of War Ragnarök, please check out the full blog post on my official site.