Looks like Christmas came early to the Nine Realms! Santa Monica Studio announced during The Game Awards 2023 that they’re releasing a free DLC as a gift to their players, titled God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla. For those who own the base game, God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla will be downloadable from the PlayStation Store on December 12th, 9AM PST.
With a few days to go, here’s everything else we know about the DLC so far.
(Also, spoilers ahead for the base game!)
1. Takes place after the events of God of War Ragnarök
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla will be an epilogue to the events of God of War Ragnarök that follows Kratos on a deeply personal and reflective journey.
Set after the final battle and Atreus’ departure, Kratos has seen a path for himself that he never thought possible before. Brought to the mysterious shores of Valhalla accompanied only by Mimir, Kratos will enter its unknown depths to overcome trials within himself and face echoes of his past.
2. Combat inspired by the roguelite genre
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla includes familiar combat from the base game and blends it with fresh, experimental elements inspired by the roguelite genre. That means each time Kratos falls, he will reawaken outside the doors ready for the next try. In this DLC, Kratos must cast off his armor and equipment, and instead build towards both per-attempt and permanent rewards.
The more you overcome, the more resources you’ll gain that can be put towards permanent upgrades that affect both Kratos and even Valhalla itself. Accumulating rewards and knowledge during your attempts will also help you get ever closer to discovering the mysteries that await Kratos within.
3. Commit to a shield and path of Spartan Rage for each attempt
Kratos will have access to all his weapons and fully-upgraded skill trees at all times, but must commit to a shield and path of Spartan Rage for each attempt. As you overcome the trials of Valhalla and explore its depths, you will make choices between temporary Glyphs for which Stats to upgrade, which Perks to select, which Runic Attacks to wield, and more.
4. Choose from five difficulty settings
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla has five difficulty settings that have been specially crafted and tuned to the unique gameplay of the DLC. Each difficulty setting increases the rewards you’ll gain from battle, and you can swap freely among them between attempts (including to and from the highest difficulty setting, Show Me Mastery).
5. Recommended to play after the base game
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla is technically a separate experience from the base game, so you don’t need to worry about going in without certain upgrades, equipment, or story progress. However, if you are concerned about narrative or gameplay spoilers, players are encouraged to complete the base game before heading into the epilogue.
6. Bonus: Armor is for appearances only!
Armor in Valhalla is for appearances only, so it’s time to dress up Kratos in your favourite looks without worrying about stats! Unlock different looks, then mix and match your favorites between attempts so Kratos looks his best while doing what he does best.
