Written by The God of War 20th Anniversary Celebrations commemorate 20 years since the release of the action-adventure series on March 22, 2005.
It is produced by Santa Monica Studio, the series has cemented itself in gaming lore as a foundation for history, changing from its origin in Greek mythology to its well-received Norse epic.
As a celebration of this milestone, a collection of events, content, and merchandising has been organized to commemorate the life of Kratos and his evolution.
As part of the festivities, a free God of War Ragnarök update will be available on March 20, 2025. The update features the Dark Odyssey Collection, named after the original working title of God of War (2005) and a God of War II skin.
The collection consists of black-and-gold-themed armor for Kratos, weapon cosmetics, and Atreus and Freya outfits. The cosmetics would be for maximum level weapons and would be made available through the Lost Items chests in the game or automatically at Valhalla.
Santa Monica Studio has partnered with collaborators to launch special anniversary-themed merchandise. These include clothing, collectibles, and even a long plush World Serpent.
Free digital items like banners, icons, and wallpapers are also downloadable for fans. PlayStation players can also receive a free anniversary-themed avatar on the PlayStation Network.
March 15th to March 23rd, 2025, Gallery Nucleus in Los Angeles will host an art show that highlights tribute art, concept art, and memorabilia from throughout the history of the series.
The show includes artwork from existing and former developers at Santa Monica Studio. There will be a special panel on March 22 featuring cast members from both the Greek and Norse sagas discussing two decades of storytelling.
Though no new game announcements are in store for these panels, they provide fans an opportunity to interact with the showrunners and the actors themselves.
While fans have long speculated over remastering announcements or new game reveals of a God of War trilogy during the anniversary window, Santa Monica Studio has asserted that such announcements are not planned.
Rumors still circulate about upcoming projects that would revisit Kratos’ past exploits or venture into new mythological realms.
Top 5 Announcements for the God of War 20th Anniversary Celebrations
1. Dark Odyssey Collection for God of War Ragnarok
The first announcement for God of War 20th Anniversary Celebrations is the launch of the Dark Odyssey Collection for God of War Ragnarök. This update pays homage to the franchise’s beginnings and how it evolved over the decades.
Dark Odyssey Collection is derived from the first game’s working title back in 2005. The term “Dark Odyssey” captures the dark, gritty, and epic feel of Kratos’ quest through Greek mythology.
The collection is a salute to the origins of the series as well as an acknowledgment of its present-day Norse saga.
The Dark Odyssey Collection contains a number of cosmetic pieces for God of War Ragnarok:
- Kratos’ Armor Set: A black-and-gold armor set that captures the dark, mythological feel of the first game. This armor set is intended to capture Kratos’ lasting identity as a warrior.
- Atreus and Freya Outfits: Comparable black-and-gold outfits for Atreus and Freya, so that the whole family can be attired in thematic wear.
- Weapon Cosmetics: They will feature skins based on God of War II, yet another classic game in the series. The weapons will have a unique appearance that homages the previous games.
The Dark Odyssey Collection cosmetics will be accessible for players via Lost Items chests throughout God of War Ragnarök realms. Players will discover these chests as they wander around the extensive game environments.
To top this, players with existing fully upgraded gear will gain the cosmetics automatically in Valhalla, guaranteeing that everybody will have a chance to sport the new visuals without having to grind for them.
The update with the Dark Odyssey Collection will be made available on March 20, 2025. The timing is deliberately scheduled to align with the general anniversary celebrations, such that the fan base gets a chance to access this new content as part of the festivities.
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2. Art Exhibition at Gallery Nucleus
The second big announcement of the God of War 20th Anniversary Celebrations is the art show at Gallery Nucleus in Los Angeles. This is one of the main events of the celebrations, as it will be sharing the 20 years of evolution of the artwork of the franchise.
Gallery Nucleus Exhibition Details
The show will be open from March 15 to March 23, 2025. This schedule will enable fans to come and enjoy the artwork during the height of the anniversary celebration.
Gallery Nucleus is based in Los Angeles, and as such, it is a convenient location for fans on the West Coast to come together and celebrate the artistic success of the franchise.
The show will have a wide set of artwork, such as concept art, character designs, and environment pieces throughout the history of the series. This will encompass artwork from both the Greek and Norse sagas, showcasing the development of Kratos’ journey and the realms he has encountered.
Tribute Art and Memorabilia
The show will not only feature official concept art from the games, but also tribute art done by fans and professionals alike. Both the official content and fan contributions demonstrate the reach of God of War in the gaming community as well as beyond.
Original game props, costumes, and other behind-the-scenes materials will be featured as part of the show, providing an intimate look into the creation of the series.
Panels and Developer Signings
There will be special panels of cast members from the Greek and Norse sagas as part of the exhibition. The panels will give a glimpse into the story process, character creation, and the struggles encountered during development of the games.
Developers and artists working on the series will also be available for signings and meet-and-greets for the fans to engage with the creators of the games.
Photo Opportunities
To celebrate the occasion, the exhibition will feature photo opportunities with life-size cutouts, props, and backdrops reminiscent of significant locations from the games. This enables fans to get into the world of God of War and take memories of their trip with them.
No New Game Announcements
Although the event is a celebration of the past and present of the series, it should be noted that there are no new game announcements to be made during these events.
The emphasis is on celebrating the legacy of God of War and giving fans a special experience that brings them closer to the history of the franchise.
3. Anniversary Merchandise
The third significant announcement for the God of War 20th Anniversary Celebrations is the launch of anniversary-themed exclusive merchandise.
This merchandise aims to celebrate two decades of the series’ influence on gaming culture and give fans special items that symbolize their fandom for the series.
Merchandise Types:
- Clothing: T-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel with logos, characters, or symbols from the series.
- Collectibles: Statue, figurines, or other collectibles featuring characters such as Kratos, Atreus, or other main characters from the games.
- Accessories: Stickers, posters, and other accessories that are available for use by fans to personalize their homes or personal space.
One of the highlights of the merchandise offerings is a large plush World Serpent, Jörmungandr. This plushie is a special collectible that embodies the spirit of the Norse saga in God of War Ragnarök.
The World Serpent is a mainstay character in the Norse mythology-based games, so this plush is a must-have for fans who enjoy the series’ storytelling and characters.
Santa Monica Studio has partnered with other companies to develop this merchandise so that every piece is of high quality and authenticity. These partners are usually known brands or artists who are fans of the series themselves.
The merchandise will be distributed across several channels, both online and offline. It will be found on online platforms such as the PlayStation Store, Amazon, or specialty stores.
Some of the items may be exclusive to specific outlets or offered in limited units, so they become very desirable among collectors.
The merchandise is a reminder of the history of the series, from its origins in Greece to its Norse saga. It is a means for fans to commemorate the growth of the franchise and their own history with Kratos throughout the years.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or a recent convert to the family, these items provide an opportunity to connect with the series on a more personal level.
Though the merchandise is a tribute to the franchise’s heritage, it isn’t specifically associated with any announcement of new games.
4. Free Digital Fan Kit
The fourth big news for the God of War 20th Anniversary Celebrations is the launch of a free digital fan kit. The kit contains a range of digital assets that can be used by fans to personalize their online presence and mark the franchise’s milestone.
The digital fan kit contains a number of items that are meant to assist the fans in displaying their passion for the God of War series:
- Banners: Personalizable banners that can be utilized on social media handles or websites. Banners usually include iconic characters or symbols from the series.
- Icons: Small icons or avatars that can be used as profile images on platforms such as Twitter, Discord, or other social media platforms. These icons usually include characters such as Kratos, Atreus, or other main characters from the games.
- Wallpapers: High-definition wallpapers for desktop and mobile platforms. The wallpapers feature main artwork from the games, including vistas of the Norse worlds or character portraits.
- PlayStation Network Avatars: Custom avatars for PlayStation users to use on the PlayStation Network. The avatars are themed to fit the anniversary celebration and can be downloaded at no cost by all PlayStation users.
The digital fan kit can be downloaded from the God of War website or other authorized channels. It is complimentary for all, so anyone can join in on the festivities without spending money. The kit is made to be user-friendly, with fans being able to easily download and begin using the assets quickly.
One of the advantages of the digital fan kit is that it offers customization possibilities. Fans can use the banners, icons, and wallpapers to establish profiles reflecting their individual relation to the series.
This opens up opportunities for creativity and for fans to project themselves in the manner that fits their personal preferences and experiences.
The digital fan kit is a nostalgic call back to the history of the franchise, from its Greek beginnings through its Norse saga. It enables fans to honor the series’ progression and their own journey with Kratos throughout the years.
Whether you’re an old timer or just a new member of the community, these digital items provide a means of engaging with the series in a more intimate way.
5. Game Sales and Steam Points Shop Items
The fifth major god of war announcement for the 20th anniversary celebrations pertains to game sales and introducing anniversary-themed items within the Steam Points Shop for the PC gamers.
The goal for this undertaking is to prompt people to play, revisit, or experience the series again, but also give the PC players the opportunity to personalise their Steam experience in an original way.
In celebration of its anniversary, a number of God of War games will be discounted across platforms such as PlayStation and PC. These include not only the original Greek saga games but also the latest Norse saga games like God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök.
The sales are designed to bring the series to new players and to get old fans to revisit their favorite games or to fill in the gaps in their collections.
For PC players, the Steam Points Shop will have God of War anniversary-themed items exclusive to the service. These items can be bought with Steam Points, which are rewarded by buying games or other content on Steam. The items could include:
- Profile Backgrounds: Themed background images for Steam profiles featuring God of War artwork.
- Mini-Profile Backgrounds: Bigger backgrounds than Avatar Frames which are used within the mini-profile section of Steam profiles.
- Avatar Frames: Themes which can be placed over Steam avatars in order to create a themed avatar.
- Animated Avatars: Animated versions of character or symbol concepts which can be placed as Steam avatars.
The Steam Points Shop items will become available on March 20, 2025, in time for other anniversary celebrations. This will allow PC players to join in on the celebration by decorating their Steam profiles with exclusive God of War-themed items.
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