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Ryan O’Rourke

Steven Weintraub

Published Aug 13, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

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In terms of the modern PlayStation identity, few games have made as much of an impact as 2018’s God of War. Coming five years after the prequel God of War: Ascension, it offered a fresh start for its god killer Kratos and the action-adventure franchise as a whole, adopting a brutal new style of combat, a new Norse mythology-inspired setting, and a new journey centered on the bond between father and son. Not only was it an acclaimed Game of the Year winner that outsold every entry prior, but it also defined what a juggernaut PlayStation franchise could and should look like in the current generation of consoles, paving the way for a direct sequel and the upcoming spin-off, God of War Laufey. However, none of it would have been possible without the trilogy that started it all.

The original God of War released on the PlayStation 2 back in 2005 and sent the Ghost of Sparta on a quest for vengeance against Ares for tricking him into killing his own family. Each entry only grew more violent as Kratos’ mission evolved into an all-out war against the gods of Olympus, culminating in a final confrontation with Zeus himself in God of War III that appeared to bookend the Spartan’s story. From its over-the-top gore to the frantic combat, grittier spin on Greek mythology, and Kratos himself, the series was established as one of PlayStation’s flagships, complete with spin-offs that let players wield the Blades of Chaos against Thanatos, Persephone, and more. The games are also critical to fully understanding who Kratos is and add weight to the man he becomes in his move to Norway, which is why the ghost’s current voice actor, Christopher Judge, is thrilled that Sony’s Santa Monica Studio is remaking the original trilogy.

During a panel at Fan Expo Boston over the weekend, moderated by Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Judge recalled how overwhelmed he was when first learning just how beloved Kratos was as a character and the mixed reaction to his casting at the time. Two widely beloved titles and many “boys” later, he’s now the voice so many recognize as the Ghost of Sparta from his journeys with Atreus, but he still credits the beloved original actor TC Carson for even making his job possible and taking Kratos so far. He considers the Greek Trilogy remake, which will see Carson reprise his role, a prime example of Santa Monica showing loyalty to the actor that helped make God of War a gaming icon. “I’m glad it worked out, and the thing I’m glad, too, is that TC isn’t forgotten because where we are now is because of TC Carson and how magnificent he is,” he said. “And I’m so happy that they’re remastering the original games, and then that will find a new audience, and I just think it’s wonderful.”

Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.

You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.

You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world’s beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.

You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what’s right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.

You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.

You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.

It’ll be a while before the Greek God of War trilogy returns, as the announcement in February only confirmed things were in early development in celebration of the series’ 20th anniversary. There’s also little known about the games and whether they’ll stay closer to the old God of War style or embrace the gameplay of the modern installments. However, the commitment to a full remake with Carson to breathe new life into the games for fans of the modern titles looking to experience the entirety of Kratos’ history, or veterans wanting to revisit his god-slaying roots, has Judge singing Santa Monica’s praises as a studio that understands its players.

At a time when massive companies like Rockstar or Nintendo are making decisions that have alienated players, whether by raising prices, gating off content for deluxe editions, or moving away from physical copies of games, Judge sees Santa Monica under Cory Barlog as one of the most receptive to player feedback. He believes their approach to honoring God of War’s history and what the fans love about it is the least a studio of such a big and renowned franchise should be doing. They may be committed to the future of Kratos and his family beyond the Greek games, starting with Laufey, but it’s evident that they understand and respect how and why they got here.

“I mean, that is a testament to not only Cory, but all of Sony Santa Monica and their investment in this. They actually respect the fans. Like, it’s not that hard of a thing to do. You ask people to pay for your product, or people invite you into their homes. The least you can do is respect what they have to say, and Sony Santa Monica actually does that.”

There’s no release date yet for the God of War trilogy remake. God of War Laufey, starring Deborah Ann Woll as Kratos’ late wife Faye, will see Judge reprise his role on PlayStation 5 on February 16, 2027. Stay tuned here at Collider for further updates on the franchise as they come out.

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Ryan Hurst

Mandy Patinkin