God of War: Ascension Message Board older than one year ago

Friends of PlayStation.Blog,

You’ve likely read or seen the many posts over the past month regarding the God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta. At first it was available only to participants of the “Rise of the Warrior” experience on the God of War website (which is now relaunched, new and improved, and ready to dole out even more extras for series fans). Then it was only accessible to PlayStation Plus members (as if they needed any more exclusive content, what with their free Instant Game Collection and countless discounts).

Now, we’re excited to announce that we’re opening up the Ascension MP Beta to all PlayStation Network users for a very limited time. Starting now and lasting through the holiday weekend—provided you’ve got a PlayStation 3 and a valid North American PlayStation Network account—you’re in!

Think of it as a sampling—nay, a slice—of the benefits and rewards showered upon PlayStation Plus members month after month. Wish you could have played the Beta for longer than a few days? Wish you could get more first looks and early access opportunities for amazing PlayStation content? Join PlayStation Plus!

As we said, we’re going to sneak you in to check out the PlayStation Plus God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta. Simply redeem the universal voucher below and join the action!

F2TA – HMNB – 762G

We want to get as many people as possible into the MP Beta, not only to really give those servers a good beating (it’s nothing personal; they just have that kind of face you want to punch/stress load), but also because we want everyone to discover the exciting, frantic multiplayer experience that gamers are raving about. So please, spread the word (and the code) and let’s see how many people we can thrust into the frenzy!

As we’ve shared before, here’s what you can expect when you jump—nay, LEAP—into the fray:

God Allegiances

• Zeus and Ares (2 of 4)

Modes

• 8-player – Team Favor of the Gods or Capture The Flag
• 4-player – Free For All
• Favor of the Gods (Deathmatch)

Maps

• Desert of Lost Souls (large map) & Forum of Hercules (arena)
• Vast amount of weapons, armors, magic, relics, and God items to customize and earn
• Level 30 cap
• VoIP (bust out those headphones and mics; team strategies are crucial, especially in CTF)

Here’s the wealth of additional content not in the Beta that will be in the final game March 12th:

• God Allegiances – Hades and Poseidon
• A third, to-be-determined In-Game Weapon Class
• More Large and Small maps created from signature God of War locations
• The ability to customize your Warrior as you unlock all the weapons, magics, armors, relics, and God items from the four allegiances — and level them up!
• An unannounced fourth multiplayer mode

Need help achieving godly multiplayer skills? Check out the Book of Divine Wisdom, a multiplayer strategy booklet created in partnership with the fine folks at Penny Arcade. Want to learn even more about the Beta? Click here.

See you online!

A "full-fledged" single-player demo for God of War: Ascension is coming in late February, according to a recent PlayStation blog. With the multiplayer beta scheduled to end next week, fans only have the above 30-second teaser trailer to watch for the next month in preparation for the game's March 12 release date.

Unless you bought the Total Recall remake film on Blu-ray of course, which came with the E3 single-player demo that is exclusive through 3/8/13. While we'd assume those are two different demos by virtue of February and March being two different months, we've contacted Sony to be sure.

#godofwar Kratos is all out of bubblegum in this singleplayer teaser trailer that Sony released yesterday for God of War: Ascension. It's billed as a gameplay tease but, of course, with this series, it's a thin line between pre-render and QTE. More »

Six months have passed since Kratos stood over the bodies of his wife and daughter, his hands stained with their blood – tricked by Ares into murdering the only people he ever loved. Swearing to avenge them, Kratos broke the blood oath that bound him to Ares… but oaths to Olympus are not so easily broken. This is where your journey in God of War: Ascension begins.

It’s been more than six long months since your first look at God of War: Ascension’s single-player campaign at E3. You’ve waited patiently, and asked about it an ungodly (but unsurprising) number of times. So, as we get ready to close our multiplayer beta early next week, the time has come to focus on where Ascension and its story will take you this March.

The trailer above is only a quick taste. You didn’t think Ascension was only 30 seconds long, did you?! We have more single-player details to unravel and showcase as we rage towards our launch on March 12th. Most importantly, in late February, we’ll be bringing you a full-fledged single player demo! We’ll be announcing details in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

The Ascension Collector’s Edition

Many of you have already pre-ordered the Collector’s Edition for Ascension, but today we’re happy to show you the final “cube” you’ll be receiving, and of course placing atop your shrine to God of War:

Be on the lookout for more single-player details, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you again to all of our Multiplayer Beta Warriors. Don’t forget: your Gifts from the Gods will be ready for you at launch!

God of War: Ascension's online component has one goal. Make it feel right to attack your friends - or attack with your friends. The latest dev diary explores how developers at Sony Santa Monica are making sure to hit the perfect balance of carnage and compassion.

If you’ve been participating in our God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta, we hope you are fulfilling your destiny and ascending as a Champion of Olympus. Our development team greatly appreciates your efforts, and is watching your every move. Your rise truly begins on March 12th, when God of War: Ascension arrives in stores.

Here at Sony Santa Monica, with this being the first time we are bringing multiplayer to the God of War franchise, we knew creating an epic multiplayer mode worthy of standing next to our treasured single-player campaign (more on that coming soon) could qualify as the “13th Labor of Hercules.” Your feedback, participation, and excitement for the Ascension Multiplayer Beta is met with the utmost gratification, and gives us the extra push needed to drive this home for you, our fans.

With that, we’d like to bestow upon all God of War: Ascension Beta participants a “Gift from the Gods.”
Anyone who participates in the Beta will receive the following two exclusive Beta rewards to adorn and equip your Champion with at launch:

This gift from the Gods will be provided to every person who has participated in our Multiplayer Beta. In other words, if you want these bad-ass gifts, you need to join the Beta right now. You’ll need to be a PlayStation Plus member, but that alone provides you with more gifts from the PlayStation Gods then one could ever hope for. So why not some just for God of War: Ascension?!

The master humorists at Penny Arcade have honored us with what can only be described as “the most informative Ascension Multiplayer Guide of all-time… in good fun.” We don’t take that statement lightly, and neither should you. They mean business, and not just funny business — at least 10% serious business. The first two pages from their Ascension strategy guide epic, “Book of Divine Wisdom,” have already been released and are available on the official site. Head on over to check them out, and be sure to keep checking back, as more pages are coming soon!

Finally, we recently opened our studio’s gates to Press Warriors from many of your favorite sites, including this one right here, PlayStation.Blog (bet you didn’t see that coming!). PS.Blog videographer Rey Gutierrez cut a killer video of the event that went down here. You’ve been served! Watch it now, then get back to the Ascension Beta!

Adapting single-player code to multiplayer for God of War: Ascension required the team to perform great feats, deciding how to make hits connect properly across machines and such. It may not be as hard as murdering a god, but we still think Kratos would have some difficulty with it.

Starting today, PlayStation Plus users can download the multiplayer beta for God of War: Ascension. The beta features two of the four God Allegiances (Zeus and Ares) and three modes: eight-player Capture the Flag or Team Favor of the Gods, and four-player Free For All. There are two maps, the large Desert of Lost Souls map and the Forum of Hercules arena. The beta is capped at level 30 and will allow customization with a "vast" amount of weapons and objects.

The final game will have the Hades and Poseidon God Allegiances, a third weapon class, more maps and customization options, the "Team Up With Friends" multiplayer mode, and a fourth, unannounced multiplayer mode where we assume killing more things will play a crucial role.

Warriors of PlayStation Plus, our God of War development team here at Sony Santa Monica is proud to break open the arena gates to our God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta for you later this afternoon. What does this mean?

• All PlayStation Plus members will be able to download the Beta software from PSN. If you have opted in for auto-download direct to your console, the Beta will be waiting for you later today on the XMB under the “Games” tab. Just click it to instantly boot up and get to the action!
• If you have a PlayStation Plus 30-day trial promo code from the God of War: Saga Collection or a contest prize, redeem it today. You will have instant access to the Beta software — as well as all the other benefits of being a Plus member — for 30 days.

Be sure to visit our official GodofWar.com website where we’ve just launched a suite of new Beta strategy sections: God Profiles, Basic and Intermediate Tips you won’t find in-game, and your keys to victory in each mode.

BEGIN A WARRIOR, RISE A CHAMPION

Our Multiplayer Beta is a taste of the full-game experience, here’s what you’ll see featured:

• God Allegiances: Zeus and Ares (2 of 4)
• Modes: 8-player – Team Favor of the Gods or Capture The Flag, 4-player – Free For All

Favor of the Gods (Deathmatch)

• Maps: Desert of Lost Souls (large map) & Forum of Hercules (arena)
• Vast amount of weapons, armors, magic, relics, and God items to customize and earn
• Ascend to Level 30 – can you do it during the short Beta period?!
• VoIP – bust out those headphones and mics, team strategies are crucial (especially in CTF)

This being God of War, one does not simply walk into the Ascension Multiplayer Beta and think it ends there. Here are a few things not in the Beta that will be in the final game March 12th:

• God Allegiances Hades and Poseidon
• Third In-Game Weapon Class – To Be Announced Soon
• More Large and Small maps created from signature God of War locations
• Ability to customize your Warrior as you unlock all the weapons, magics, armors, relics, and God items from the four allegiances — and level them up!
• Team Up With Friends – this is a heavy team-multiplayer game, you will have such abilities to join your friends and dominate the competition. More on this closer to launch.
• An unannounced fourth multiplayer mode. We don’t screw around here (well, we do have fun)!

Our development team has been burning the midnight oil, pouring every last ounce of passion into creating a Multiplayer experience worthy of the God of War pedigree. This has been no ordinary journey for our team. Epic in every way, it has been a new beginning. Whether or not you have been following our transparent making-the-game series, Unchained, here is the five-minute story of what’s been a three-year journey in creating something once thought impossible. Enjoy our latest episode, A New Beginning.

By the way, if you made it this far and you love God of War’s single-player experience, fear not: a wealth of new information is coming sooner than you think.

Backstabbing and front-stabbing and skull-crushing, oh my!

This God of War: Ascension multiplayer trailer and the ending of Apocalypse Now! have more in common than we'd generally like, except instead of a cow this has a beefy guy, and there's some Southern rock/railroad building blues playing in the background. Greece has a "South," right?

That PlayStation Plus-exclusive multiplayer beta for God of War: Ascension has been dated for January 8. Those who participated in the Rise of the Warrior social game and were on the winning Spartan team for the game's first team challenge can check out the beta starting today. Losers on the Trojan team can check out the beta starting on December 16.

The multiplayer beta for God of War: Ascension is composed of two modes: team Favor of the Gods and free-for-all Favor of the Gods. These modes task teams and individuals with reaching a certain requisite number of points, "earning points via kills, bonus brutal kills, opening chests, capturing domination points, and, if you're skillful enough, performing executions using the Spear of Olympus," the PlayStation Blog reports. The map featured in the beta will be the Desert of Lost Souls, seen above.

That PlayStation Plus-exclusive multiplayer beta for God of War: Ascension has been dated for January 8. Those who participated in the Rise of the Warrior social game and were on the winning Spartan team for the game's first team challenge can check out the beta starting today. Losers on the Trojan team can check out the beta starting on December 16.

The multiplayer beta for God of War: Ascension is composed of two modes: team Favor of the Gods and free-for-all Favor of the Gods. These modes task teams and individuals with reaching a certain requisite number of points, "earning points via kills, bonus brutal kills, opening chests, capturing domination points, and, if you're skillful enough, performing executions using the Spear of Olympus," the PlayStation Blog reports. The map featured in the beta will be the Desert of Lost Souls, seen here.

As some of you know, the fine folks at Sony Santa Monica Studio recently opened their doors to members of the gaming press — the first such “open house” event in the studio’s history. In addition to experiencing hands-on time with the upcoming multiplayer beta for God of War: Ascension and two new characters coming to PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, journalists experienced a rare inside look at one of the most accomplished and diverse game production facilities in the world. This is a place where developers of indie titles such as The Unfinished Swan and Journey and big-budget blockbusters such as God of War and Starhawk proudly work shoulder-to-shoulder.

With God of War: Ascension’s multiplayer beta en route, the team at Santa Monica Studio wanted to take this opportunity to address PlayStation.Blog readers with the latest details. Read on to learn more about what’s in store for the beta!

The God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta Is Coming January 8th!

It’s almost here! PlayStation Plus members’ chance to ascend online to start destroying each other in God of War: Ascension’s Multiplayer Beta. Today we’re proud to announce that the Beta is officially coming to PlayStation Plus on January 8th. To get you pumped up, you must watch our brand new “Evil Ways” Multiplayer Trailer. It is beautiful brutality.

If you were one of the wise mortals participating in our Rise of the Warrior experience, and belonged to the winning Spartan team for our first team challenge, your early Beta access begins today! If you are a Trojan, though you were defeated in the first team challenge, the Gods have shown mercy and are granting you early access starting December 16th. All your codes can still be redeemed at www.godofwar.com.

As announced, everyone with PlayStation Plus memberships will be able to download the Multiplayer Beta beginning January 8th. If you have not entered our The Rise of the Warrior experience, you are missing a truly epic encounter. There are more team challenge rewards coming, exclusive DLC items to earn right now, and an epic story connected to the single-player and multiplayer of God of War: Ascension. Join now!

So the burning-in-Hades question is, what will you play in our Multiplayer Beta? A visceral, larger than life, online combat experience for starters. We are kicking off the Beta with our signature Team Favor of the Gods mode and the yet-to-be-seen Favor of the Gods mode, which plays like Team Favor of the Gods, but without the teams. In both modes, you’ll fight to reach the requisite number of favor points from the Gods, earning points via kills, bonus brutal kills, opening chests, capturing domination points, and, if you’re skillful enough, performing executions using the Spear of Olympus. Check out our Beta page for tips, scoring details and more.

The Maps

You’ve seen the Desert of Lost Souls, featuring our massive Titan, Polyphemus. If you were not fortunate enough to experience this map at one of our various events earlier this year, you will get your chance to go head-to-head in this epic map in the Beta.

Only a fool would believe we are stopping there — this is God of War! God of War: Ascension multiplayer levels are broken out into two categories: larger maps, which feature big open environments (like the Desert of Lost Souls), and more compact arenas, which bring the action in tight to test your reflexes as you fight for survival in close-quarters combat. Fans of God of War III will remember the Hercules Arena, one of the Top 5 most epic moments in the God of War franchise, and we’re really excited to introduce our “Forum of Hercules” Multiplayer Arena level!

The Beta will also provide you with the chance to play through our tutorial level, which is an epic experience in and of itself. You’ll be able to test your might with both Zeus and Ares allegiances, and experience a taste of the player customization options and upgrades that will be in the final game.

Keep in mind, this is the Beta stage of our development, and our team here at Santa Monica Studio will be working daily, up until the very last second, to provide you with a truly incredible experience. We value your feedback, and this is where you can help to make this game ascend to even greater heights for our March 12th launch! See you in the Beta!

When asked about how he and the team at Sony Santa Monica are bringing multiplayer into the God of War series with God of War: Ascension, game director Todd Papy digs deep for inspiration. The single-player side of the game is obviously an influence, he says, as multiplayer side of the game attempts to enhance the always cinematic world of Kratos with a new character called the Avatar.

But then things get a little nuts. "You can look at Allegiance levels," says Papy, referring to the mode's customization choices defined by the four gods Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, and Ares, "and you can look at Diablo and Call of Duty and other games that have skill trees that you basically level up.

"And then you can look at Power Stone," says Papy, "as far as that old school melee feel to it." Yes. That's the one. Playing God of War: Ascension's renamed "Favor of the Gods" mode, and running around with up to eight other players flipping switches, executing combos, and earning favor points does feel a whole lot like the Dreamcast classic. In a strange way, to be honest. But a good one nevertheless.

This video from Sony Santa Monica details two years of development time for God of War: Ascension. The developer video shows the creation of a monstrous cyclops creature from its initial design phases. God of War: Ascension will launch on March 12, 2013 for PS3.

Becoming a Champion of the Gods in our new God of War: Ascension multiplayer mode requires a Warrior’s knowledge of the strengths, weapons, armor, and magic of the God they align with, knowing the depths of your strategic options, and executing them on the battlefield. Don’t expect to just hack and slash your opponents.

You’ve had a taste of what the Warriors of Zeus are capable of, but now it’s time to divert your attention, and consider aligning with the God of War himself.

If sheer offensive strength is your preferred style of play, harness the ferocious might of Ares! We debuted his trailer last night on SPIKE TV, if you missed it, then don’t miss it now.

Warriors who align with Ares are brute force tacticians dealing a devastating array of up close attacks. These Warriors will also harness magic abilities that unleash a fiery rage, great for close quarters combat. Warriors of Ares are juggernauts who excel in close-range combat and employ powerful items that can boost their attacks, or cripple the defensive capabilities of surrounding enemies. In other words, if you like “jumping into the fire,” then aligning with Ares should be your first step.

In God of War: Ascension’s Multiplayer, it’s crucial to combine the right weapons, armor, magic, and items bestowed from the God you align with, to find your best strategic play style.

Here are a couple key strategic tips for Ares’ warriors to refer back to during our upcoming Beta:

• Find two or more enemies in a concentrated area. Use Ares’ inferno magic to leap sky-high and slam down with [R2] to knock them into the air. The moment you land, wield your weapon immediately with a series of brutal combo attacks on your enemies while they are stunned to earn a quick victory.
• Ares’ War Hammer is great against groups of enemies as well. The weapon’s special attack executes a long range wave of fire that will knock back every enemy in its path, and also has an area of effect slam to knock everyone nearby up into the air. A great tactic is combining these two attacks for some wicked air juggle combos.

Finally, the more XP you earn in Multiplayer, the more opportunity you will have to purchase and upgrade powerful Relics. Relics will enhance your weapons and armor, and generally improve (and reward!) your mastery over close-quarters combat. Replenish your health after a successful throw, or increase your damage after every brutal kill. Choose Relics that reward your style of play to become a true warrior of Ares.

Gamestop's God of War: Ascension pre-order bonus is an exclusive multiplayer costume based on Zack Snyder's 2007 movie 300, because nothing says "brand-new video game based on Roman pseudo-mythology" like a random costume from a five-year-old movie based on Greek pseudo-history.

Specifically, the costume replicates King Leonidas' red cape, helmet and "armor," which we assume is what they're calling his tiny little baby man-shorts. The costume also includes a spear that provides new moves and abilities, as well as a double-sided God of War: Ascension poster. It does not, however, include a pit for disposing of foreign dignitaries or a bottle of chest grease.

For the first time ever, King Leonidas will be brought to life in God of War Ascension’s multiplayer as depicted by Gerard Butler in the blockbuster film “300.” If you pre-order God of War: Ascension standard or collector’s edition at GameStop, you will receive a voucher code that gives you access to history’s most heroic Spartan.

We are very excited to partner with Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment to offer you the chance to play as one of the biggest badasses in Greek history on the God of War: Ascension multiplayer battlefield. Donning King Leonidas’s red cape, iconic helmet, and armor you will stand apart as one of the ultimate warriors of Sparta. King Leonidas also comes with his iconic spear, which has its own set of unique combat moves.

In addition to the “300” King Leonidas skin, you will also receive an exclusive double-sided God of War: Ascension poster.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your day one online experience. Stay tuned for more updates on God of War: Ascension here on PlayStation.Blog!

*“300” is available from Warner Home Video

Sony has finally revealed that this winter will be when PlayStation Plus users will be able to get their hands on the God of War: Ascension beta. Plus subscribers will be able to sample the multiplayer side of God of War: Ascension gratis, but frugal fans still have an option: early access through a new social game called Rise of the Warrior.

Rise of the Warrior is not available at the moment, but playing the social game between its launch and March 2013 offers rewards of in-game unlocks, exclusive items, early beta access and 30-day subscriptions to PlayStation Plus. And, hey, if there's one thing an angry man on a path of vengeance can't deny, it's the smile-inducing power of free stuff.

It’s been a little over a month now since we announced the God of War: Ascension Beta and we know you’ve been anxiously awaiting news on when you’re going to get a chance to slash, disembowel, and crush your way into the pantheon of Olympus…

The God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta is coming to PlayStation Plus this winter. Keep reading to find out the only other way to get in, and how to get in early.

Some of our fans have already had the chance to play the Desert level of our new multiplayer mode at E3, Gamescom, and PAX. However, the multiplayer action has come a long way since then and this winter, Plus subscribers get to go hands-on with all-new multiplayer action that we haven’t yet shown. If you’ve been following the Ascension news thus far, you know that in God of War Multiplayer, each warrior will align themselves with one of four Gods. Each God will grant a different set of unlockable powers, armor sets, and abilities, which leads to a unique style of play for each God “class.” The first God you’ll be able to align with in the Beta will be the almighty Zeus, so to help you get ready, we have a new trailer to give you a primer on Zeus and his powers. Enjoy!

Want to learn more about Zeus? Then jump over to the brand-new GodofWar.com which just launched today to discover even more about the king of the Gods! Also, our new website is fully iOS and Android compatible, so check it out on your phone or tablet too!

Info about Ascension, the God of War series, and Kratos isn’t the only thing you’ll find on the new GodofWar.com though. You’ll also find the only way to get into the Beta if you’re not already a PlayStation Plus subscriber, and the only way to get into the Beta at least a week before everyone else: The Rise of the Warrior.

The Rise of the Warrior is a new social experience on GodofWar.com. You’ll live out your warrior’s journey in an epic new graphic-novel style story. You will embark on a quest for redemption that leads you toward becoming the next Champion of the Gods.

It gives you the opportunity to align with either the Spartans or the Trojans and compete via a number of social challenges to earn your army a week of exclusive early access to the Beta this winter, and 30 days of PlayStation Plus. And that’s just the first of multiple major army rewards between now and March! If an epic new God of War story and early Beta access aren’t enough for you – you’ll also be able to earn early in-game unlocks for God of War: Ascension multiplayer to get a head-start on the competition, along with exclusive multiplayer weapons and armor for everyone who rises to Champion of the Gods! So get over to GodofWar.com and start your journey in Rise of the Warrior.

Start getting pumped everyone, we’ve got much, much more God of War: Ascension content coming between now and March 12th, so stay tuned! Remember to follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook, and if you haven’t already, pre-order today!

#godofwar Here now, the newest trailer for God of War: Ascension. Enthusiastic, Articulate Voice-Over Guy(™) and I agree—this sure looks like a God of War game! More »

Remember the God of War: Ascension Collector's Edition that popped up earlier this year? Sony has officially unveiled it, and the $80 package includes some lovely God of War goodies. First and foremost is a statue of the god-killer himself, Kratos, looking much less angry than usual. He looks almost introspective, really, perhaps pondering the meaning of life or, more likely, precisely how to rip open the skull of the nearest elephant man.

The collector's edition also includes a copy of the game in a Steelbook case, a soundtrack, multiplayer double XP unlock, a "pass for future DLC content" a dynamic theme and an avatar pack. The package will be available on God of War: Ascension's launch date, March 12, 2013, and is available for pre-order now.

Speaking of which, pre-ordering the collector's or standard edition will net you the "Mythological Heroes Multiplayer Pack," which includes four characters: Perseus, Achilles, Odysseus, and Orion.

God of War fans — a ton of you have already pre-ordered God of War: Ascension, and those of you that haven’t are probably waiting to see just exactly what’s included in that Mythological Heroes Pack you get for pre-ordering. Or maybe you’re stuck deciding between the standard edition or the Collector’s Edition? Either way, feast your eyes on the Collector’s Edition content below, all of which you get for $79.99.

And if you pre-order either the Collector’s Edition or the Standard Edition today, you’ll receive the incredibly badass Mythological Heroes Multiplayer Pack below, so you can play as your favorite Greek hero in Multiplayer!

We just wanted to share that little tidbit for you to tide you over until next week. Hopefully it helps you make your decision on God of War: Ascension, so head over to pre-order here. We’ve got something big coming on October 15th, so be sure to come back and check the PlayStation Blog Monday afternoon and see what it is.

Hello God of War fans! Sony Santa Monica is very excited to be teaming up with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to get you some exclusive hands-on time with God of War: Ascension on December 18th. For a limited time, when you purchase the Director’s Cut Total Recall Blu-ray and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack you will receive the E3 2012 God of War: Ascension Single Player demo.

Both Blu-rays feature the Extended Directors Cut, which includes 20 minutes of new footage not shown in theaters, including an alternate ending and over 1.5 hours of special features and Blu-ray exclusive content. The God of War: Ascension Single Player demo is available with this special offer on the Blu-ray hybrid disc.

The demo includes the new gameplay mechanics and combat systems we showed off earlier this summer, so you can get a taste all of the brutal action before the game launches next March.

Sharpen your blades and stay tuned for more exciting updates on God of War: Ascension!

From a titan-sized showdown with Ares to battling Zeus at Gaia’s heart, the antagonists of God of War have provided some of the most memorable encounters in gaming history. God of War: Ascension promises to continue with this tradition by introducing a challenge that will push Kratos to his physical, mental, and spiritual limits to say the least. In Ascension, Kratos is sentenced to an eternity chained within a prison for the living damned, and will battle insanity at the hands of the Furies – perhaps the most terrifying spectres of the ancient world. The six-legged Fury Megaera is the first of three to be revealed in our latest Monsters of Ascension entry, with Lead Concept Artist Izzy Medrano – the mastermind behind their creation.

Since Ascension is set before the events of the first God of War, what specific role does Megaera (of the Furies) play in Kratos’ journey from mortal to God?
Izzy: Megaera is the first of three deadly sisters that Kratos must push past to free himself from an oath he has come to greatly regret. Early on, we knew we would be using the Furies, or more aptly the Erinyes in Greek Mythology, as our primary antagonists. We had to bend them to fit our story a little bit, but they act as a group of bounty hunters and torturers for the Gods. They are the keepers of Oaths and punishers of those that would foolishly renege on a contract. They are older than Zeus and the Titans, and are a force unto themselves. In a very real sense, they are “law” incarnate.

Give us some insight into how this malevolent character was born?
Izzy: In the past, Kratos’ antagonists have been extremely physical in their orientation. Kratos is an incredible protagonist because you can keep on hitting him and hitting him, and he’ll never back down. Kratos is the ultimate junkyard dog. You don’t mess with him if you currently enjoy possession of all your limbs and their natural orientation.

For Ascension, we had to raise the stake but we had to tackle him laterally. This is a world before Kratos has become a god. We wanted to take advantage of the fact that although he’s still that same unstoppable physical force, he doesn’t quite have all the internal armor he’s built up in the chapters that follow.

Megaera’s sphere of influence falls in the physical realm. Her instruments are crude as she revels in the sensory world. “Simple pains and simple pleasures” would be her motto, and we took care to build this character around that philosophy. She was born of a need to make someone that could stand her ground in one-on-one combat with Kratos. She’s not gargantuan. She’s not a living mountain. She doesn’t spout flames, or lean on any magical crutch. She stands only heads taller than our hero, and these unassuming elements about her, I hope, inform the player of just how dangerous she really will be.

Regarding her frightening appearance, tell us a bit about what Megaera is capable of.
Izzy: Megaera is far more dangerous than you may first realize when you encounter her. She’s a tactical mover; she uses her long, powerful extra legs to reach places and perform maneuvers that a standard humanoid form couldn’t achieve. A good comparison would be Hercules. Think of Kratos’ half-brother as a grappler, an up close in-your-face type of fighter. We treated Megaera as more of a reach-based scrapper, like Dhalsim. She juggles Kratos at a distance, and never lets him get close enough to do any damage of his own.

Another aspect of Megaera’s physicality is her ability to control bodies like a puppet master. As I mentioned, she doesn’t use magic as we have defined it in the game. She’s a creature of pure physical influence. How we managed to get her to pull off this unique puppeteering ability is her queen bee-like connection to a swarm of parasites that dwell in her very body.

I pulled elements for her design from the Surinam Toad, which is a horrifying little monster that haunts our actual reality. (Don’t believe me? Look em up. Do this on an empty stomach… trust me.) These toads insure the propagation of their species by laying eggs in each other’s backs and carrying the little toadlets to term. When they are ready, the baby Surinam’s burst out of the ‘mother’s’ back leaving a scramble of stomach-churning holes in her flesh, like the bulb of a lotus plant.

Much like the toad, Megaera’s chest is covered with a rash of diseased-looking little holes. The parasites burst out of this living hive and scramble over the living and dead alike. They burrow into the flesh and assume control of their host’s bodies for their queen. The parasites don’t stop there with the horror show, however. Megaera’s lovelies create a physical torture all their own.

For the full interview — and more concept images — click here.

This past weekend at PAX, I was fortunate enough to moderate a panel with some of the top minds working on God of War: Ascension. While getting inside the heads of the creators of Kratos’ next adventure was a treat, we did a lot more than just talk. The team brought early sketches of Kratos (dreadlocks!) and the first playable video of the original God of War, before the Blades of Chaos were irrevocably bound to his forearms. We also revealed Ascension’s big bads, the Furies, with a close look at Mageara, the “enforcer” of the mythical tio.

While we streamed the panel live, courtesy of Twitch.tv, you’re forgiven if you missed it last Friday evening. But the excuses are gone now – we’ve cut down the hour-long panel into an 11-minute highlight reel. Take a look:

Your panelists, from left to right:

• Mark Simon – Lead Designer on God of War: Ascension
• Patrick Murphy – Principal Character Artist for God of War: Ascension
• Marianne Krawczyk – award-winning writer of the God of War series
• Todd Papy – Game Director on God of War: Ascension

If nothing else, do enjoy the sight of a My Little Pony/Kratos mashup. It’s the reason why Photoshop was invented.

The major enemy group in God of War: Ascension is composed of The Furies, three vengeful deities bound to hell and in possession of a contract with Kratos that connects his life to Ares'. When Kratos breaks this contract, The Furies are hellbent on tracking him down for slaughter.

God of War: Ascension will be available on March 13, 14 or 15, depending on whether you plan on buying it in greater Europe, Australia/New Zealand, or the UK/Ireland, respectively. Meanwhile, North American folk can still expect to rain bloody death down upon their enemies on March 12.

Non-North American revenge aficionados looking for something a little more substantial than just the game itself will have both Special and Collector's editions to choose from, which each contain varying levels of goodies, both in-game and out. The Collector's Edition is identical to the North American version and includes a steelbook case, eight-inch Kratos figure, digital copy of the soundtrack, a PS3 theme and avatars, a double multiplayer XP boost and a voucher for all future DLC.

Special Edition, on the other hand, includes everything listed above except for the statuette and the DLC pass. No pricing information or pictures of the packs have been released as of yet, thought details are expected in the "near future," according to the European PlayStation Blog.

You’d think that with all the awesome stuff we pulled off at gamescom, we would’ve taken a minute to breathe. Alas, being mind-blowing is a full-time job, so we just keep bringin’ the goods!

You headed to PAX? We hope so, because we’ve got a whole lotta goodness coming up to Seattle! Aside from the great The Last of Us demo you’ll see from Naughty Dog, you’ll get to check out the following from our Community Team and some of our biggest franchises:

PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale is fast-approaching, and we’ve got limited edition T-shirts featuring PaRappa the Rapper to give away at PAX. Find our community managers Cade Peterson and Paul Sullivan at the PlayStation booth first thing on Friday morning (the show opens at 10:00am) to nab one.
If you can’t make it to the PlayStation booth Friday morning, or if you’re just adventurous and want to roll the dice, they’ll also be wandering the PAX show floor on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with free one month trials to PlayStation Plus, and any leftover T-shirts as well. All they ask for in exchange is conversation, and perhaps participation in a few shenanigans. Cade and Paul will be at random locations every few hours, so be sure to follow @HeyPlayStation on Twitter during the show to see where they wind up.

Come visit the LittleBigPlanet section for some major Playing, Creating and Karting! We will be showcasing new race and battle courses in LittleBigPlanet Karting and a larger taste of the mysterious land of Carnivalia in LittleBigPlanet PlayStation Vita. Plus, our lucky and loyal fans can score our PAX-exclusive, fan-created LBP Karting T-shirt chosen from last month’s PS.Blog contest. It’ll be a LittleBigParty weekend, and you won’t want to miss out!

Fresh from gamescom, be sure to swing by and get your hands on some Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time! We’ll have brand new demos for both the PlayStation 3 and the PS Vita versions of the game. Featuring the return of all your favorite characters, and the introduction of Sly Cooper’s ancestors, this upcoming PlayStation exclusive promises to be the biggest and best Sly Cooper ever!

One of the most highly anticipated PlayStation exclusives will be offering up some brand new characters for you to get your hands on. Who exactly? You’ll have to come by to take a look, as we’ll be unveiling two new additions to the roster at the show. Not only will PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale be offering up free pedicab rides around the Convention Center (yes, seriously), you’ll also be able to pick up some free Rally Wear representing some of your favorite characters.

Jonesing for a little God of War: Ascension? Well, God of War fans will be in for a special treat this weekend at PAX.

On Friday, August 31st (from 5:00pm to 6:00pm) in the Unicorn Theater (located in the Convention Center), attendees will have the opportunity to meet God of War: Ascension Game Director Todd Papy, Lead Game Designer Mark Simon, Principal Character Artist Patrick Murphy, and the award-winning writer behind the God of War series, Marianne Krawczyk, as they discuss the origins of God of War: Ascension and provide a never-before-seen look at the evolution of Kratos. The team will also discuss their thoughts on storyline in videogames, and the role it plays in creating the best gaming/entertainment experience. Additionally, fans will be treated to the unveiling of a new character that Kratos will encounter in God of War: Ascension. They’ll also have the opportunity to chat with the team about multi-player, the upcoming Beta, and anything and everything within the God of War universe.

God of War: Ascension’s single-player demo will be available for the first time here in the US, giving fans a taste of what to expect next March. In addition, multi-player stations will be available, where attendees will have a chance to win a God of War: Ascension t-shirt, available only at the PlayStation booth during PAX Prime 2012.
The team from Insomniac Games will also be at PAX for a special Ratchet & Clank 10th Anniversary Celebration panel on Sunday, September 2nd from 1:00 – 2:00pm in the Pegasus theatre. They’ve been hard at work on Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault and they’ve just ramped up a small private beta for the game’s exciting new competitive multiplayer mode. As a special treat, we’re giving a few very lucky fans the opportunity to join the fun. If you swing by the Ratchet & Clank 10th Anniversary Celebration panel, you just may have a chance to score a beta code or one of these cool Ratchet & Clank t-shirts. Stay tuned to the PlayStation.Blog as you may have a few more opportunities to win a code!

There’s more! We’re also partnering with SPIKE TV for a special fan appreciation contest for the Video Game Awards Tenth Anniversary. SPIKE TV is giving PAX attendees the chance to win a trip to this year’s VGAs, hosted by Samuel L. Jackson on December 7! Here’s how it works: first, you’ll need your smart phone handy and an Instagram account. Then, stop by the PlayStation booth and upload a picture of the poster below to Instagram using #VGA to enter to win.

That’s not everything that’ll be in the booth. You’ll also be able to get some hands-on time with PS3 and PS Vita demos for The Unfinished Swan, Sports Champions 2, When Vikings Attack, Smart As and much more! We hope you can make it over to check out our booth at PAX 2012!