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When we first started working on Death Howl, if you had told me we were building an “open world, soulslike deckbuilder,” I would have looked at you with a fair bit of confusion. It sounds like a recipe made out of components that don’t naturally fit together. Yet, as we prepare to bring the journey of Ro to a new audience on PlayStation 5 from February 19, I’ve been reflecting on how this genre blend came to be. The truth is, the “soulslike” tag wasn’t part of the original design document. A foundation of cards and tactics At its core, Death Howl began as a prototype that I made as a school project back in 2015 after playing the unique and brilliant game called Dream Quest. I’ve always been inspired by Magic: The Gathering and the idea of traversing a world to collect materials for crafting power. Our initial goal was to create an alternative to the traditional roguelite deckbuilder – something that traded linear, “always-start-from-beginning” runs for a free-roaming open world. We also looked at the character skill building where cards replaced traditional weapons and spells, with all combat taking place on a grid. Play Video The accidental Soulslike In general, we never intended to blend so many genres. At its core, Death Howl is an open world deckbuilder. But to achieve that vision, many different designs had to merge. We combined tactical, grid-based combat with deck building. We merged open world exploration with turn-based battles. And as the design evolved, other genre elements emerged organically – including soulslike mechanics. Honestly, I wasn’t even especially familiar with soulslike games when we started. It was something that came about from testers telling us it felt like one. Some elements were already in place. “Sacred Groves” – checkpoint locations much like the bonfires you might know from other games-allow you to heal, but they also respawn all enemies. We had designed these early on. But testers pointed to other traces of the genre in our game. They felt Death Howl earned the soulslike label because of how it rewards pattern recognition. You need to observe enemy behaviors – learning to avoid the frontal charge of a boar, for instance – and embrace the punishing but fair loop of death and adaptation. We made one key adjustment to fit our card-based structure. Instead of sending players back to the last checkpoint, dying in Death Howl returns you to the moment just before the encounter you lost. When Ro dies, she drops “Death Howls” – the currency earned from defeating enemies, used to craft new cards and upgrade abilities. These can be retrieved after respawning, much like souls in other games. This mechanic was perhaps the biggest direct inspiration we took from the genre once we became more familiar with it. The rest emerged more indirectly. But embracing the soulslike direction as an overall concept helped us add even more layers to the experience. For me, it’s still an open world deckbuilder. For others, it’s a soulslike card battler. Both are true. Balancing the dark and the ethereal Genre-blending is one part of Death Howl’s identity. The other is its mood. The world of Death Howl is a spirit realm born from grief, distant memories, and the unknown. To capture that otherworldly feeling, we leaned into a “linocut” or woodcut art style-inspired by heavy metal t-shirts and old-school Scandinavian illustrations – all rendered in minimalistic pixel art. This visual approach mirrors the gameplay in a way. Just as shapes emerge from deep shadows in our art, players must piece together the narrative of Ro’s quest to reunite with her son. The pixel art forces the viewer to imagine the details left in the darkness, creating space for their own interpretation. A journey to PlayStation Building Death Howl taught us that creating something unique often means combining elements that don’t obviously fit together. The result is a game that balances the calm of exploration with the intensity of turn-based combat, all wrapped in a story of resilience and loss. As we bring this experience to PlayStation 5 on February 19, we’re incredibly excited for a new community to step into our Spirit World and discover its secrets. Whether you’re a deckbuilding veteran or a soulslike fan looking for a tactical twist, we hope you’ll find something here that resonates. Death Howl is more than the sum of its genres-it’s a reflection of the creative journey that shaped it. View the full article

When Mega Cat Studios sat down to dream big, one name sat at the very top of their wishlist: God of War. Years later, that long-shot ambition has become God of War Sons of Sparta, a newly released prequel developed in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio (SMS). Set at the earliest point in the series timeline, the game casts players as a young, devout Kratos before he knows his true nature as a demi-god, weaving a story about brotherhood and the meaning of being Spartan. Sons of Sparta pairs retro action-adventure design with an emotional God of War story. Mega Cat Studios Founder and CEO James Deighan and Game Director Zack Manko also discuss the origins of the game’s title and the name of the studio. For the full conversation listen to the latest Official PlayStation Podcast episode. Play Video PlayStation Blog: What can you share about the origins of this collaboration with Santa Monica Studio? James Deighan: So one of the things we’ve always done at Mega Cat are these leadership retreats where we talk about what we want to do… what we want to be known for… what inspired us to join the games industry. And one of the things that we’ve maintained, kind of ceremonially, is this “wishlist” of franchises we wish we could collaborate on. And we’ve had God of War listed as number one since the very beginning. And part of that wishlist is also the probability of us being able to do that, which we’ve always had listed very low. And as we continued to grow and make bigger, better games, and got a lot more confidence we started taking bigger swings, and eventually we just made a pitch and reached out and got really lucky that somebody read it, and they were open to having a conversation about what our idea was for a prequel and some kind of pixel art treatment extension of the franchise that we all adore. …so it really is just on multiple layers, a dream come true, working with such a talented team [at Santa Monica Studio], with a franchise we adore. How is Kratos’ relationship with the Greek gods at this point in his life? Zack Manko: This is Kratos as a boy. So it’s pre-god powers. He doesn’t even know he’s a god. But that also means he has a very different relationship with the gods. He’s very devout. He has this faith that he leans on and turns to when things look darkest. And in Sons of Sparta, you see how that pays off. You get Gifts of Olympus, these artifacts blessed by the gods, that allow you to do all these crazy puzzles, exploration, and combat. Ultimately, seeing Kratos as this devout, faith-filled figure, and knowing what comes later with his relationship with the gods…adds a new dimension as well. What went into the decision to set the game at the earliest point in the series’ timeline? Manko: I think there are two reasons, really. First, like you said, it’s a prequel. Our initial pitch was, you know, imagine what God of War would have looked like on [the original PlayStation], you know, what a God of War zero, if you will, would look like. So I think with that in mind the narrative team at SMS thought this time period you know, Kratos as a boy, his formative years, would be interesting to explore, because the events here and what he goes through and what he experiences, it really adds a texture to his character that kind of you can see throughout the rest of the saga. It certainly adds a new lens onto him [when looking back at the Greek games]. Early on, we did think about maybe [making the story] a little bit closer to the events of the Greek saga games that fans are familiar with. But again, I think the writers at SMS thought this is what we need to go to, because seeing Kratos as a boy here resonates throughout the rest of the series, not only with the Greek games, but also, you know, the Norse saga, where you see Kratos as a father with Atreus, and how the events in Sons of Sparta may influence that. And the same sort of, same sort of context, the influences on Kratos as a boy, how that lines up with Kratos’ parenting style in the Norse saga. These formative years of Kratos, this character, seeing all these things that happen and these influences on him. It just adds so much to this character that fans are familiar with throughout the rest of the games. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Meet Mega Cat, the feline the God of War: Sons of Sparta studio is named after. What can you tell us about the origins of the game’s title and name of the studio itself? Manko: James wanted to name it something Greek yogurt themed, you know, high protein, fitting for Kratos [laughs]. But, um, no, in all seriousness, God of War Sons of Sparta was chosen because it just encapsulates the main themes in the game so well. You know, Kratos and Deimos are the sons of Sparta, and they’re discovering what that means. What it means to be a Spartan, what are the demands there, what’s the cost? Deighan: [Regarding the studio name Mega Cat Studios] we had a beloved cat that I had as a pet that passed. One of our [team members’ now-wife] volunteers at a local animal shelter here, and she was serving a few bottle babies. [Bottle babies] are whenever the shelters are completely overburdened with animals, the trained [certified] volunteers can take [cats] home and help raise them. I was dealing with some pet-loss heartbreak, as you do, and [the shelter had] this one, really aggressive runt in the litter that we ended up taking home and bottle feeding and spending some time with. That was Mega Cat. So when we first came up with a list of many ideas and names for the company, we included [“Mega Cat”] on the list and started voting and sharing it around with our friends, family, and colleagues. And there was this really overwhelmingly positive response [to the name]… which kind of rolls off the tongue. Early years, it really worked to our advantage, because people confused us with Mad Catz [laughs]. We had all these names that we really went deep on, and we added a Mega Cat at the end of the list. Even our UPS driver was like, “that one’s awesome, man.” God of War Sons of Sparta is available now on PS5. View the full article

God of War Sons of Sparta is a brand-new entry to the series available now for the PlayStation 5! Developed by our partners at Mega Cat Studios, Sons of Sparta takes God of War staples and translates them like never before into a retro-inspired 2D action platformer. Looking to learn more before embarking on a journey back to ancient Greece this weekend? Here’s what you need to know about God of War Sons of Sparta! Duty, honor & brotherhood Sons of Sparta is a canon story that takes place in Kratos’ youth from the writing team that brought you God of War (2018), God of War Ragnarök, and God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla. Set during the brutal training period Spartan cadets undergo at the Agoge – Kratos, alongside his brother Deimos, must traverse far beyond the home they know into the beautiful yet dangerous region of Laconia that surrounds the familiar walls of Sparta. Kratos and Deimos must overcome threats that will put all their training to the test while challenging them to confront the true meaning of duty, honor, and brotherhood. Play Video Heartfelt performances Sons of Sparta features a fantastic vocal cast whose performances bring the depth and emotion fans expect from God of War games. We’re thrilled to have two actors who have both portrayed Kratos in the Greek saga reprise their roles for this game. TC Carson returns as the adult version of Kratos who serves as our story’s narrator, while Antony Del Rio portrays the younger version of Kratos, which he also did in God of War: Ghost of Sparta back in 2010! We’re also excited to have newcomers join the series, including Scott Menville, as the voice of our young Deimos. God of War combat in 2D Sons of Sparta brings God of War’s kinetic combat to a brand-new genre. Customize your weapons, learn new skills, and harness powerful divine artifacts using the Gifts of Olympus to end your foes with brutal finishers. Play Video A Spartan’s first weapons Kratos’ spear and shield can each be enhanced and adapted using different attachments. Each attachment comes with its own upgrade path, so you can tailor your build to empower whichever playstyle you enjoy. Kratos also has access to three primary skill trees where he can learn new abilities to improve his offensive, defensive, and movement kits. Gifts of Olympus Throughout his adventures in Laconia, Kratos will acquire Gifts of Olympus, divine artifacts that can turn the tide in combat through their special and super attacks. Some of the Gifts excel in ranged combat – striking with precision from afar or launching an exploding projectile to hit multiple creatures. Others come with their own devastating melee combo to supplement Kratos’ spear attacks. Myths and legends Sons of Sparta features the return of many iconic creatures from the Greek saga, including hulking minotaurs, nimble satyrs, and undead legionnaires. We worked closely with the team at Mega Cat Studios to faithfully translate the original animations to their 2D representations in-game. On top of the classics, MCS has also brought in many new creatures from Greek mythology didn’t have the chance to explore in the originals. Explore Laconia Stunning high-definition pixel art environments will take you on a journey through a variety of locations that bring Kratos’ homeland to life with incredible detail. As you progress through the main story, you’ll find that Laconia is also full of content that rewards exploration – optional quests, hidden encounters, and loot await! The sound of Sparta Bear McCreary returns to score Sons of Sparta with an incredible soundtrack that melds retro aesthetics with God of War’s signature sweeping orchestral and choral style. Get it today The Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions are both available for purchase digitally at PlayStation Store: Standard Edition of God of War Sons of Sparta is $29.99 USD / €29.99 / £24.99 / ¥3480 Digital Deluxe Edition of God of War Sons of Sparta is $39.99 USD / €39.99 / £32.99 / ¥4480 Thank you to all the God of War fans for your continued support, we hope you’ll enjoy Sons of Sparta! View the full article

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Brett, Kristen, and I are back this week to talk about this week’s State of Play, along with all the exciting announcements that came with it. To celebrate the surprise launch of God of War Sons of Sparta, we have a special interview with developer Mega Cat Studios: Game Director Zack Manko and Founder/CEO James Deighan. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s release highlights: God of War Sons of Sparta (out now!) | PS5 Avowed | PS5 Death Howl | PS5 Styx: Blades of Greed | PS5 Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown | PS5 Ys X: Proud Nordics | PS5 Romeo is a Dead Man Suda 51 Interview — Suda 51 dives into his artistic approach to hyper-violence and sci-fi in his games, while also breaking down the inspirations behind the character Romeo and the story. Monster Hunter Wilds update — The update adds the Arch-tempered Arkveld, the return of the Festival of Accord, winners of the Original Weapon and Pendant Design contest, and more goodies on February 18. Helldivers 2 new story arc — The Cyborgs are back, and this time the fight is in the heart of their homeworld, Cyberstan. Prepare with the War Horses Armor Set and new missions and objectives. Battlefield 6 season 2 update — Battlefield 6 and Redsec Season 2 drops February 17 and brings with it a new conflict with Pax Armata in the mountainsides, a new map Contaminated, three new weapons, two new gadgets, and the return of the legendary AH-6 Little Bird. State of Play recap — If you missed the show, don’t worry. We have all the information and highlights in one place. Your new favorite game may be waiting. God of War Sons of Sparta — The new God of War title was dropped this week, and you can learn everything you need to get started. Live the story of Kratos before he became the God of War. The Cast View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.] View the full article

Last week, we asked you to share romantic moments from your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: legend12480 shares Cloud holding Aerith in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth RazinZamee shares Kratos and Faye touching heads in God of War Ragarök Ninon76278564 shares a Persona 3 Reload date with teammate Aigis Leumir4 shares Maria giving James a sly look in Silent Hill 2 raphxander_ shares Nate and Elena sharing a kiss in Uncharted 4 BBSnakeCorn shares a moment between Lars and Alisa in Tekken 8 Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Nioh 3 SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 18, 2026 Next week, take on yokai and warlords alike in Nioh 3. Share epic moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article