CONFIRMED
God of War: Sons of Sparta is coming to PS4 on November 16, 2026, nine months after it shadow-dropped on PS5. A free content update lands the same day and adds two new modes, a speedrun mode called Hermes and a one-hit-kill hardcore mode called Erebus. Gematsu, VGC and Insider Gaming report that the update is coming to PS5 as well, so current owners get the new content too.
What we know
The PS4 version is official. According to Gematsu, Santa Monica Studio and PlayStation announced that Sons of Sparta arrives on PS4 on November 16, 2026. That falls on Monday, so it is only days away.
The game first launched on PS5 in February 2026. It was a surprise shadow drop: a 2D Metroidvania prequel starring a young Kratos, well before the Greek god-killer and the Norse dad years. The PS4 release comes nine months after that debut.
The bigger news for anyone who already owns the game is the free content update. Gematsu, VGC and Insider Gaming all report that the update launches alongside the PS4 version and adds two modes, Hermes Mode and Erebus Mode. Those outlets say the update is available on both PS4 and PS5.
Insider Gaming and other outlets covering the announcement have the details on each mode:
- Hermes Mode is a speedrun mode. It uses a split-based timer and a persistent scoreboard, so you can track your sections and chase your own best times.
- Erebus Mode is a hardcore mode. Players and enemies both die in one hit.
There is one catch to plan around. You pick the mode when you start a new save, and you can’t change it for that save file. If you want to try Erebus on a whim, start a fresh file instead of expecting to toggle it on an existing run.
These new modes add to what is already in the game. Before launch, Santa Monica Studio said a challenge mode unlocks after the main story, playable solo or in local 2-player co-op.
What is rumored
The PS4 version leaked before the announcement. The PlayStation Game Size account on X, which tracks PlayStation Store backend data, reported that a PS4 listing ID for Sons of Sparta existed in the store backend and that the US store page mentioned the previous-generation platform. KitGuru, GameRant and others covered the claim.
This is a single-source social account and not an official channel, so its reports belong in the rumor pile until a publisher or platform holder speaks. It was right this time. The official announcement confirmed the PS4 version, so that claim is now settled. Being right once does not turn store-backend tracking into a guarantee, and future claims from the account should be treated as rumors until confirmed.
What we don’t know yet
Coverage of the PS4 announcement leaves several practical questions open:
- PS4 pricing. No price for the PS4 version has been reported.
- Cross-buy. It hasn’t been said whether PS5 owners get the PS4 version, or whether PS4 buyers can move up to PS5.
- Cross-save. There is no word on whether progress carries between the PS4 and PS5 versions.
For PS5 players, cross-save matters most if you play across a PS4 and a PS5 in the same household. For now, assume nothing carries over until Santa Monica Studio or PlayStation says otherwise.
We also have no performance details for the PS4 version, and no word on whether more updates are planned after this one.
What it means
If you’re on PS5 and already finished Sons of Sparta, the update gives you a solid reason to return. Hermes Mode suits a Metroidvania well, since knowing the map and its shortcuts is half the fun of speedrunning these games. The split timer and persistent scoreboard turn that into something you can measure run after run.
Erebus Mode is for the masochists. One-hit deaths cut both ways, so careless play gets punished fast, but so do enemies. The locked-in save choice means it’s a commitment, not something you can dip into and back out of.
If you skipped Sons of Sparta at launch, the context is mixed. Push Square reported in February 2026 that the game received the lowest Metacritic scores in the God of War series. That doesn’t make it a bad pick for everyone, especially if you like 2D action and exploration, but it’s not the reliably loved release the mainline games are. Free modes don’t fix whatever put critics off, though they do add replay value at no cost.
For PS4 players still holding off on upgrading, this is a straightforward win: a new God of War release on the console you already own, launching with the extra modes included.
The smart move for PS5 owners is to download the update when it lands on November 16, then wait for word on pricing, cross-buy and cross-save before buying anything for a second console.
About this piece
- Fact-checked by Harriet Vance before publication.
- Published
