God of War Sons of Sparta PS4 release set for Nov 16

The God of War Sons of Sparta PS4 version launches November 16, with a free patch adding Hermes Mode and Erebus Mode on PS4 and PS5. Cheat code inside.

FireGhost

November 14, 2026, 11:10 AM4 min read

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The God of War Sons of Sparta PS4 version arrives on November 16. The PlayStation Blog post updated on November 13 confirms a free patch the same day that adds two new modes, Hermes Mode and Erebus Mode, on both PS4 and PS5.

Santa Monica Studio says the PS4 version goes live at midnight local time. The game launched as a PS5 exclusive back in February. On the mainline side, God of War Laufey was delayed to May 20, 2027.

Young Kratos and his brother Deimos in official God of War Sons of Sparta art — God of War Sons of Sparta is coming to PS4 (Source: PlayStation Blog)

What comes with the God of War Sons of Sparta PS4 release?

Alongside the PS4 version, Mega Cat Studios is releasing a patch with two new game modes. Both are playable on PS4 and PS5.

Sony has been looking after existing console owners this week. For example, PS5 QSSR support arrived in Spider-Man 2. The Sons of Sparta PS4 port follows the same idea, opening the game up to a bigger audience.

God of War Sons of Sparta PS4 update at a glance

PS4 launch: November 16, midnight local time
New mode 1: Hermes Mode, with speedrun tools
New mode 2: Erebus Mode, one-hit kills
Platforms: PS4 and PS5
Price: free patch
Developers: Mega Cat Studios and Santa Monica Studio

How do you unlock Hermes Mode?

Hermes Mode is built for speedrunners. It adds a split-based timer, a persistent scoreboard and more. There are two ways in. The first is simply to beat the game once.

The second is a classic cheat code. In the start menu, enter Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, L1, R1, Touchpad. Retro fans will spot the nod to a very famous code.

The Hermes Mode speedrun screen in God of War Sons of Sparta — Hermes Mode adds speedrun tools (Source: PlayStation Blog)

How hard is Erebus Mode?

Erebus Mode is the ultimate challenge. Both you and your enemies fall in a single hit. Every mistake can end your run, but sharp timing lets you drop foes just as fast.

One thing to note: you pick the mode when you start a new game and choose a save slot. Once set, it cannot be changed for that save. Use a fresh slot if you want to keep your main file safe.

Erebus Mode gameplay in God of War Sons of Sparta — In Erebus Mode, one hit is all it takes (Source: PlayStation Blog)

What kind of game is God of War Sons of Sparta?

Sons of Sparta turns the God of War formula into a retro-inspired 2D action platformer. It is set in Kratos' youth, during the brutal training of the Spartan Agoge. Kratos and his brother Deimos set out to find a missing fellow cadet.

It is a canon story from the writers behind God of War (2018) and Ragnarök. TC Carson returns as the adult Kratos, who narrates, while Antony Del Rio plays young Kratos, a role he also voiced in Ghost of Sparta. Spear and shield attachments, three skill trees and divine Gifts of Olympus shape the combat.

What does it mean for players?

It is good news for PS4 owners. Even with PS5 sales past 100 million, the PS4 audience is still huge, and Sony rarely brings a first-party game back to last gen after launch.

PS5 players get something too, since the two new modes give a strong reason to replay. Gematsu's PS4 version report also confirms the update is free. If you are waiting for a deal, keep an eye on the PlayStation Store Black Friday 2026 deals.

Frequently asked questions

When does God of War Sons of Sparta release on PS4?

It launches on PS4 on November 16 at midnight local time. A patch with two new modes arrives the same day for both PS4 and PS5.

How do you unlock Hermes Mode?

Hermes Mode unlocks after you beat the game once. You can also enter this code in the start menu: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, L1, R1, Touchpad.

What is Erebus Mode?

Erebus Mode is a challenge mode where both you and your enemies die in a single hit. You choose it when starting a new game, and it cannot be changed for that save file.