Summary

  • The January 2025 update for God of War Ragnarok adds the Armor of the Black Bear Set to the early game, making it easily accessible to players.
  • The update focuses on cosmetics, including making Transmog features available from the beginning.

Santa Monica Studio has recently released a new update for God of War Ragnarok. The new update is a small addition that will make the Armor of the Black Bear Set more easily available to God of War Ragnarok players.

God of War Ragnarok was originally released in 2022, and it quickly became a big hit, selling over 15 million units. The game followed the story of Kratos and his son Atreus after the events of the previous God of War, which put the franchise in a Nordic setting. In 2024, God of War Ragnarok was released for PC, following Sony’s recent push for more multiplatform launches.

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Now, Santa Monica Studio has revealed the January 2025 update for God of War Ragnarok. Instead of fixing issues, as the game is pretty polished right now, the update focuses solely on the cosmetic side of the experience, with full Transmog features being available for players from the beginning of the game instead of requiring gear to be fully upgraded to Level 9. The main highlight of the update, however, is the Armor of the Black Bear Set, which will now be available for PS4 and PS5 players in the first Lost Items chest in the game, not only during New Game Plus anymore.

On PC, the armor set will be offered as a sign-on bonus for God of War Ragnarok, and it will be accessible via the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms together with a resource bundle. To get it, players need to sign in to the PlayStation Network, and they’ll get the full set (Cloak of the Black Bear, Wraps of the Black Bear, and Belt of the Black Bear) as well as 500 Hacksilver and 250 XP.

While not as robust as some previous updates such as the free God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla DLC, the new update is still good news for fans. However, it’s likely that it will not make long-time gamers return to the title, as it seems more aimed at new players.

The timing of the update may not be a coincidence, though. Recent leaks indicate that the next God of War game could be set in Egypt, and multiple rumors before have hinted that Sony and Santa Monica Studio could announce a new game soon. In any case, it’s best to take these rumors with a grain of salt and wait for an official announcement before getting too excited.

God of War Ragnarok January 2025 Update Official Patch Notes (PC, PS4, and PS5)

Update to the Edit Appearance Feature (AKA Transmog System)

For all PlayStation and PC players, the Edit Appearance feature (AKA the Transmog system), will no longer require gear to be fully upgraded to level 9 and will instead be available from the beginning of the game.

Armor of the Black Bear Set

Updated PS4 & PS5 Access to the Armor of the Black Bear Set

After this update, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 players will also get access to the Armor of the Black Bear set (no NG+ save required) via the first available Lost Items chest in new and in-progress saves.

PlayStation Network Sign-in Bonus on PC

When signed into an account for the PlayStation Network when playing God of War Ragnarök on PC, you will gain access to the Armor of the Black Bear set for Kratos at the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms (previously only accessible in a New Game+ run) and a resource bundle.

This set includes:

  • Cloak of the Black Bear (Chest)
  • Wraps of the Black Bear (Wrist)
  • Belt of the Black Bear (Waist)

The resource bundle includes:

  • 500 Hacksilver
  • 250 XP

For in-progress saves, you will be able to access the armor set and resource bundle in the Lost Items chest after the update is live.

If you do not wish to log-in to an account for PlayStation Network while playing God of War Ragnarök on PC, you will still be able to access the Armor of the Black Bear set in a New Game+ run (the same as before).

Signing into the PlayStation Network will now be optional on God of War Ragnarök PC.

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Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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Released
November 9, 2022
ESRB
M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s)
Sony
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God of War Ragnarok the crater region and lightning
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DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go
From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.

Engine
Proprietary Engine
Franchise
God of War
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
PC Release Date
September 19, 2024
PS5 Release Date
November 9, 2022
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
How Long To Beat
26 Hours
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty