The 20th anniversary of "God of War" has arrived, and fans might have been eager for a new game announcement, but Sony had a surprise waiting in store.
In its September 2025 State of Play event, the video game giant unveiled a limited-edition Kratos-themed PS5 DualSense controller as a celebration of one of PlayStation's most legendary characters.
PS5 Controller Fit for Kratos Fans
The new DualSense has an ash-white foundation with a bold blood-red stripe, reminiscent of Kratos' famous omega tattoo. The controller retails at $84.99 and officially goes on sale in October 2025, with pre-orders starting on Oct. 3 at 10 a.m.
Though it's not a new "God of War" game, the controller is a symbolic gesture to two decades of Kratos' adventures, from Greek mythology to the Norse saga.
The Legacy of 'God of War'
Originally launched in 2005 for PlayStation 2, "God of War" established itself almost instantly as one of the most renowned franchises from Sony. Kratos became a household name due to his aggressive fighting techniques and larger-than-life narrative.
The series was reimagined in 2018 with a soft reboot that moved the saga to Norse mythology. That game, followed by "God of War Ragnarök" in 2022, brought Kratos back into a new generation of gamers while maintaining the ferocity that made the series legendary.
Santa Monica Studio has still kept fans up to date with new content, such as the Valhalla roguelike story update in 2023. Nevertheless, the next installment in Kratos' saga is still closely guarded.
Kratos' Design Inspiration
In a PlayStation.Blog article, Dela Longfish, associate art director at Santa Monica Studio, discussed the design inspiration:
"No matter which God of War game you're playing, the shape of his red ink against the gray of his ash-covered skin is one of the most iconic elements of Kratos' look across both Greek and Norse sagas. Our team made sure to represent both of these key tones in the color selection for the controller to make every aspect an authentic homage to the design that has defined Kratos for over two decades."
Color selection reinforces both the ash-gray of Kratos' tainted skin and the blaze of red of his tattoo, making the design immediately appealing to long-time fans.
Sony's Expanding Roster of Collector Controllers
According to Push Square, the anniversary edition is the latest addition to Sony's growing roster of themed DualSense controllers. Previous standouts include 30th-anniversary versions, "The Last of Us," and "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach."
The Kratos controller is now among them as a collector's piece to own, particularly for fans who have been along for the ride since its PlayStation 2 roots.
