14 DAY TRIAL // Sony has announced that they are creating a new videogame in the God of War series, called Ghost of Sparta, which will be launched on the PlayStation Portable handheld system. Development duties on the game will be handled by Ready at Dawn, which has experience with both the platform and the franchise, as it has created Chains of Olympus, the previous appearance Kratos made on the PSP. It's not clear when Ghost of Sparta will be released.
Sony is saying Ready at Dawn managed to push the handheld to its limits, promising that God of War: Ghost of Sparta will be introducing “state-of-the art visual technologies” leading to “a realistic feel that has never been seen before on PSP or any other portable platform.” The Japanese company is stating that the game will be longer by a quarter than Chains of Olympus, the narrative focusing on how Kratos spent the years after the first God of War, when he rose to a position of power in Olympus.
Scott Steinberg, who is the vice president of product marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment of America, stated, “Excitement for the God of War franchise is at an all-time high and we're thrilled to continue that momentum with God of War: Ghost of Sparta. This new adventure will showcase Kratos on PSP like never before in an experience that fans and newcomers can enjoy on the go, anytime, anywhere.”
God of War 3 was a blockbuster launch for Sony but the company seems to be breaking one of its former promises, that of not creating another game in the franchise featuring Kratos, the iconic Spartan warrior who uses his desire for revenge in order to slay the entire Pantheon. The PlayStation Portable as a choice for the new action adventure is also an interesting one and sales of the device could rebound significantly when God of War: Ghost of Sparta launches.