Get a God of War theme and avatar set for free this week to celebrate its anniversary

It's been almost a year since we were re-introduced to Kratos and met his boooahhyy child Atreus in God of War. Sony is getting ready for the game's one-year anniversary on April 20 with something that even folks who haven't played God of War yet can get behind: free stuff! Not a commemorative foam beard and bow-and-arrow set or anything, but almost as good: a free dynamic theme to spruce up your PS4, and an avatar set to make your PlayStation Network presence all the more fearsome.

The PS4 theme is available now. Just head to the store and search for "God of War - Your Journey Awaits Dynamic Theme" and you'll be able to download and install it for free. The theme depicts a serene moment with Kratos and Atreus in the middle of rowing across the Lake of Nine, with the mountainous Jörmungandr and some actual mountains looming in the distance. The string-heavy theme plays in the background. It's nice, though Kratos and Atreus seem to be having a staring contest as they bob up and down in the lake.

The other gift, the God of War Anniversary character PS4 avatar set, will be available for free starting on Wednesday, April 17. It presents Kratos and the gang in a cool, runic-inspired linear form rather than the usual renders. I could see my PSN profile rocking one of these if I wasn't still so in love with my "Weirdly Intense and Shirtless George Takei from Star Trek" avatar. I paid about $0.79 for that and now Sulu and I are in it for the long haul.

Santa Monica Studio head Shannon Studstill closed out a commemorative post on the PlayStation Blog with a grateful message to fans, assuring them that they can expect even more in the future - without outright confirming a sequel.

"We’re humbled, and even more honored to be in the same breath as so many masterpiece games who unquestionably deserve the same distinction. Like so many in our industry, at Santa Monica Studio we craft games and strive to tell powerful, emotionally connecting stories. This year marks 20 years since our studio was founded. If I had to predict the next 20 years of Santa Monica Studio, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, we will continue to create games whose art reflects life, life reflects art, with stories we want to resonate for years to come."

If all this has you itching for a second playthrough, make sure you check out our God of War guide so you don't miss anything the second time around. Or see what else is coming up this week with the latest video edition of Release Radar below.

Connor Sheridan

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and now I'm a staff writer here at GamesRadar.

Read more
God of War Ragnarok
God of War turns 20 this month, but before you get too excited, Santa Monica Studio says "there are no planned announcements" at its celebratory panel
Helldivers 2 Killzone crossover artwork with helldivers dressed in Helghast armor
"We've been listening to the response" - Helldivers 2 is making amends with fans upset over crossover prices by giving away Killzone 2 items for free
Games like God of War Ragnarok: Kratos fighting a giant monster on a mountain top.
10 games like God of War Ragnarok you should play next
Cropped cover art for God of War: Ascension, showing Kratos with chains on his arms.
God of War: Ascension's online multiplayer is still kicking almost 12 years on, but its veterans will destroy you on sight: "Everyone who plays this right now is literally a God"
God of War Ragnarok Valhalla save
The best God of War Ragnarok armor sets and their locations
Dragon Age: The Veilguard screenshot showing the RPG's companions standing as a united group, the main protagonist at front wielding a sword
Weeks after EA said Dragon Age: The Veilguard "did not resonate with a broad enough audience," BioWare's RPG is coming to PlayStation Plus as a free monthly game
Latest in God of War
God of War Ragnarok
God of War turns 20 this month, but before you get too excited, Santa Monica Studio says "there are no planned announcements" at its celebratory panel
Cropped cover art for God of War: Ascension, showing Kratos with chains on his arms.
God of War: Ascension's online multiplayer is still kicking almost 12 years on, but its veterans will destroy you on sight: "Everyone who plays this right now is literally a God"
God of War: Ragnarok
God of War actor Chris Judge says it's "absolutely not true" that he teased new content as "you can't tease something you know nothing about"
God of War: Ragnarok
Days after shutting its AAA game studio filled with former God of War and Overwatch talent, Netflix announces a "new initiative" powered by AI
God of War Ragnarok
Netflix reportedly shutters its AAA game studio, dismantling a team of former God of War, Overwatch, Halo, and Gears of War devs
God of War Ragnarok
God of War: Ragnarok, Cyberpunk 2077, and Apex Legends are gloriously ugly in new art from devs joining "Blocktober" trend showing how games come together
Latest in News
Overwatch 2
My hopes for an Overwatch anime or Diablo horror movie are going strong as Blizzard president points out "we are Blizzard Entertainment, and not simply Blizzard Games"
The New Thunderbolts leaping into action
Marvel's New Thunderbolts* comic steals the MCU's asterisk, and the reason why is just as big of a mystery
Pokemon Go players brace for the worst as Niantic is sold off for $3.5 billion: "This game is entering its death knell"
Stamp PSP
A 16-year-old pitch for a newly discovered first-party PSP game has me mourning the death of PlayStation's Japan Studio all over again
Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon says he "got rid of" agents who deliberately kept him away from video game gigs: "They just didn't want me to do it"
Mass Effect
Jennifer Hale says she didn't see a single line as Mass Effect's Commander Shepard until it was time to record: "It was all cold reading on the spot"