You've probably been there. Scrolling through the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, past the indie gems and the Ubisoft classics, just hoping to see that iconic shot of Kratos and Atreus in the snow.
For the longest time, it wasn't there.
Sony treats its first-party crown jewels like protected treasure. But things changed. God of War Ragnarok PS Plus availability eventually became a reality, though not in the way many "day-one" optimists expected. It took nearly two years. Two long years of waiting while the 2018 reboot sat comfortably in the library, beckoning players to finish the story.
The January 2025 "Big Drop"
Let’s be real: January 2025 was a massive month for anyone paying for PS Plus Extra or Premium. Sony finally pulled the trigger. They added God of War Ragnarok to the Game Catalog. It wasn't just a trial anymore. It was the full, sprawling, 40-plus hour epic available for anyone with a mid-to-high tier subscription.
It felt like a strategic move.
The hype for the Valhalla DLC had settled. The PC port had already done its numbers. Sony basically decided it was time to use Kratos as a "system seller" for the subscription service itself. It worked. Millions of players who had been holding out for a deep sale suddenly had a reason to renew their annual memberships.
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Tiers and trials
If you were on the Essential tier (the basic one for online play), you were out of luck. Sony has been very specific about this. Ragnarok didn't arrive as a "Monthly Game" that you claim and keep forever. It’s part of the rotating Catalog.
Here is how the access broke down:
- Extra Tier: Full access to the PS4 and PS5 versions.
- Premium Tier: Full access plus the 3-hour time-limited trial that had actually been available since early 2023.
- Essential Tier: Still required a full purchase or a massive discount.
Why games like Ragnarok leave the service
Here’s the thing that trips people up: "First-party" doesn't mean "forever."
There is a huge misconception that if Sony owns the studio, the game stays on PS Plus indefinitely. Ask anyone who wanted to play Horizon Forbidden West in late 2024. It vanished. In fact, as we sit here in January 2026, there’s already chatter about God of War Ragnarok potentially leaving the service soon to make room for newer "big" additions like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Sony uses a "two-year window." They put a blockbuster on the service about 24 months after launch, let it sit for a year to drive subscriptions, and then sometimes pull it to encourage "legacy sales" or to hype up a sequel.
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Honestly, it’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game for the players.
The Valhalla factor
One detail people often overlook is the Valhalla DLC.
When God of War Ragnarok hit PS Plus, it included the Valhalla expansion because that DLC was free for everyone anyway. This is a big deal for lore nerds. Valhalla serves as a sort of "epilogue" that wraps up Kratos's personal journey from the Greek era through the Norse era.
If you're playing through the service, don't skip it. It’s a rogue-lite mode, sure, but the story beats are some of the best Santa Monica Studio has ever written. It basically transforms the game from a "great sequel" into a "legendary finale."
Performance: PS4 vs. PS5 on Plus
If you’re downloading this through your subscription, you might be wondering if your old PS4 can handle the heat.
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The game is a technical miracle on the old hardware. Seriously. It runs at a stable 30fps and looks better than most games made specifically for modern consoles. However, if you've got a PS5, you're looking at 60fps (or even higher if you have a 120Hz display with VRR).
The haptic feedback on the DualSense controller is the real winner here. Feeling the "thwack" of the Leviathan Axe returning to your hand is something you just don't get on the older hardware.
Moving forward with Kratos
If you haven't started your journey through the Nine Realms yet, you really should check the "Last Chance to Play" section in your console dashboard. Sony usually gives about 30 days' notice before a heavy hitter like this leaves the Catalog.
The smart move right now is to prioritize the main story. You can main-line the campaign in about 20 to 25 hours if you ignore the side "favors." But honestly? The side content is where the soul of the game lives.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your Tier: Ensure you have at least PS Plus Extra. The Basic/Essential tier will not give you access to the Game Catalog.
- Download the PS5 version: If you have the choice, the PS5 version takes up about 84GB, while the PS4 version is slightly larger due to different compression techniques.
- Play 2018 first: If it’s still in the library (which it usually is), play the 2018 God of War first. The emotional weight of Ragnarok is exactly zero if you don't see the bond Kratos and Atreus built in the first game.
- Claim Valhalla: Even if you’re just "renting" the game through your sub, go to the store and "add" the free Valhalla DLC to your library so it's ready the moment the credits roll.
The window for big Sony exclusives on PS Plus is rarely permanent. If it's there today, play it today.