| RRP | $49.99 |
| Price At EF | $23.32 |
PlayStation as well as Xbox gamers are shocked after hearing the news that God of War for the Xbox is a real thing. God of War is an amazing game series that has been PlayStation-exclusive since its release in 2005. For nearly two decades, only PC or PS players were able to play this game. It won several awards including Game of the year award. However, the recent announcements and development suggests that Xbox gamers may soon get to experience Kratos’ epic adventures.
This is not a small news for Xbox fans because Sony is making this big shift from gaming exclusivity and reducing platform boundaries. If you are also excited, here’s how and when you can play this high-rated game on Xbox.
God of War on Xbox – How It Works
First of all, we have to clarify a few things. If you are expecting that there will be a native port and you can play God of War Xbox Series X or Xbox One directly, well it’s not that case. For now, the game God of War Xbox version is only accessible through the ROG Xbox Ally handheld device. And, this latest handheld device doesn’t run Xbox Series X software. Instead, it runs Windows. But since God of War received a PC port in 2022, you could install it on this device.
In case if you already own the game on PlayStation, you still need to purchase the God of War PC version in order to play it on the Xbox Ally. It marks the first time Xbox-branded hardware can run God of War directly. However, it’s not going to be a native Xbox game.
Cross-Platform God of War
A dream came to reality for Xbox gamers. While Sony is now embracing the PC ports, players are now starting to wonder that this shifting in gaming might lead to wider availability across platforms. There’s also news that God of War (particularly the acclaimed 2018 reboot) could arrive on Xbox. While there is no official announcement, the interviews and industry trends suggest that it’s a strong possibility.
ROG Xbox Ally is the center of this release. It’s a new handheld device, developed in collaboration between ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) and Xbox, and it runs on Windows. Because of this, it opens the door for games with PC ports, like GoW, to run on Xbox-branded hardware.
After its release, Microsoft also confirmed that with this handheld, you can access “all the games you can play on Windows PCs” on Xbox. So by that, it means that the games like The Last of Us, Spider-Man, Horizon, and God of War would be accessible on Xbox’s handheld for the first time in Xbox history.
Huge For Xbox Gamers
This is huge news for Xbox gamers, thanks to this handheld, you are now able to play PlayStation’s best games in a new way.
Moreover, God of War to Xbox means Kratos could soon battle his way across Xbox’s ecosystem. You will still play it on Xbox even if technically it’s through Windows software. The God of War franchise has been long associated with PlayStation exclusivity, so it’s really exciting for Xbox players.
The ROG Xbox Ally itself is positioned to compete with devices like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2.
With ROG Xbox Ally, you get:
- Portability
- Strong specs (AMD Ryzen Z2 processor (or Z2 Extreme for the Ally X), 7-inch FHD 120Hz display, and options for 16GB or 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and either 512GB or 1TB of storage)
- Flexibility in game access (Best of all)
God of War Xbox Series X style visuals could look sharp on this handheld’s screen.
Sony’s Strategy For God of War To Xbox
For the past few years, Sony along with Microsoft are softening their strict exclusivity stance. Recently, we have FH5 for PS5 and after years of keeping God of War locked to PlayStation, Sony embraced PC ports starting with Horizon Zero Dawn and Spider-Man. Moreover, God of War followed in 2022 with God of War Ragnarök arriving on PC in late 2024.
All these trends in the console games points that Sony wants to expand its player base beyond PlayStation.
There’s even talk that they are positioning themselves to better compete with services like Xbox Game Pass. However, it’s important to note that no official confirmation has been made regarding native God of War Xbox Series X or Xbox One versions. As of now, this is about access through the ROG Xbox Ally and PC ports.
For Xbox Players
It’s better to not get excited too much as God of War Xbox is not going to feature native God of War Xbox One or Xbox Series X versions. You won’t find it on Game Pass yet. However, if you buy the PC port, you can play it on Windows-based devices like the Xbox Ally.
Given the strong specs of ROG Xbox Ally, it is expected that the performance of the game will be solid.
On PC, God of War runs well even on mid-tier hardware. The Xbox Ally also features modern AMD chips and a 120Hz screen so it should handle the game smoothly.
As for pricing, you would need to buy the game on PC platforms like Steam or Epic Games Store. If you already own it on PlayStation, you would still need to buy it for the PC.
Wish Fulfilled Or A Betrayal
On one side, we have PlayStation players and on the other we have Xbox gamers. And both of them are the victims of console-exclusive games. Here some on each side want to play the best games on the other platform.
With this news, most Xbox players are looking forward to the ability to play God of War Xbox Series X on a handheld Xbox console. While, some fans also think that it is a loss of exclusivity that previously characterized PlayStation’s brand is an opportunity wasted.
Old-school PlayStation players have complained that Sony is turning away from what set their ecosystem apart. However, there are several reasons behind this move that can open doors to many games for both consoles.
More gamers now have the opportunity to enjoy Kratos’ story. For certain Xbox players, this is the realization of a dream that has existed for years. For certain PlayStation die-hards, it’s like a betrayal.
When Will You Get God of War Xbox Access
Although there’s no native ports announcement officially, market observers believe this may be just the beginning and soon we will get the native Xbox port.
If God of War does well on the Xbox Ally, Sony may decide to do full releases on Xbox consoles in the future. The rumors were that God of War 2018 would be the first game to hop platforms.
Considering its critical and commercial success, it would fit. It’s also possible that later GoW games, such as a hypothetical sequel to Ragnarök, could be planned for wider release from the beginning.
For the time being, to play God of War on Xbox hardware, your best option will be the Xbox Ally running Windows and the PC version of the game.
Conclusion
God of War for the Xbox is something that not any of us imagined. Despite this, it is not released as a native title for Xbox but still Xbox gamers can play this game. The ROG Xbox Ally makes it possible for the very first genuine means through which Xbox gamers can experience Kratos’ story.
You can play via Windows and PC ports, this legendary franchise is finally walking onto Xbox-branded platforms.
The arrival of God of War on Xbox represents a significant change in gaming. Sony is opening its treasure chest as well as Microsoft is accepting new experiences and challenges. In the end, gamers across the world gain the best value and gaming experience.
Keep an eye on official statements before assuming anything. Stay tuned to Electronic First blog for latest news and gaming guide. At the moment, Xbox fans who’ve been waiting to experience God of War now have an opening.