When we first started working on Death Howl, if you had told me we were building an “open world, soulslike deckbuilder,” I would have looked at you with a fair bit of confusion. It sounds like a recipe made out of components that don’t naturally fit together. Yet, as we prepare to bring the journey of Ro to a new audience on PlayStation 5 from February 19, I’ve been reflecting on how this genre blend came to be.

The truth is, the “soulslike” tag wasn’t part of the original design document.

A foundation of cards and tactics

At its core, Death Howl began as a prototype that I made as a school project back in 2015 after playing the unique and brilliant game called Dream Quest. I’ve always been inspired by Magic: The Gathering and the idea of traversing a world to collect materials for crafting power. Our initial goal was to create an alternative to the traditional roguelite deckbuilder – something that traded linear, “always-start-from-beginning” runs for a free-roaming open world.

We also looked at the character skill building where cards replaced traditional weapons and spells, with all combat taking place on a grid.

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When Mega Cat Studios sat down to dream big, one name sat at the very top of their wishlist: God of War. Years later, that long-shot ambition has become God of War Sons of Sparta, a newly released prequel developed in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio (SMS). Set at the earliest point in the series timeline, the game casts players as a young, devout Kratos before he knows his true nature as a demi-god, weaving a story about brotherhood and the meaning of being Spartan. Sons of Sparta pairs retro action-adventure design with an emotional God of War story.

Mega Cat Studios Founder and CEO James Deighan and Game Director Zack Manko also discuss the origins of the game’s title and the name of the studio. For the full conversation listen to the latest Official PlayStation Podcast episode.

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God of War Sons of Sparta is a brand-new entry to the series available now for the PlayStation 5! 

Developed by our partners at Mega Cat Studios, Sons of Sparta takes God of War staples and translates them like never before into a retro-inspired 2D action platformer.

Looking to learn more before embarking on a journey back to ancient Greece this weekend? Here’s what you need to know about God of War Sons of Sparta! 

Duty, honor & brotherhood

Sons of Sparta is a canon story that takes place in Kratos’ youth from the writing team that brought you God of War (2018), God of War Ragnarök, and God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla. 

Set during the brutal training period Spartan cadets undergo at the Agoge – Kratos, alongside his brother Deimos, must traverse far beyond the home they know into the beautiful yet dangerous region of Laconia that surrounds the familiar walls of Sparta. 

Kratos and Deimos must overcome threats that will put all their training to the test while challenging them to confront the true meaning of duty, honor, and brotherhood.  

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Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

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Hey, everybody! Brett, Kristen, and I are back this week to talk about this week’s State of Play, along with all the exciting announcements that came with it. To celebrate the surprise launch of God of War Sons of Sparta, we have a special interview with developer Mega Cat Studios: Game Director Zack Manko and Founder/CEO James Deighan.

Stuff We Talked About

• Next week’s release highlights:
  • God of War Sons of Sparta (out now!) | PS5
  • Avowed | PS5
  • Death Howl | PS5
  • Styx: Blades of Greed | PS5
  • Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown | PS5
  • Ys X: Proud Nordics | PS5
    
    
• Romeo is a Dead Man Suda 51 Interview  — Suda 51 dives into his artistic approach to hyper-violence and sci-fi in his games, while also breaking down the inspirations behind the character Romeo and the story.
  
  
• Monster Hunter Wilds update  —  The update adds the Arch-tempered Arkveld, the return of the Festival of Accord, winners of the Original Weapon and Pendant Design contest, and more goodies on February 18.
  
  
• Helldivers 2 new story arc — The Cyborgs are back, and this time the fight is in the heart of their homeworld, Cyberstan. Prepare with the War Horses Armor Set and new missions and objectives.
  
  
• Battlefield 6 season 2 update — Battlefield 6 and Redsec Season 2 drops February 17 and brings with it a new conflict with Pax Armata in the mountainsides, a new map Contaminated, three new weapons, two new gadgets, and the return of the legendary AH-6 Little Bird.
  
  
• State of Play recap  — If you missed the show, don’t worry. We have all the information and highlights in one place. Your new favorite game may be waiting.
  
  
• God of War Sons of Sparta — The new God of War title was dropped this week, and you can learn everything you need to get started. Live the story of Kratos before he became the God of War.

The Cast

Last week, we asked you to share romantic moments from your favorite games using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

legend12480 shares Cloud holding Aerith in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

RazinZamee shares Kratos and Faye touching heads in God of War Ragarök

Ninon76278564 shares a Persona 3 Reload date with teammate Aigis

Leumir4 shares Maria giving James a sly look in Silent Hill 2

raphxander_ shares Nate and Elena sharing a kiss in Uncharted 4

BBSnakeCorn shares a moment between Lars and Alisa in Tekken 8

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Nioh 3
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on February 18, 2026 

Next week, take on yokai and warlords alike in Nioh 3. Share epic moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Packed show, right? Clocking in at just over an hour, today’s State of Play ran the gauntlet of exciting updates to upcoming SIE Studios titles and games coming from our third party partners, as well as surprise new reveals and upcoming demos. Oh, and there was the small matter of God of War, with the announcement of a remake of the original God of War trilogy and the surprise reveal of God of War Sons of Sparta, which is out now on PS5.

We’ve got the full show for you to rewatch below. Underneath that, we recap all the key details of every announcement and include the full trailers for your viewing pleasure, and for several titles, further details and insight by the game creators in a selection of dedicated PlayStation Blog articles. 

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Hello everyone. I’m Takeshi Yamanaka, Producer of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls.

Have you had a chance to watch our new MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls trailer that featured in today’s State of Play? Check it out below. 

A reborn X-Men team, reassembled to face an approaching threat

This time, as the first team reveal trailer from our character introduction series, we unveiled the Unbreakable X-Men. As briefly mentioned at the beginning of the trailer, a new threat is closing in on Earth in the game’s storyline.

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In response, the X-Men gather once more. Ho

This month, quickly swap between both Spider-Men as you explore an expanded Marvel’s New York in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, race for supremacy across a shared open world in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, embark on an intimate, emotional journey through a fading land in Neva, or capture fleeting moments on a reflective road trip in Season: A Letter to the Future. All these titles and more are available in February’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup*. Meanwhile, Disney Pixar Wall-E brings platform adventure to PlayStation Plus Premium. The full lineup will be available to play on February 17. 

 
*Digital PS5 games available to stream from your library will vary over time, region, and country.

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog 

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | PS5 

Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise for PS5. Swing, jump and utilize the new Web Wings to travel across Marvel’s New York, quickly switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to experience different stories and epic new powers, as the iconic villain Venom threatens to destroy their lives, their city and the ones they love. 

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown | PS5 

13 years after the release of Test Drive Unlimited 2, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown reinvents the open-world massively multiplayer racing game genre. Acquire iconic models from all the famous manufacturers: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Aston Martin and many more. In total, over 30 car manufacturers are represented with a variety of car types, from 1960s daily drivers and ultra-modern hypercars to off-road vehicles. Take part in the clan wars by joining one of the two families fighting for supremacy: the Streets, the flamboyant provocateurs; or the Sharps, who prefer understated sophistication. Go head-to-head with the challengers of each clan in thrilling races to climb the ranks and earn unique rewards.

Neva | PS5, PS4

Neva is an emotionally-charged action adventure from the visionary team behind the critically acclaimed Gris. Neva chronicles the story of Alba, a young woman bound to a curious wolf cub following a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together they embark on a perilous journey through a once-beautiful world as it slowly decays around them. Over time, their relationship will evolve as they learn to work together, helping one another to brave increasingly dangerous situations. The wolf will grow from a rebellious cub to an imposing adult seeking to forge his own identity, testing Alba’s love and their commitment to one another. As the cursed world threatens to overwhelm them, Alba and her courageous companion will do whatever it takes to survive and make a new home, together.

Season: A Letter