PS5 God of War Fans Demand Refund Over Locked Multiplayer
▼ Summary
– God of War: Sons of Sparta requires players to complete the main story in single-player mode first to unlock its two-player local co-op feature.
– Many fans are angry and feel misled, as the game’s store page and advertisements list it for “1-2 players” and mention a couch co-op mode.
– The backlash has led to numerous players demanding refunds, citing confusion over the game’s co-op accessibility.
– The developer’s approach is seen as a homage to retro games, where unlocking features through gameplay was common, contrasting with modern expectations of immediate access.
– Due to the severity of player feedback, it is expected the developer will likely change this requirement in a future update.
The recent release of God of War: Sons of Sparta has sparked a significant controversy among PlayStation 5 owners, primarily centered on its multiplayer functionality. The game is marketed as a two-player local co-op experience, but players quickly discovered a major stipulation. The cooperative mode is entirely locked until a user completes the entire main story campaign in single player. This design decision, reminiscent of unlockable extras from earlier gaming generations, has led to a wave of refund requests from fans who feel misled by the game’s presentation.
Official store listings describe the title as supporting “1-2 players” and featuring a “single player or two-player couch co-op mode.” For many consumers, this language strongly implied that the cooperative play was available from the outset, allowing them to experience the narrative alongside a friend or partner. The revelation that it is gated behind a full solo playthrough has generated considerable frustration. One prominent complaint on social media platform X stated, “By every metric, this game looks like a co-op side scroller… I thought I’d be able to experience the story with my partner through playing together. I feel cheated.”
Developer Santa Monica Studio clarified the situation in a public service announcement, confirming that the two-player challenge mode is indeed an unlockable reward. The studio’s statement explained, “After completing Sons of Sparta’s main story, you will unlock a challenge mode that can be played solo or with local 2-player couch co-op.” This clarification did little to quell the discontent, with dozens of players echoing the demand for refunds, arguing the core feature they purchased was inaccessible.
This situation highlights a shifting expectation in modern gaming. In previous console eras, unlocking bonus characters, levels, or modes through gameplay progression was a standard and celebrated part of the experience. Players invested time to earn these rewards, which added longevity and a sense of achievement. Today, there is a prevalent consumer expectation that all advertised content, especially fundamental modes like multiplayer, should be immediately available upon purchase. The current backlash suggests that what was once considered a fun bonus is now viewed by a vocal segment of players as an unfair restriction.
The intensity of the player feedback places developer Mega Cat Studios in a difficult position. While their intention was likely a nostalgic homage to classic game design, the practical outcome has been widespread customer dissatisfaction. Industry observers widely anticipate that the studio will address this concern through a future software patch, potentially making the co-op mode available from the start to align with contemporary player expectations and clear up any perceived ambiguity in the game’s marketing.
(Source: PushSquare)
