God of War: Sons of Sparta Co-Op Confusion Explained
▼ Summary
– Sony Santa Monica clarified that God of War Sons of Sparta’s two-player mode is a challenge mode unlocked only after completing the main story.
– The clarification came after widespread confusion, as players who bought the game could not find any two-player option.
– Fans felt misled by marketing, including the title, cover art, and gameplay clips, which suggested full co-op play.
– The PlayStation Store listing for the game advertised 1-2 player support, which was the only firm evidence of multiplayer.
– Many players have sought refunds or contacted customer support after discovering the game lacks the expected co-op feature.
Following significant player confusion, the developers behind God of War: Sons of Sparta have clarified the game’s two-player functionality. The newly announced side-scrolling adventure, which shadow-dropped after a recent State of Play, was listed on the PlayStation Store with 1-2 player support. This led many fans to believe the entire campaign could be experienced cooperatively, prompting a wave of questions and refund requests when the option appeared absent at launch.
Sony Santa Monica has now officially explained that the two-player mode is not available from the start. In a social media post, the studio stated that a local couch co-op challenge mode is unlocked only after completing the main story. This specific mode can then be played either solo or with a second player. The clarification came nearly a full day after the game’s release, addressing why players immediately jumping in could not find any cooperative options.
The initial store listing and promotional materials created a perfect storm of misunderstanding. The game’s title, Sons of Sparta, uses the plural form. Key artwork prominently features both Kratos and his brother Deimos fighting together, and gameplay footage shown during the announcement depicted the brothers battling enemies side-by-side. The official description further fueled expectations by focusing on their shared journey: “Experience an untold chapter in Kratos’ journey set during the harsh years of Spartan training alongside his brother Deimos.”
For players who purchased the game based on these cues, the discovery that Deimos is primarily an AI companion during the story campaign was a major disappointment. Online forums quickly filled with reports from fans who had plugged in a second controller to no avail, finding no co-op settings in any menu. Many expressed feeling misled, with some immediately seeking refunds through PlayStation support and others questioning the accuracy of the store page.
The situation highlights how marketing and storefront language can significantly shape player expectations. While the post-game challenge mode does technically fulfill the “1-2 player” descriptor, the communication around its locked status was not immediately clear. The developer’s subsequent post has provided the necessary details, but for some early adopters, the clarification arrived after the purchase was already made.
Alongside Sons of Sparta, the same State of Play presentation featured the surprise announcement of a God of War Trilogy Remake, though that project remains in early development. For players seeking cooperative action in the latest release, the path is now clear: the main story is a solo experience, with the promised two-player gameplay reserved for specific post-completion challenges.
(Source: IGN)
