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The PlayStation Blog livestream is still ten minutes away, but that hasn’t stopped Sony from sending out the official press release announcing God of War: Ascension.

The document doesn’t contain a release date for Kratos’ next adventure, but it does include a summary of the game’s plot:

Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ascension is an epic adventure that allows players to take on the climactic role of the ex-Spartan warrior Kratos as he finds a way to break the blood oath that binds him to the god, Ares. Six months after being tricked into killing his wife and child, a younger Kratos is sentenced to a life of madness with the Furies, caged in a titan-sized prison for the living damned. Fighting insanity, his will is tested to the limit as he seeks to break his bond and gain the clarity to seek revenge on Ares for his part in the death of his family. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest for redemption.

The release also promises that God of War: Ascension will include “a revamped combat and weapon system, promptless mini-games, and new puzzle challenges.”

“The bar has been set quite high for this franchise as each God of War title succeeds in being better than the last,” said Todd Papy, God of War: Ascension’s Game Director at Sony Santa Monica Studio. “But, unlike previous releases, we’re providing a deeper look into Kratos’ tormented past and psyche that fans have not seen before. Combined with refined gameplay, jaw-dropping visuals, and a fresh twist on competitive gaming with our new online multiplayer mode, I guarantee that God of War: Ascension will give fans what they have been eagerly waiting for, and much more.”

I don’t even remember how it started, but it’s always been the assumption that a fourth God of War game would include some type of multiplayer mode. This morning, Sony confirmed that when God of War: Ascension ships sometime next year, it’ll include a multiplayer mode.

The multiplayer mode reveal will be included as part of a livestream on the PlayStation Blog today (beginning at 11 AM Eastern). But a few details have already leaked out early courtesy of a media event Sony held last week.

When creating a character, players will “sell their soul” to one of four gods (Ares, Zeus, Hades, or Poseidon). Which god you choose will determine how your character’s “allegiance tree” shakes out as they advance through the multiplayer mode.

During the event, Sony showed off Domination Mode, which will be an 8-on-8 brawl where two teams of four compete for “the favor of the gods.” The team that pleases the gods the most will earn the right to massacre a towering cyclops. The idea is to bring the infamous boss battles from the single-player mode to multiplayer.

But don’t forget to tune into the God of War: Ascension livestream to get your first look at the game’s multiplayer mode.

[Source: USA Today]