The God of War series typically hasn’t done DLC, with the 2018 God of War reboot never getting anything beyond a New Game+ mode and other minor content updates. Initially, it seemed like the same would be true for God of War Ragnarok, but in recent months rumors have begun to spread that the game will be getting an expansion.

　　Well, today at The Game Awards Sony confirmed Kratos will be returning sooner than expected with God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, a new free DLC launching -- next week! Based on the brief teaser trailer, it looks like the DLC will be a combat-focused roguelite experience. You can check out the debut trailer for the game, below.

　　Here's some more information on God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla courtesy of Sony...

　　"God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla will be an epilogue to the events of God of War Ragnarök that follows Kratos on a deeply personal and reflective journey. Set after the decisive battle against Odin and Atreus’ departure, Kratos has seen a path for himself that he never thought possible before. Brought to the mysterious shores of Valhalla accompanied only by Mimir, Kratos will enter its unknown depths to overcome trials within himself and face echoes of his past."

　　Combat reimagined - The team here at Santa Monica Studio challenged ourselves to make something different from anything we have done before in God of War history. God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla celebrates the combat you know and love from God of War Ragnarök and blends it with fresh, experimental elements inspired by the roguelite genre. Each attempt in Valhalla will encourage you to master different aspects of Kratos’ arsenal as you face new combinations of enemies and some surprises along the way!Fight, learn, grow - In Valhalla, defeat in combat is not the end of a warrior’s spirit. If Kratos falls, he will reawaken outside the doors ready for the next try. During each attempt, you will learn and adapt to the challenges Valhalla has to offer. The more you overcome, the more resources you’ll gain that can be put towards permanent upgrades that affect both Kratos and even Valhalla itself. Accumulating rewards and knowledge during your attempts will help you get ever closer to discovering the mysteries that await Kratos within.Master Valhalla, master thyself - The shore of Valhalla humbles all those who wish to enter. Kratos must cast off his armor and equipment, and instead build towards both per-attempt and permanent rewards. Kratos will have access to all his weapons and fully-upgraded skill trees at all times, but must commit to a shield and path of Spartan Rage for each attempt. As you overcome the trials of Valhalla and explore its depths, you will make choices between temporary Glyphs for which Stats to upgrade, which Perks to select, which Runic Attacks to wield, and more. Each attempt can play out differently based on the rewards you choose, so keep your strategy in mind when making selections! Wise preparation, adaptability to the challenge at hand, and command of your abilities will be the keys to mastery.Play at any time - God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla is a separate experience from God of War Ragnarök, so you don’t need to worry about going in without certain upgrades, equipment, or story progress. If you think the DLC sounds fun, you can jump in at any time! However, if you are concerned about narrative or gameplay spoilers, we do recommend that you finish God of War Ragnarök first as God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla serves as an epilogue to the story of the base game.God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is coming to PS5 sometime on December 12, 2023.