God of War: Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode is finally here.
In the latest PlayStation Blog post published today, the developer detailed all the upgrades players will get when they jump into New Game Plus after beating the story mode for God of War: Ragnarok the first time. The upgrades include new armor, new Enchantments, and an increased level cap.
Once you start the New Game Plus mode, you'll have the Armor of the Black Bear from the opening scene already equipped, which lead community manager Grace Orlady said players have been requesting since God of War: Ragnarok launched last November so that Kratos can keep warm against the Fimbulwinter frost while maintaining Strength and Defense stats.
The other armor you'll get in God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode includes the Spartan Armor, Ares Armor, Zeus Armor, and the Spartan Apsis shield. The Ares and Zeus armors were originally featured in the 2018 God of War's New Game Plus mode, only now the former armor increases your chances of getting a Health Stone when you hit an enemy and a rage gain alongside a huge explosion when you stomp on it, while the latter amps up Melee and Runic damage as well as incoming damage, making it a double-edged sword.
With the increased level cap, you'll be able to convert all your Level 9 equipment into new "Plus" versions to make them more powerful alongside Kratos and the monsters you'll face. Converting your equipment will give you Gilded Coins, which you can use to purchase Engraving and Badge Enchantments from the shop. The rest of the new Enchantments include Berserker Soul Drops, which boost your stats, and Burdens, which give you negative perks for you to make your gameplay experience as challenging as possible.
Other bonus features include an expanded Sparring Arena in Niflheim, which allows you to choose any companion character whether you're playing as Kratos or Atreus, including Freya, Thor, Ingrid, Brok, Angrboda, and Thrúd; and Black and White Render Mode, which allows you to play God of War Ragnarok in black and white similar to Kurosawa Mode in Ghost of Tsushima.
God of War: Ragnarok swept The Game Awards 2022, taking home awards in six categories, including Best Narrative, Best Score/Music, and Innovation in Accessibility. More recently, it garnered awards for Best Audio, Best Technology, and the Audience Award at the 23rd annual Game Developer Choice Awards.
For more on God of War: Ragnarok, check out our review.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. She has contributed her work to various publications, including Digital Trends, TheGamer, Twinfinite, Mega Visions, and The Escapist. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.