God of War Ragnarök is officially available for Windows PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. It launched on September 19, 2024, and is a paid game rather than a free base-game download. Both PC editions include the complete campaign, New Game+, and the Valhalla epilogue. You need a 190 GB SSD and a GPU with at least 6 GB of VRAM; 4 GB graphics cards are unsupported even though later patches may allow some of them to launch.
Quick answer
- Download it legally: Steam or Epic Games Store.
- Current U.S. list price in the referenced store listing: $59.99 Standard Edition or $69.99 Digital Deluxe Edition. Prices vary by region, taxes, sales and date.
- PlayStation Network: optional for Windows desktop play since Patch 8 on January 30, 2025.
- Storage: 190 GB on an SSD, plus sensible extra space for updates and installation files.
- Best-value edition: Standard. Deluxe adds cosmetics, a soundtrack and digital artbook, not extra story content.
- Best story order: God of War (2018), Ragnarök, then Valhalla.
Where to download God of War Ragnarök on PC
The official Windows version is sold through two storefronts:
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PlayStation’s official PC page links to both stores. Avoid torrents, cracked executables, repacks and unofficial “free download” sites: the legitimate PC game is a paid purchase, and untrusted installers can contain malware, corrupted files or modified save-data tools.
Valhalla is included with the PC purchase. It is not a free standalone download of the base game. The Standard and Digital Deluxe editions both include it.
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Standard or Digital Deluxe?
The U.S. Epic listing referenced for this guide shows the following prices. Storefront prices and promotions can change, so check the store page for the amount in your country before purchasing.
| Edition | Listed U.S. price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59.99 | Full PC game, including Valhalla |
| Digital Deluxe | $69.99 | Full game, Valhalla, Darkdale Armor, Atreus Darkdale Attire, Darkdale Blades Handles, Darkdale Axe Grip, digital soundtrack and Dark Horse digital mini artbook |
The official Digital Deluxe contents page confirms that the upgrade is primarily cosmetic and supplementary. Buy Standard if you want the complete gameplay and story. Choose Deluxe only if the extra armor appearances, weapon cosmetics, soundtrack and artbook are worth the additional cost. The old PC pre-order items—the Kratos Risen Snow Armor and Atreus Risen Snow Tunic—were tied to purchases made before the September 19, 2024 launch and should not be treated as a normal current bonus.
Recommended play order
- God of War (2018)
- God of War Ragnarök
- God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, after the main campaign
- New Game+, whenever you want a replay-focused challenge
Ragnarök follows the 2018 God of War directly, so playing the earlier game first provides important character and story context. Valhalla is a replayable, roguelite-inspired epilogue set after Ragnarök and is best saved until the campaign is complete.
God of War Ragnarök PC system requirements
Santa Monica Studio publishes five target tiers rather than only a vague minimum and recommended specification. These are average-performance targets at native resolution without upscaling, not guarantees for every system. The official table requires Windows 10 64-bit and a 190 GB SSD.
| Target | Preset | GPU | CPU | RAM | Storage and OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p, 30 fps average | Low | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 5500 XT | Intel i5-4670K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | 8 GB | Windows 10 64-bit; 190 GB SSD |
| 1080p, 60 fps average | Medium | NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super or AMD RX 5700 | Intel i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | 16 GB | Windows 10 64-bit; 190 GB SSD |
| 1440p, 60 fps average | High | NVIDIA RTX 3070 or AMD RX 6800 | Intel i7-7700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | 16 GB | Windows 10 64-bit; 190 GB SSD |
| 4K, 60 fps average | High | NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti or AMD RX 6900 XT | Intel i7-7700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | 16 GB | Windows 10 64-bit; 190 GB SSD |
| 4K, 60 fps average | Ultra | NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti or AMD RX 7900 XT | Intel i5-11600K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | 16 GB | Windows 10 64-bit; 190 GB SSD |
See the complete official system-requirements table before buying. The Epic listing additionally specifies Windows version 2004, build 19041, DirectX 12, and lists Intel Arc A750 in its minimum row and A770 in its recommended row. Santa Monica Studio’s separate support table does not list Intel Arc in the GPU tiers, so treat Arc support as a storefront-listed specification rather than silently combining the two tables.
The important 6 GB VRAM warning
A GPU with 6 GB of VRAM remains the required specification. Patch 2 stopped the game from blocking every GPU with less than 6 GB at startup, but that did not make 4 GB cards supported. Santa Monica Studio warns that 4 GB GPUs can suffer poor performance, graphical problems and crashes. Check your laptop GPU’s dedicated VRAM rather than relying on the amount of shared system memory. Read the official VRAM explanation.
The stated requirement is 190 GB on an SSD, not simply 190 GB on any drive. Leave additional headroom for patches, temporary decompression files and normal Windows operation. The extra headroom is practical advice, not a separately published game requirement.
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How to install the game on Steam
- Install and sign in to the Steam client.
- Open the Steam Store and search for God of War Ragnarök.
- Select the Standard or Digital Deluxe Edition.
- Complete the purchase.
- Open Library, select the game and click Install.
- Choose an SSD installation location with sufficient free space.
- Allow the download, installation and any updates to finish.
- Launch the game from your Steam Library.
The Steam product page lists Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, HDR, Steam Input and Family Sharing support. There is no documented gameplay difference between the Steam and Epic versions, so your existing library, preferred controller layer, current sale and refund policy are more useful deciding factors than performance claims that the official listings do not establish.
Turn on automatic updates
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click the game, or click its gear icon on the Library page.
- Choose Properties.
- Open Updates.
- Set automatic updates to Always keep this game updated.
Santa Monica Studio recommends playing on the latest patch because updates have addressed launch, controller, HDR, ultrawide, input and performance problems. Its update guidance is worth following before troubleshooting an older installation.
Verify Steam files
- Restart Windows and open Steam.
- Right-click the game in Library, or open its gear menu.
- Select Properties.
- Choose Installed Files.
- Click Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for the check to complete and allow Steam to redownload damaged files.
Steam notes that a small number of files may fail verification because they are local configuration files. That result can be normal. The full procedure is documented in Steam’s file-verification help.
How to install the game on the Epic Games Store
- Install the Epic Games Launcher and sign in.
- Purchase Ragnarök from the Epic Games Store.
- Open Library in the launcher.
- Select the game and choose an installation directory on an SSD.
- Click Install.
- Wait for the download, installation and updates to finish.
- Launch the game from the Library.
Epic’s official installation guide covers the launcher flow. If Epic remains stuck on Installing or Verifying, insufficient free space may be responsible: decompression and temporary installation work can require more working room than the final advertised game size. This is a general Epic Launcher caveat, not an additional published Ragnarök storage requirement.
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Verify Epic files
- Open Epic Games Launcher.
- Go to Library.
- Click the three dots beside the game.
- Select Manage.
- Click Verify.
- Wait for validation to finish.
Epic says verification repairs damaged or changed files without affecting saved data. Use its verification instructions if the labels differ in your launcher version.
Is a PlayStation Network account required?
No, not for current Windows desktop play. This is a common source of contradictory search results because the requirement changed after launch.
- Historical rule: the 2024 launch announcements said a PlayStation Network account was required.
- Current rule: Patch 8, released January 30, 2025, made PSN sign-in optional on PC. The current support page confirms that Windows desktop players can play without linking an account.
Linking PSN is optional but provides the Armor of the Black Bear set—Cloak, Wraps and Belt—plus 500 Hacksilver and 250 XP. The reward is available from the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms. Without linking PSN, the armor can still be obtained in a New Game+ run as before.
This Windows answer should not automatically be generalized to every PC-like device: the official user-flow page distinguishes desktop play from Steam Deck requirements.
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PC features, graphics and controls
Graphics and displays
The PC release supports:
- Unlocked frame rates.
- True 4K output with suitable hardware and a compatible display.
- Enhanced reflections, lighting, shadows and geometric detail.
- 21:9 ultrawide and 32:9 super ultrawide displays.
- NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Intel XeSS.
- Frame-generation technologies where supported by the relevant hardware and implementation.
- NVIDIA Reflex.
Official pages and storefront metadata use inconsistent version labels for the upscalers—for example, different DLSS, FSR and XeSS version references. Use the technologies and options actually shown in the installed game rather than assuming a particular version number from an older listing. Patch v.09.01 added support for the latest AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution technology according to the official patch notes.
Keyboard, mouse and controllers
Ragnarök supports fully customizable mouse-and-keyboard bindings, DualSense, DualSense Edge, DualShock 4, XInput devices and Steam Input. Full DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers require a wired USB connection. Wireless DualSense play can fall back to ordinary rumble; do not buy or configure the controller expecting the complete feature set over Bluetooth.
If button prompts do not match your controller, check Steam Input or another input-remapping layer. A historical quick-time-event problem involving Interact/Evade swapping and Steam Input was addressed by Patch 2. The official controller page lists supported devices.
Audio and accessibility
The PC version supports spatial 3D audio through analog or USB stereo headphones. It also includes the same accessibility feature set as the PS5 version according to PlayStation’s PC support page. Options include adjustable text and icon sizes, controller remapping, high-contrast modes, navigation and traversal assistance, audio cues, captions, aim assistance and lock-on settings.
Two additions highlighted at the PC launch are Reduced Puzzle Hints, under Gameplay Settings, and Cinematic Audio Description, under Audio Accessibility. Audio Description narrates visual events during cinematics for players with low vision. More detail is available in the PC launch features announcement.
Practical settings for different PCs
These are starting points based on the official target tiers, not independent benchmarks. Adjust after watching frame-time stability in actual gameplay; an average target does not guarantee a locked frame rate in every scene.
Minimum-tier PC: 1080p and 30 fps
- Start with the Low preset at 1080p.
- Target a stable 30 fps rather than forcing an unstable 60 fps.
- Use a compatible upscaler if native rendering cannot sustain the target.
- Keep texture quality within the GPU’s VRAM budget.
- Do not treat a 4 GB card as supported simply because Patch 2 permits some sub-6 GB GPUs to launch.
Recommended PC: 1080p and 60 fps
- Start with Medium settings at 1080p.
- Use a quality-oriented upscaling mode only when native resolution cannot hold the desired frame rate.
- Update the GPU driver and game before tuning settings.
- Connect a DualSense controller by USB if you want adaptive triggers and haptics.
1440p or 4K systems
For 1440p/60, use the official RTX 3070/RX 6800 High tier as a starting point. For 4K/60, the published High and Ultra targets move into RTX 3080 Ti/RX 6900 XT and RTX 4070 Ti/RX 7900 XT territory respectively. Upscaling and frame generation can change the best balance, but the available options depend on the GPU and the current game build.
Ultrawide and HDR
Confirm that Windows and the game are using the display’s intended 21:9 or 32:9 resolution. Patch 7 addressed an ultrawide volumetric-fog problem, so update before diagnosing blocky fog as a permanent limitation. Do not assume every cinematic or interface element will occupy the entire horizontal width identically.
An early HDR-persistence issue was marked fixed in Patch 3. If a current installation still fails to retain HDR, update the game, verify its files, and check Windows HDR and the monitor or television configuration before concluding that the game is incompatible.
Beginner gameplay tips without major spoilers
Learn the combat signals
- Use the Leviathan Axe for frost effects and the Blades of Chaos for fire effects. Switching weapons to match an enemy’s weakness is more effective than relying on one weapon constantly.
- Learn the difference between light and heavy attacks, and use ranged attacks and Axe recall strategically.
- Runic attacks use shield-plus-attack combinations; include them in your normal rotation rather than saving every cooldown for a boss.
- Yellow-ring attacks can be parried but break a normal block.
- Red and double-red attacks are unblockable. Evade them or interrupt them before they land.
- Double-blue attacks can be interrupted with a shield strike.
- Bare-fist attacks are useful for building stun damage.
- Explosive objects, ledges, hazards and grapple points are part of the combat system. Look around instead of treating every encounter as a straight duel.
- Spartan Rage can deal damage, restore health or control a crowd. Save it for a tactical reason rather than activating it automatically at the first opportunity.
PlayStation’s combat refresher course explains these indicators and mechanics without requiring a full walkthrough.
Explore, upgrade and spend XP
- Explore optional areas and complete Favors. Side content can provide important equipment, and quests do not expire.
- Spend XP regularly instead of hoarding it. Use Skill Labors to improve frequently used abilities and unlock Skill Mod slots.
- Upgrade armor and weapon attachments at Brok and Sindri. Use Auto-Equip if you do not want to compare every stat manually.
- Older crafting resources eventually become purchasable in shops, so do not assume an early missed resource permanently blocks progression.
- Visit Niflheim and the Raven Tree to claim rewards for Odin’s Ravens.
- Use the Amulet of Yggdrasil and Realm Enchantments to build around stat bonuses and attunement effects.
- Combine matching Wrist and Waist armor pieces when their set bonus complements your build.
Current transmog correction: older guides say Edit Appearance requires Level 9 gear. That was true of the original guidance, but Patch 8 changed the system. Edit Appearance is available from the beginning and no longer requires equipment to be fully upgraded to Level 9. This is one of the most important differences between old Ragnarök tips and the current PC version.
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New Game+
New Game+ is included with the PC release. It lets you carry equipment, weapons and skills into a replay, although some story-gated abilities still unlock as the campaign progresses. It adds new equipment and progression options, altered enemies, an expanded Niflheim arena and a black-and-white render mode. See the official New Game+ announcement.
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Valhalla is a replayable, roguelite-inspired epilogue focused on Kratos and set after the events of Ragnarök. It is included in both the Standard and Digital Deluxe PC editions. Play the main campaign first so the epilogue’s narrative context is not spoiled.
Dark Odyssey
The free Dark Odyssey collection became available to owners through Patch 9 on March 20, 2025. It includes Kratos armor and appearance items, companion appearances, weapon appearances and shield appearances. Some weapon appearances require the associated weapon to be fully upgraded before they can be used. The details are in the Patch 9 notes.
Latest listed PC patch
As of the August 9, 2026 snapshot described in the official PC support index, the latest listed PC patch is v.09.01, dated August 20, 2025. Its principal listed change is support for the latest AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution technology. Patch 8 made PSN optional and changed Edit Appearance, Patch 9 added Dark Odyssey, and earlier updates addressed issues including corrupted-file detection, Steam Input behavior, mouse bindings, Intel Arc performance, HDR persistence, VRAM texture caching and spatial audio. Check the official PC patch index for any storefront-delivered update newer than that snapshot.
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Troubleshooting: installation, launch and save problems
The game will not launch
Work through these steps in order:
- Restart Windows and the Steam or Epic client.
- Confirm that the game has finished updating.
- Install current graphics drivers.
- Verify the game files through Steam or Epic.
- Temporarily disable nonessential overlays and background software.
- Confirm that the GPU meets the 6 GB VRAM requirement.
- Check whether antivirus software quarantined a game file.
- If the error names the PlayStation SDK Runtime, use the repair procedure below.
- If you have a 13th- or 14th-generation Intel CPU, check Intel and Santa Monica Studio’s hardware-configuration guidance.
- If the problem remains, submit a support ticket with a DXDiag and the relevant error details.
The official Performance Help page recommends current drivers, current patches and file verification before escalation.
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PlayStation SDK Runtime missing
If the error specifically refers to the PlayStation SDK Runtime, open the game’s installation folder and run these two installers:
PsPcSdkRuntimeInstaller.msi
PsPcSdkRuntimeManager.msiFor a default-style Steam installation, the folder may resemble:
C:SteamsteamappscommonGod of War RagnarokYour actual path may differ. The files and the full workaround are described in the official SDK Runtime support article.
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Santa Monica Studio says crashes on these CPU generations can be related to hardware configuration settings and directs users to Intel’s recommendations. There is no universal single-command fix: BIOS options, motherboard power profiles and firmware differ. Follow the official CPU troubleshooting guidance and your motherboard manufacturer’s instructions rather than applying an arbitrary setting.
Controller prompts or quick-time events are wrong
- Use a wired USB connection for full DualSense features.
- Check whether Steam Input is changing the controller layout.
- Temporarily disable other controller remappers.
- Update the game, since the historical Interact/Evade Steam Input quick-time-event problem was fixed in Patch 2.
Mouse movement or camera drift
Early camera and mouse-movement problems were marked fixed in Patch 3, and Patch 7 addressed camera drift associated with mouse use and alt-tabbing. Update, verify files, and test without overlays or unusual input remapping. If the issue persists, consult the camera and mouse support page.
Back up your saves before reinstalling
The official Windows save location is:
C:Users[YOUR USER]Saved GamesGod of War RagnarökInside is a folder containing a unique character string. Copy the entire folder to a safe backup location before reinstalling Windows or manually changing files. Santa Monica Studio warns that deleting or tampering with save data can cause lost progress or other problems. The official save-data page shows the location and cautions.
Can the game be played offline?
Both storefront listings describe Ragnarök as a single-player game, but do not assume that every first launch, entitlement check or authentication step will work fully offline. Complete the initial installation, updates and storefront authentication while online, confirm that the game launches, and only then use Steam or Epic’s offline mode.
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| Choose Steam if… | Choose Epic if… |
|---|---|
| You want Steam Cloud, Steam Achievements, Steam Input or the Steam library you already use. | You already use Epic Games Launcher, prefer its cloud-save system or find a better current promotion. |
| Family Sharing support listed on the Steam product page matters to you. | Epic Rewards or the Epic storefront’s current terms matter to you. |
Neither official listing establishes a meaningful gameplay advantage for one store. Buy from the ecosystem you prefer, unless a current price, refund policy or library preference changes the decision. Do not promise cross-store or PlayStation-to-PC save migration: the official support documentation explains local PC save storage but does not provide an official PlayStation-to-PC transfer procedure.
Best way to prepare before playing
- Install the game on an SSD with more than the stated 190 GB available.
- Update Windows, your GPU driver and the storefront client.
- Let the game download its latest patch before starting.
- Back up the save folder if you are moving or reinstalling Windows.
- Use a wired DualSense connection if you want haptics and adaptive triggers.
- Start with the preset associated with your hardware tier, then adjust resolution, upscaling and frame-rate targets together.
- Play God of War (2018) first if you want the strongest narrative context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play God of War Ragnarök on PC without a PlayStation Network account?
Yes. PSN sign-in is optional for Windows desktop play after Patch 8, released January 30, 2025. Linking an account provides the Armor of the Black Bear set, 500 Hacksilver and 250 XP, but it is not required for the main game.
Is Valhalla included with the PC version?
Yes. God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla is included with both the Standard and Digital Deluxe PC editions. It is a post-campaign epilogue, so play the main Ragnarök story first.
Can a 4 GB graphics card run the game?
Patch 2 may allow some sub-6 GB GPUs to launch, but Santa Monica Studio still lists 6 GB of VRAM as required and says 4 GB cards are unsupported. Expect possible performance problems or crashes on a 4 GB GPU.
Does the Digital Deluxe Edition add story content?
No. Deluxe adds Darkdale cosmetics, a digital soundtrack and a digital artbook. It does not add a separate story campaign; Valhalla is already included with the Standard Edition.
The Bottom Line
For most PC players, buy the Standard Edition from the storefront you already use. It includes the full campaign, New Game+ and Valhalla. Install it on an SSD, reserve more than 190 GB, use a GPU with at least 6 GB of VRAM, update before launching, and remember that PSN sign-in is now optional for Windows desktop play.
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