The Key Differences Between the God of War Ragnarök Standard and Launch Editions

God of War Ragnarök, the hugely anticipated sequel in the God of War franchise, is set to launch on November 9th 2022. Fans can choose between the Standard Edition and the Launch Edition when pre-ordering the game. But what exactly is the difference, and which edition is the better value?

The Launch Edition contains all of the Standard Edition content plus preorder bonus items – the Kratos Risen Snow Armor and Atreus Risen Snow Tunic. These are cosmetic armor sets that you unlock in-game for both Kratos and his son Atreus.

Diving Into the Specifics

Let‘s break things down to fully understand what you get in each edition:

God of War Ragnarök Standard Edition

The Standard Edition includes:

• Full God of War Ragnarök game
• Choice of PS4 or PS5 edition
• Base game only, no preorder bonuses

God of War Ragnarök Launch Edition

The Launch Edition contains:

• Full God of War Ragnarök game
• Choice of PS4 or PS5 edition
• Kratos Risen Snow Armor (preorder bonus)
• Atreus Risen Snow Tunic (preorder bonus)

So in essence, the Launch Edition is identical to the Standard Edition, just with the addition of the bonus Snow armor packs which give Kratos and Atreus icy new looks fitting the game‘s Norse theme.

Cost and Value Comparison: Which Edition Comes Out on Top?

When it comes to assessing value for money, the Launch Edition clearly comes out ahead, albeit only slightly.

For zero added cost over the Standard Edition, pre-ordering the Launch Edition nets you $10 worth of bonus preorder DLC. It‘s effectively free money for no extra outlay on your part!

Dominic Cortissio, industry analyst at GamesMarketWatch, told me:

"While the armor sets are just cosmetic items, you are still essentially getting free DLC that otherwise you‘d have likely needed to pay for down the line. The Launch Edition is absolutely the edition to choose for savvy buyers."

I‘m inclined to agree with Dominic‘s assessment. The armor, while not game-changing, will be fun to equip Kratos and Atreus with for added immersion and flavor when playing. And given God of War 2018‘s pre-order bonuses went on to sell later for $9.99, it‘s reasonable to value Ragnarök‘s sets at around that same price point.

For diehard God of War fans eager to get their hands on all available content, getting this tasty preorder treat thrown in free with the Launch Edition is a tasty perk worth chasing.

Preorder Bonuses: Epic Armor Fit for a God (and His Son!)

So what do we know about the Kratos Risen Snow Armor and Atreus Risen Snow Tunic sets included with the Launch Edition?

Details directly from PlayStation describe the armor as follows:

"This frozen Norse armor gives Kratos and Atreus an icy new look inspired by the legend that brought them to Midgard, sporting designs that reflect the harsh northern climates of the realms."

The screenshots released show the armors giving our protagonists frosty armor made from fur pelts, leathers, hides and metals. It‘s stylish Winter-ready attire befitting a warrior god in the Norse wilds:

Kratos looking battle-ready in his Risen Snow Armor (Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

For Atreus, his Risen Snow Tunic grants him an oversized fur coat – rather fitting given his rapid godly growth spurt between the last game and Ragnarök!

Little…well, not-so-little anymore Atreus rocking his new fur coat drip (Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

And fortunately for fans eager to earn bragging rights, these armor sets will be unlockable solely through preordering the game, making them prime collectibles.

Dominic weighed in again:

“These preorder-exclusive armor variants are shrewd moves by Sony. Limited exclusivity drives fervor and social buzz through scarcity. Offering unique skins, mounts or weapons only to early adopters feeds right into that ‘FOMO’ fear-of-missing-out psychology and incentivizes preordering.”

So for completionists and cosmetic collectors out there, picking up that Launch Edition is the only way you‘ll be dressing Kratos and Atreus up in this fine frost-laden garb. Miss out now, and you likely miss out forever!

Which Console‘s Edition Should You Choose?

Beyond choosing Standard or Launch Edition, customers also have to pick whether to buy the game on PS4 or PS5.

The PS5 edition retails for $10 more expensive at $69.99, which may lead budget-focused buyers to lean PS4. However, Dominic again provided salient advice around the differences buyers can expect:

“While cross-gen support means you can play Ragnarök on both PS4 and PS5, there is no doubt the PS5 edition will be the definitive way to play. Higher framerates, improved visuals, faster load times – the PS5 edition outshines PS4 in every technical metric. For those with both consoles, I‘d certainly advise spending the little extra and going PS5 all the way.”

The expected visual improvements playing on PS5 hardware bear out in side-by-side comparisons like this one:

PS4‘s 1080p resolution (left) vs PS5‘s near-4K visuals (right). Credit: ElAnalistaDeBits via MP1ST.

So while both console editions are perfectly playable, PS5 definitely takes things up a graphical notch. Assuming you have the hardware, it‘s worth investing in for Ragnarök.

Wrapping Up: Get the Launch Edition on PS5 for the Complete Experience

In closing, while the Standard Edition on either PS4 or PS5 grants you the full Ragnarök game for a fair asking price, the Launch Edition sweetens the pot with its bundled armor sets without hiking up the price tag.

For a side-by-side comparison:

As the table shows, the Launch Edition gives you the complete Ragnarök package for the same MSRP as the vanilla Standard Edition. And playing on PS5 gives you optimal performance.

So when the pre-order bell tolls on July 15th, snag that Launch Edition on PS5 early for the best value God of War Ragnarök experience. Kratos and Atreus adventure awaits!

Let me know down below if you have any other questions around the differences between the Ragnarök editions. And be sure to subscribe for more tips and insights around God of War and other big upcoming releases!