Happy to be back to tell you about some new surprises from PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. More costumes? More minions? Well, okay, yes. But also more new characters!

Our newest challengers are Isaac Clarke from Electronic Arts’ Dead Space, and Zeus from… well, from some of the foundational myths of Western society, but also from a little PlayStation game you might know called God of War by SCEA Santa Monica Studio.

How did these two emerge as All-Stars from the vast PlayStation multiverse? Synchronicity. We were talking with some friends over at EA who were hard at work on Dead Space 3, and with a lot of Dead Space fans on our team and all the cool tools at Isaac’s disposal, some quick concepts emerged and we knew he’d be a great addition. We’ve also wanted to add another “heavy,” hard-hitting character into All-Stars (Big Daddy was getting lonely), and with all the work on God of War: Ascension around Sony Santa Monica, Zeus emerged as a perfect fit.

As you might remember, Zeus is kind of an arrogant jerk, but one thing you can say for him is that he does not mess around. As King of the Gods, he’s a big guy, used to getting his way, and he hits HARD. Of course he’s got some cool combos, but his primary offense is centered around fewer, but more powerful strikes that generate a ton of AP and send enemies flying. He can power up virtually all of his attacks into a “charged” version with all kinds of new effects, giving him one of the biggest move lists in the game. Super-armored rushing punches, a clone move, teleports, and lightning bolts–lots and lots of lightning bolts. Your best bet against Zeus is to stay on his good side (aka behind him), or far away.

His level 1 is a giant Lightning Clap that lacks range but has a great area of effect. Level 2 lets Zeus take to the skies and fly anywhere before exploding in a deadly lightning storm. His level 3 “Wrath of Zeus” takes you to Olympus to fight a godlike 100-foot tall Zeus, and in true boss-fight form, he can wipe out half the screen with a single strike.

Through a combination of playtesting and staying true to his original series, Isaac emerged over the course of development as a strong mid-range fighter using the unique weapons and Kinesis/Stasis abilities you’ll recognize from the Dead Space series (think somewhere between Drake and Jak, with a lot of twists). He has some very interesting long-range options (the Bouncing Bola acts like sniper rifle that bounces off of walls, getting more powerful with each bounce) and he’s got some great moves up close, but just as in Dead Space, he’s at his best keeping foes safely out of his face. He can advance or retreat while firing his trusty Plasma Cutter, toss proximity mines, use Stasis attacks to freeze opponents, or spin slowly moving Ripper blades at enemies with a blast of Kinesis torque.

His level 1 super fires a supercharged stasis burst and then overloads his Plasma Cutter, which can be aimed anywhere, even at very long range. His level 2 super overloads his Kinesis module creating a bubble that launches nearby enemies away at “terminal” velocity, and Isaac’s level 3 takes you into space where he blows the airlock, sucking everyone into space for a quick game of something like “Asteroids” where Isaac flies around blasting opponents and space debris into dust.

Finally, what better to welcome new characters than with a new stage? The new “Graveyard” level mashes up MediEvil‘s Graveyard opening with… The Unfinished Swan. While we start in recognizable MediEvil territory (complete with pop-up zombies and a wisecracking gargoyle), the “Swan” elements are shown off with a mid-match whiteout and ink splatters that slowly reveal the emerging structures. There are lots of little Swan touches throughout the stage, from the hidden labyrinth, to a balloon, the King, and of course the Unfinished Swan itself makes a cameo.

So how do All-Stars fans get their hands on the new stuff? The new DLC pack hits the PlayStation Store on March 19th. As before with the recently released “Fearless” stage, the new “Graveyard” stage will be free in online ranked matches and $1.99 if you want to own it. As for Zeus and Isaac, I’m very happy to announce they will come to North America FREE as a redeemable downloadable voucher code packed in with the new God of War: Ascension, which launches on March 12th. When Zeus and Isaac Clarke go live in All-Stars on March 19th (one week later), you can use your code to redeem them any time after they are live. For anybody who doesn’t pick up God of War: Ascension (but of course that’s only crazy people–it’s got what I think is the most epic final battle in the series’ history), the characters will also be for sale in the PSN Store for $4.99 each.

I’ll have some more details coming on the new challengers in the coming weeks — until then, see you online!

For the first time ever, King Leonidas will be brought to life in God of War Ascension’s multiplayer as depicted by Gerard Butler in the blockbuster film “300.” If you pre-order God of War: Ascension standard or collector’s edition at GameStop, you will receive a voucher code that gives you access to history’s most heroic Spartan.

We are very excited to partner with Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment to offer you the chance to play as one of the biggest badasses in Greek history on the God of War: Ascension multiplayer battlefield. Donning King Leonidas’s red cape, iconic helmet, and armor you will stand apart as one of the ultimate warriors of Sparta. King Leonidas also comes with his iconic spear, which has its own set of unique combat moves which boasts a unique appearance and shares the same combat abilities as the other spear weapons in multiplayer (note: updated for clarity).

In addition to the “300” King Leonidas skin, you will also receive an exclusive double-sided God of War: Ascension poster.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your day one online experience. Stay tuned for more updates on God of War: Ascension here on PlayStation.Blog!

*“300” is available from Warner Home Video

It’s been a little over a month now since we announced the God of War: Ascension Beta and we know you’ve been anxiously awaiting news on when you’re going to get a chance to slash, disembowel, and crush your way into the pantheon of Olympus…

The God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta is coming to PlayStation Plus this winter. Keep reading to find out the only other way to get in, and how to get in early.

Some of our fans have already had the chance to play the Desert level of our new multiplayer mode at E3, Gamescom, and PAX. However, the multiplayer action has come a long way since then and this winter, Plus subscribers get to go hands-on with all-new multiplayer action that we haven’t yet shown. If you’ve been following the Ascension news thus far, you know that in God of War Multiplayer, each warrior will align themselves with one of four Gods. Each God will grant a different set of unlockable powers, armor sets, and abilities, which leads to a unique style of play for each God “class.” The first God you’ll be able to align with in the Beta will be the almighty Zeus, so to help you get ready, we have a new trailer to give you a primer on Zeus and his powers. Enjoy!

Want to learn more about Zeus? Then jump over to the brand-new GodofWar.com which just launched today to discover even more about the king of the Gods! Also, our new website is fully iOS and Android compatible, so check it out on your phone or tablet too!

Info about Ascension, the God of War series, and Kratos isn’t the only thing you’ll find on the new GodofWar.com though. You’ll also find the only way to get into the Beta if you’re not already a PlayStation Plus subscriber, and the only way to get into the Beta at least a week before everyone else: The Rise of the Warrior.

The Rise of the Warrior is a new social experience on GodofWar.com. You’ll live out your warrior’s journey in an epic new graphic-novel style story. You will embark on a quest for redemption that leads you toward becoming the next Champion of the Gods.

It gives you the opportunity to align with either the Spartans or the Trojans and compete via a number of social challenges to earn your army a week of exclusive early access to the Beta this winter, and 30 days of PlayStation Plus. And that’s just the first of multiple major army rewards between now and March! If an epic new God of War story and early Beta access aren’t enough for you – you’ll also be able to earn early in-game unlocks for God of War: Ascension multiplayer to get a head-start on the competition, along with exclusive multiplayer weapons and armor for everyone who rises to Champion of the Gods! So get over to GodofWar.com and start your journey in Rise of the Warrior.

Start getting pumped everyone, we’ve got much, much more God of War: Ascension content coming between now and March 12th, so stay tuned! Remember to follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook, and if you haven’t already, pre-order today!

From the gargantuan, larger than life battles with Zeus, Cronos, and Poseidon, to the brutally intimate no-holds-barred fight with Hercules in God of War III, to fighting alongside his brother, Deimos, in Ghost of Sparta, there have been plenty of epic moments in Kratos’ journey.

But what, ladies and gentlemen, Spartans, warriors and champions, reigns supreme as the #1 most epic God of War moment of All Time?

If you ever doubted Kratos’ ultimate arch-nemesis, the true evil that propelled him into an unstoppable rage, the original God of War — who emblazoned the Blades of Chaos upon Kratos, as he swore an oath to serve his new master — then by the Gods, this moment is bound to get you fired up.

As voted by the God of War Facebook Community , the #1 God of War Epic Moment of All Time takes us back to a moment you should never forget…

God of War’s Most Epic Moments Ever

1. The Death of Ares
2. Kratos vs. Hercules
3. The Brutal Death of Poseidon
4. Brothers in Arms
5. Destroying Zeus and Cronos

The battle with Hercules in God of War III was not about a titan-sized boss encounter. However, you can’t deny the crushing blows and empowering strength you felt as Kratos pummeled his brother in his own arena. God of War is as much about power as it is about scale and spectacle, and this moment had it all. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below.

If you missed the previous epic moments, hit the links from the list below.

God of War’s Most Epic Moments Ever

1. The Death of Ares
2. Kratos vs. Hercules
3. The Brutal Death of Poseidon
4. Brothers in Arms
5. Destroying Zeus and Cronos

At current count, Kratos has decimated 23 of Greek mythology’s most important gods and people. And so far, the God of War Facebook community has voted three of those from Kratos’ “Olympian Hit List” (Zeus, Cronos, and Thanatos) on to our “God of War’s Top 5 Epic Moments” list. What’s the trend? The most epic moments in the God of War: Saga are always when Kratos is fueled by revenge, moving mountains, and defying impossible odds to destroy any mythological super power that gets in his way.

We’re on to our #3 greatest epic moment — this boss battle is arguably the grandest of them all. The word “epic” doesn’t always mean large in a physical nature, but the battle at the beginning of God of War III personifies the term handily. When I think of God of War III, I always remember the first 45 minutes of the game before anything else because of this epic boss battle. What about you? I dare you to disagree with me…

If you missed epic moments #4 and #5, hit the links from the list below.

God of War’s Most Epic Moments Ever

1. The Death of Ares
2. Kratos vs. Hercules
3. The Brutal Death of Poseidon
4. Brothers in Arms
5. Destroying Zeus and Cronos

There have been countless unfathomably epic moments in every God of War game, but only five will reign as the most epic moments of all-time. Thankfully, the God of War Facebook community determined this coveted list when we asked “What is your favorite God of War epic moment of all-time?”

If you missed no. 5, then you missed one deadly, vengeful family affair. We know it was technically “two” epic moments, but who’s complaining when it’s family-related — especially Kratos’ lineage. It may not be the last time on this list either…

As we celebrate the release of the God of War: Saga, let’s continue our weekly countdown of your top five God of War epic moments with #4 from Ghost of Sparta — a tag-team boss battle, in a critical situation when Kratos (or perhaps his brother) absolutely needed it.

“A Spartan Warrior never lets his back hit the ground!”

God of War’s Most Epic Moments Ever

1. The Death of Ares
2. Kratos vs. Hercules
3. The Brutal Death of Poseidon
4. Brothers in Arms
5. Destroying Zeus and Cronos

Every God of War fan remembers the first time they unleashed the Blades of Chaos. Amidst a catastrophic storm on a ship sailing on the Aegean Sea, players led Kratos toward the Gates of Athens, where he would begin his journey to seek out and destroy the God of War, Ares. It was in these first minutes of the original God of War that Kratos encountered the Hydra — a gargantuan sea serpent that explodeed through the ship, wreaking havoc for Kratos with every step. Not on this day. Kratos utterly beat the crud out of the Hydra in a series of epic clashes, culminating with a journey into the Hydra’s throat to retrieve the Captains Key. That’s God of War, and that… was the first of many unfathomably epic moments experienced in the God of War franchise.

We recently asked our God of War Facebook fans “What is your favorite God of War epic moment of all-time”, in an effort to establish God of War’s top five epic moments, as determined by the fans of the series.
The Hydra battle in the first God of War, Kratos’ many trips to Hades, getting impaled by Ares from a mile away in Pandora’s Temple, the Colossus of Rhodes battle in God of War II, chasing Hermes in God of War III… these are all epic moments that almost made the top five, but just missed the cut.

To celebrate the release of the God of War: Saga, we are going to do a weekly countdown of your top five God of War epic moments. You may be surprised at the rankings, so let the debate ensue as we begin with #5!

God of War’s Most Epic Moments Ever

1. The Death of Ares
2. Kratos vs. Hercules
3. The Brutal Death of Poseidon
4. Brothers in Arms
5. Destroying Zeus and Cronos

We’ve got some great news for PS Vita owners today concerning Remote Play, the application that enables you to interact remotely with PS3 using your PS Vita and a Wi-Fi connection. Starting today, PS3 owners will be able to download an update for God of War Collection and Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection that will enable these classic games to be played from their PS Vita using the Remote Play function.

So what does this mean? It means you’ll be able to enjoy two classic HD collections almost anywhere, whether you’re around your PS3 or not, from the comfort of your PS Vita and a Wi-Fi signal. Both collections include customizable control options, so you can choose to have the R2 and L2 buttons from your PS3 mapped to PS Vita’s rear touchpad. This is great news because God of War, God of War II, Ico, and Shadow of the Colossus represent some of the most beloved and acclaimed titles in videogaming — and both collections look stunning on PS Vita’s brilliant 5” OLED screen.

To access the Remote Play functionality for both God of War Collection and ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, you’ll need to download patches for each game on your PS3, at no extra cost. Once you download each patch and try out Remote Play for yourself on PS Vita, be sure to let us know what you think!

In addition to playing selected games remotely, the Remote Play feature enables you to access music, videos, and photos stored on your PS3 through your PS Vita. For instructions on how to set up your PS3 and PS Vita for Remote Play please visit our guide here.

Available today at retailers near you and September 25th on the PlayStation Store, the PlayStation Collection is packed to the, uh, packaging with extra digital content that guarantees you’ll be getting the most out of your purchase this fall. Whether for yourself or as a gift, these are going to be a great chance to check out some of our greatest exclusive franchises.

To quickly recap, here’s what your getting in each Collection:

God of War Saga ($39.99)

• God of War, remastered in HD
• God of War II, remastered in HD
• God of War III
• God of War: Origins Collection (which includes God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta)
• Full PlayStation Network Trophy Support
• Exclusive Bonus Content
• Voucher For 1 Trial Month of PlayStation Plus

inFAMOUS Collection ($39.99)

• inFAMOUS
• inFAMOUS 2
• inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood
• Extra missions
• Additional character costumes, power ups and weapon styles

Ratchet & Clank Collection ($29.99)

• Remastered versions of classic Ratchet & Clank games from PS2 in 1080p with 3D support (in 720p)
• Ratchet & Clank
• Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
• Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
• Online Multiplayer Support for Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
• Full PlayStation Network Trophy Support
• FREE 10th Anniversary Ratchet & Clank Avatar
• EARLY ACCESS to the Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time Demo

As an added treat for those of you wondering what the inside covers are going to look like – here they are in all their glory!

We’ve been really happy to see such a positive response from the community and thank you for your continued support of PlayStation. This is just the beginning. Keep an eye out as we announce even more additions to the PlayStation Collection in the coming months!