As Sony closes the curtains on what has been a record year for PlayStation, rumors surround the possible last-minute announcement from one of its critically acclaimed first-party studios, Santa Monica Studio.
As per Areajugones’ sources, which are reportedly close to Sony, an official reveal is coming on or before December. Specifically, the rumblings point towards a potential God of War spin-off or expansion.
The sources suggest that Sony Santa Monica has been working diligently on what was initially believed to be DLC for its latest game. However, as more details emerge, albeit unconfirmed, the project’s scope appears to have grown beyond a traditional downloadable content. Unfortunately, the exact nature of the reveal, whether through a cinematic trailer, a teaser, or a showcase at a major gaming event, remains undisclosed. But, there’s a sense that this announcement could align with one of the year’s pinnacle events, The Game Awards 2023, scheduled for early December. PlayStation’s strong historical presence at this event, coupled with the God of War series’ legacy there, makes it a fitting stage for such a revelation.
In recent years, Sony has chosen to release medium-sized standalone projects following the release of its biggest titles. Case in point, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. This lines up with earlier rumors about a half-sequel centered around the adventures of Atreus after the events of God of War: Ragnarok.
Make no mistake. Despite the standalone spin-off’s potentially smaller scale, they can still stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the main entries in terms of quality and immersion. They act as curated experiences and offer an opportunity for a deeper exploration into the game’s universe, which is often missing from traditional DLCs.
A more narrative-driven and better-paced God of War spin-off would address one of the weaknesses of God of War: Ragnarok. It’s been confirmed that Santa Monica Studio, specifically Cory Barlog, that the studio condensed the Norse saga into two games, instead of a trilogy. Many felt it led to a somewhat rushed storyline. While Ragnarök was praised as a phenomenal game, extending the narrative over three installments might have served the storytelling better. This context adds an intriguing layer to the upcoming expansion, potentially offering an avenue to flesh out the narrative and explore character arcs further.
As for who could take the lead in the spin-off, Atreus, as previously mentioned, is the obvious candidate. But, is Atreus ready to lead the charge? Even if he is, would gamers welcome Atreus with open arms? Unlike Miles Morales and Chloe Frazer, which took up lead roles in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, respectively, Atreus’ gameplay is a stark difference from Kratos. It feels as if Atreus would be better off being paired with someone else, like Freya, for example. Her complex relationship with Kratos and compelling character development over the two Norse saga games, is another candidate.
Of course, we can’t deny the possibility that this is false. While it might be true, the timing could be off. The same source previously claimed Konami would announce the Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake at last year’s The Game Awards, but this didn’t come true. Instead, it was eventually announced at the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase. So, even if the spin-off isn’t announced at The Game Awards, it’s worth holding out hope for a later reveal, possibly after Jim Ryan has left the company next year.
For what it’s worth, this isn’t the first time that new content related to God of War has leaked online.
Sony is currently working with Amazon on a live-action adaptation of God of War. Sony Pictures TV Studios President Katherine Pope shared that the show “will be really satisfying.”
