God of Warhas become an increasingly interesting franchise to watch, for a number of reasons. There are the vast lore elements and lovable characters, which help make it enticing and ripe for speculation, but its precedent for radical reinvention is arguably its most fascinating quality. AsGod of Warmoves into its next chapter, audiences will be watching to see how its gameplay and narrative continue to evolve.
The flames of speculation were stoked by recent statements from Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, who claims thatGod of Warwill be revisiting its original Greek settingvia a side-story of sorts. According to Grubb, this upcoming game will be akin to a half-sequel, serving as a stopgap betweenRagnarokand the next flagship release. Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that these claims are accurate, Santa Monica Studio could be looking at a cornucopia of potential, not just for the Greece-based game itself, but for the future of theGod of Warfranchise as a whole.
God of War Returning To Greece Would Have Two Huge Benefits
Kratos Could Solidify His Transformation In God of War 2018, Ragnarok
The originalGod of Wargames saw Kratos assuming the role of a vengeful, ruthless creature: his motivations were certainly understandable, but the destruction he left in his wake made him morally ambiguous. Less interesting than the ethical arguments for or against his actions is the psychological impact that said actions had on the character leading into 2018’sGod of War, which saw him attempting to run from his past, wracked with guilt. His journey of self-betterment deepened inGod of War Ragnarok, where he accepted his past deeds and took steps to forgive himself. Finally, theValhallaDLC had Kratos synthesize his growth, learning from his past and ultimately moving forward.
If Kratos were to revisit his homeland, perhaps it could be as a savior rather than a wrecking ball. This would be a satisfying and logical way to continue his personal journey, as he could apply the lessons he learned over the course of the previous two games, earning himself a bit of extra redemption in the process. But if Kratos were to simplydecimate the remaining Greek gods(of which there are only a few), it would undermine much of the psychological work he accomplished in recent entries, while being less interesting, since he would basically just be repeating history.
Another Greek God of War Could Be a Way To Introduce a New Set of Gods
If the most narratively satisfying justification forKratos' return to Greeceis to protect it from an outside threat, then such a threat needs to be established. This would be an elegant way to introduce one of the non-Greek, non-Norse pantheons that the series has alluded to up until this point: perhaps one or several Egyptian or Babylonian gods could spark a war with the weakened Greek pantheon, prompting Kratos to come along as an unlikely ally. This would not only serve as a way for the character to realign himself with the interests of his home country, but also as a way to tee up the series' next saga.
It’s worth restating that nothing about thispossible GreekGod of Wargamehas been confirmed. While Jeff Grubb has a fairly strong track record, not all of his claims have turned out to be true, and as is always the case with leaks and rumors, a grain of salt is recommended. But if this rumor is indeed accurate, then the GreekGod of Warside story could be a great turn for the franchise, making for a solid standalone game and even better sequels down the road.
God of War Ragnarok
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Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
