Sony’s recent State of Play presentation delivered some surprising news for God of War fans, announcing not one, but two new titles in the beloved franchise. However, these announcements may not be what the gaming community was anticipating.
While the State of Play event was touted to feature a slate of new first-party Sony announcements, the reality proved to be slightly different. Technically, no new titles developed by an internal studio were revealed. Yet, Santa Monica Studio, the long-time custodians of the God of War saga, is indeed overseeing the development of two new entries in the series.
A Remake on the Horizon?
The first of these new projects is described as a remake of the original three God of War games. However, details surrounding this ambitious undertaking are scarce. No gameplay footage was showcased during the presentation, and the title is reportedly still in the very early stages of development, suggesting a release date well into the future.
It remains unclear which studio will be spearheading the actual development of this remake. The most concrete piece of information shared is the return of TC Carson, the original voice actor for the formidable Kratos. Carson expressed his delight at being involved once more, indicating that Sony still has his contact details.
The presentation offered no clues regarding the release window for a mainline God of War game, nor did it shed light on what Santa Monica Studio might be working on independently, assuming it’s not this remake trilogy.
A 2D Spin-Off Emerges
Adding to the God of War universe, a new game was also announced: God of War: Sons of Sparta. This title takes a different direction, presenting itself as a 2D “vania” style game. This means players can expect exploration-focused gameplay with interconnected environments, a hallmark of the Metroidvania genre, but with a God of War twist.
The existence of Sons of Sparta had been rumoured prior to the State of Play, with leaks suggesting the developer behind it would be Mega Cat Studios. This studio is relatively unknown, with its most notable previous work being Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit. The involvement of a lesser-known developer for a God of War spin-off is certainly an unexpected turn for fans.
The announcement of these two titles leaves the future of the God of War franchise in an interesting position. While the prospect of revisiting the classic God of War games in a remade form is appealing to many long-time fans, the lack of information about a new mainline entry leaves a void. Furthermore, the foray into a 2D side-scrolling format with Sons of Sparta signals a potential broadening of the series’ scope and gameplay styles. Fans will undoubtedly be eager for more details on both projects as their development progresses. The question remains: how will these new directions resonate with a fanbase accustomed to the epic, cinematic scale of Kratos’s previous adventures? Only time, and further announcements, will tell.
