Not a new IP, not sci-fi, not Marvel—but something that still feels new about God of War.
It looks like Corey Barlog might not be leaving the world of monsters and gods after all. There are new rumors about the next project the director of God of War (2018) will work on, and they sound a lot more like a spiritual continuation than a new IP.
Barlog took a break from directing Ragnarök to work on a secret project. Based on his vague tweets about space, many people thought it was a whole new franchise, maybe even a sci-fi game. However, a speculation grew that all the space tweets might be fake, and that Barlog might have played a little prank on the fans.
What we know so far is that this unknown project is not a licensed IP. Don’t include Marvel, Star Wars, or similar franchises. Also, it’s not a brand-new universe, at least not in the usual sense. Not a new IP, but it might feel like one.
Speculation in the industry is now leaning toward two possible outcomes. The first? A full-on reboot of a Sony series that has been dormant for a while, like what Barlog did with God of War. But what about the more interesting and likely possibility? A new game set in the same world as God of War, but with a different story, characters, and setting.
Marvel doesn’t need to give Sony Santa Monica money. God of War has become a huge hit on its own. RAGE sold more than 15 million copies in its first year, making it one of Sony’s most popular sequels in recent years. With that kind of success, Sony isn’t going to stop making games in the series.
It’s also important to note that Barlog had a lot to do with the story of Ragnarök, even though he didn’t direct it. He informed the actual director, Eric Williams, of three key story points that had to be included. That much involvement could mean that Ragnarök and Barlog’s mystery project will work together in some way.
Barlog has long said that he wants to create something new. He even stated in an interview after the game’s release in 2018 that he wanted his next game to be his own creation. So, it’s likely that everyone thought he’d start over. But here’s the catch: reimagining God of War with new gods, new game systems, and new main characters might give him the creative freedom he’s been looking for, plus he can still benefit from the franchise’s reputation and income.
You can’t just keep telling Kratos’s story. It’s about expanding the world of mythology. It doesn’t matter if the myth is Egyptian, Maya, Hindu, or a mix of the three as long as it leads to epic stories and jaw-dropping boss fights.
And let’s be honest: Sony wouldn’t mind if Santa Monica turned into a studio for God of War. Even Eric Williams said in an interview (location unknown, but it could be a spoiler cast) that he wouldn’t mind if the studio only worked on the franchise. Sony also seems to agree.
We still don’t know much about Barlog’s project, but if it’s really further along than we think, we might get our first look at it at The Game Awards tomorrow. It would be a great place for a dramatic reveal—a new God of War experience from the same mind that made Kratos new again.
Corey Barlog isn’t done making gods bleed, whether it’s a bold spin-off or a new take on an old favorite.
