Since Sony’s PS5 showcase back in September of 2020,God of War: Ragnarokhas been the subject of fan discussion and several theories since its reveal. That’s remarkable considering how over the last 19 months, Santa Monica Studio has only released two relatively short trailers out into the wild. While both trailers have gone on to become two of PlayStation’s most watched YouTube videos, fans are eager for more details regardingKratos and Atreus’ second Norse-themed adventure.
While Santa Monica Studio’s silence has fueled the demand for news, several recent headlines have arguably stoked those calls even more. Against a backdrop of delays, spearheaded by Nintendo’sThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, some fans are concerned thatGod of War :Ragnarokcould also slip from its ambiguous 2022 release date. Based on a number of factors, it seems unlikely that the game will get pushed back again. However, as time goes by, it becomes increasingly clear that the game will need to make a splash when it inevitably returns to the spotlight.
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Ragnarok’s Unlikely Delay
Considering how dynamic the gaming industry can be at times, it’s unwise to say that anotherGod of War: Ragnarokdelay is completely out of the realm of possibility. Situations can change quickly, as evidenced by the fact thatthe PS4 and PS5-bound titlehas already been pushed back once. However, as it stands right now, there’s a decent chance that Kratos’ sequel probably won’t be delayed beyond its 2022 arrival.
For one, recent allusions from Santa Monica Studio regarding the game’s positive progress have been backed up by credible insiders. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, who was on the money regardingProject Spartacus’ tiered approachto content, has backed up these voices over the last few months. Based on the information he has from his industry sources, the virtual Norse apocalypse is still set to kick-off at an undisclosed point in time later this year.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that part of Santa Monica Studio’s decision to push the game from its initial 2021 release window, seemingly wasn’t because of development issues either. FollowingGod of War: Ragnarok’s appearance at last year’s PlayStation Showcase, the studio announced that it had delayed the game toallow Christopher Judge to recoverfrom back surgery. Having commendably safeguarded the wellbeing of Kratos’ voice and motion capture actor, there’s a chance that the game’s release date is being kept a secret in an attempt to ease the pressure on its other employees.
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Sony’s Future Plans
Even though Sony has been riding a wave of exciting announcements and releases recently, there’s a sense that a bigGod of War: Ragnarokre-reveal is going to be needed soon. Following the successful launch ofGran Turismo 7,Horizon Forbidden West, andMLB The Show 22, the publisher’s upcoming lineup is looking a little on the light side of things. Beyond Santa Monica Studio’s sequel,Insomniac Games’ upcoming Marvel projectsand Firesprite’s collaborativeHorizonVR game are the only first-party titles that have been properly unveiled to the public.
It’s also for this reason that it’s hard to seeGod of War: Ragnarokgetting delayed. While it’s true that Sony has historically released its software during the first half of a year, relying on third party partners during later months, 2022 is shaping up to be different. Even with Nintendo’s decision todelayBreath of the Wild 2, it appears as though some significant console exclusives are going to be released by Sony’s rivals. Factors like PlayStation Plus’ relaunch and the critical acclaim of its established library will still drive sales, but there’s a chance the PS5 could be left out of conversations during the holidays unless a big game enters the picture.
Based on the massivesuccess thatGod of War2018 achieved, there aren’t many titles from the publisher’s portfolio that would be better positioned to challenge the hype surrounding games likeStarfieldandPokemon: ScarletandViolet. Unveiling a release date forGod of War: Ragnarokat some point in the next few months, alongside a cinematic trailer, would be a great way for Sony to get the ball rolling on its holiday push from a marketing perspective. It almost goes without saying, but the bigger the unveiling, the brighter the game and the PlayStation ecosystem’s futures will be.
Ragnarok’s Potential
If Sony decides to treat fans to theGod of War: Ragnarokunveiling they’re clamoring for, there are a number of ways that the publisher could go about showcasing Kratos’ upcoming adventure. Since its official reveal back in 2020, in the grand scheme of things, Santa Monica Studio has kept its cards relatively close to its chest. Over the last 19 months or so, the two trailers that have been shown to fans have amounted to barely four minutes of content. That number shrinks even more, if fans keep in mind the teasing nature of the first video. Beyond alogo reveal and Kratos’ prophetic VO, nothing else was really shown.
While a case can be made for holding back footage in an attempt to avoid spoiling the game for fans, there’s reason to believe that Santa Monica Studio could show more without ruining things. After all, whenGod of War: Ragnaroklaunches it will no doubt be a lengthy experience filled with mythology-themed twists, betrayals, and revelations. Instead of detailing specific story beats, aGod of WardedicatedState of Play showcasecould be released to show off what it’s like to play as Kratos in the sequel. Being a series known for its visceral combat, showingRagnarok’s gameplay like this would likely go down well with fans right now.
Santa Monica Studio only has to look to the recent exploits of its extended PlayStation Studios family for examples of this concept in action. BothHorizon Forbidden WestandGran Turismo 7received similar solo State of Play presentations ahead of their respective launches, which helped to build excitement. If the studio is keen to look closer to home though, the way in which it first unveiledGod of War2018 is another perfect exampleof the type of showing its sequel needs right now.
At E3 2016 that aforementioned game arguably stole the show with its extended gameplay demo. Showing off an early-game section ofRagnarokwould likely be the ideal way to affirm faith in its 2022 release date, whilst drumming up even more hype.
God of War Ragnarokis scheduled to release in 2022 on PS4 and PS5.
