One of the most highly anticipated PlayStation games on the horizon is the sequel to 2018's God of War from Santa Monica Studio. Colloquially known as God of War: Ragnarök, the game has not had an official title revealed just yet, but will involve the end of the world as told through Norse mythology. The new game's predecessor succeeded in a daring reinvention of a long-running series, taking God of War from fixed cameras to an over the shoulder perspective. It also featured the most heartfelt story of the series to date, leaving many disappointed (if not entirely surprised) to learn that the God of War sequel is delayed until 2022.
The game was teased at the PlayStation 5 showcase in September 2020, with little more than an ominous "Ragnarök is coming" tag line. Many fans had already doubted that the claimed 2021 release window was possible, but Santa Monica had remained quiet until the recent announcement. Now those doubts have been proven justified, and the upcoming PlayStation exclusive is getting a bit more time in the oven.
Santa Monica Studio made the announcement via its Twitter account, claiming that an attempt to avoid crunch was the driving factor behind the delay. Game delays have become increasingly common over the last year, owing mostly to pandemic adjustments, so the delay of the God of War sequel isn't likely to come as a shock. Game developers seem to be treading lightly, perhaps eager to avoid any backlash similar to what followed the controversy that enveloped Cyberpunk 2077's release, with CD Projekt Red taking flak after shipping - despite multiple delays - a game that some felt was unfinished, even as the company weathered allegations of unhealthy working conditions.
A PS4 Blockbuster God Of War Releasing in 2022 May Feel Odd
After the announcement of God of War 2, it was largely assumed that the game would be a PlayStation 5 exclusive. It was announced at the PS5 showcase, after all, and the 2018 God of War already felt like a technical marvel running on the old hardware. Recent news shows that the new God of War sequel will also be cross-gen, coming to the PlayStation 4 as well. It's probably a smart move business-wise to not cut out the large PS4 market, but a recognizable title like God of War is practically the definition of a "system seller."
2018's God of War already impressed with its mimicry of single-take cinema and use of cleverly-placed crawlspaces and liminal segments to hide loading screens, a common feature in the PS4 generation. Many were likely hoping these would be done away with completely on a PS5 God of War, as a truly seamless game with no hard cuts to cinematic sequences or hidden loading screens remains an enticing idea, but fans will have to wait until 2022 to see how the next God of War is shaping up.
Source: Santa Monica Studios