If God of War Ragnarök's release date was subject to a strict crunch period, it would very likely ruin what is expected to be a tight and nuanced story. As the gaming community celebrates the fourth anniversary of God of War 2018, it still begs the obvious Ragnarök question about just when the community will get more information about the game, but one thing is certain: the game doesn't need a rushed product.
God of War Ragnarok has a high bar to reach since it will be the latest in a dearly-beloved video game series, and the direct sequel to its best-selling entry. This fact alone attests to the precise and careful updates from the Santa Monica development team on the subject; fans are watching closely to see how and when this product will finally come out. Initially, the game was set to launch in 2021, but that changed to 2022 after pandemic complications. Some in the community are even questioning whether or not a God of War Ragnarök 2022 release is likely anymore.
Whatever the case, implementing a strict crunch time to appease fan demand won't make matters better, but cause issues to pile on that could hit the game's story hardest. Massive AAA title releases like Cyberpunk 2077 and, more recently, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga should indicate not to follow the same path because it hurts not only the community but the game itself. It looks like Santa Monica Studio understands this too, as the official Twitter page released a video with Cory Barlog confronting the questions that needed answers.
God of War Ragnarök Should Learn From LEGO Star Wars' Crunch Mistakes
As of now, Ragnarok's developer insists a 2022 launch is happening, but it's hard to determine if the decision is a good one or not until the final product ships. Regardless, at least consciously avoiding crunch-time mistakes such as in the recent case with LEGO Star Wars should be a top priority for Santa Monica. While The Skywalker Saga is a phenomenal game in a lot of ways, it didn't live up to its full potential, likely because extensive crunch saw elements removed that fans wanted, stories rushed through too quickly, and a lot of bugs that weren't dealt with by the time of release. God of War Ragnarok is undoubtedly the most anticipated PlayStation exclusive set to launch in 2022, and it needs to avoid these mistakes if it's going to keep its story-rich identity at the center.
Having a crunch schedule isn't inevitable, but all too common. At some point, games have to release, but it shouldn't be at the cost of staff health and well-being, nor the quality of the end product. Seeing Santa Monica Studio update the public about the current situation is, hopefully, a good sign for a healthy launch. Even CDPR promises the new Witcher won't crunch employees, so the atmosphere in general for game studios looks to be switching to one that emphasizes quality over deadlines. God of War Ragnarök is set to come up sometime during the holiday season this year, and hopefully, it lives up to its much-deserved legacy.
Source: Santa Monica Studio/Twitter