During the September 2021 PlayStation Showcase, Sony premiered the first God of War Ragnarök gameplay trailer. Familiar characters and locations from 2018's God of War abound, but there were also several new faces, including the Norse god of war, Týr. After Kratos and Atreus search for him throughout the trailer, Kratos asks if he'll join them. He then stands up at the end of the trailer, towering over Kratos with eyes glowing yellow.
God of War Ragnarok's story appears to pick up where the 2018 reboot left off. Fimbulwinter has begun, signaling the start of the apocalyptic Ragnarok. Kratos and Atreus embark on a journey to learn the truth of Atreus' identity as Loki and what it means for the fate of the Norse world. With Ragnarok looming, father and son find themselves at odds, as Atreus appears adamant that a war is necessary to stop Ragnarok, while Kratos believes violence isn't the only option. The pair ends up seeking out the believed-dead Tyr for help.
Tyr is a central character in God of War 2018's narrative, despite never making an appearance. His temple, located in the Lake of Nine, serves as a central travel hub between the Nine Realms, frequently used and explored by Kratos and Atreus. Though he is the god of war, Tyr believes in pursuing peace and is known for traveling to other cultures to learn about them. In God of War's in-universe history, Tyr attempted to broker a peace between the gods of Asgard and the giants of the Jotunheim, ending with disastrous results. Suspecting Tyr of treachery, Tyr's father, Odin, has imprisoned him in an unknown location and led the inhabitants of the Nine Realms to believe the god of war executed. This is sure to be a point of interest in God of War Ragnarok - a story with a different father-son duo at its heart.
God Of War Ragnarök's Tyr Explained
In traditional Norse mythology, similar to Tyr's depiction in God of War, Tyr is a god of war less concerned with bloodshed than justice, according to historian Thomas Apel. Rather, he earned his moniker through acts of bravery and valor. Of all the Æsir, he is the only god with enough courage to feed Fenrir, a giant wolf who plays a part in the inevitable Ragnarok. Tyr is often depicted with only one hand, as Fenrir bites the other off when the gods of Asgard trap him in powerful dwarven bonds. In Ragnarok, Tyr fights alongside the Æsir, clashing with another mighty wolf, Garmr, and the two kill each other before the battle's end.
This knowledge about the Norse Tyr could provide significant insights into what's coming in God of War Ragnarok. The trailer's brief glimpses at Tyr show him with both hands, indicating Fenrir has not yet been bound, if he even exists yet. This opens the possibility of players getting to experience the key event in Norse mythology. The fact that Kratos and Atreus seek Tyr out in an attempt to stop Ragnarok could also indicate the final battle will play out differently than tradition dictates; notably, some Norse tales refer to Tyr as the son of a giant instead of Odin, and game director Eric Williams referred to Tyr as a "giant" in PlayStation's post-showcase interview. Perhaps Ragnarok's Tyr is of mixed blood, but either way, it looks like he'll be fighting alongside Loki and the other giants instead of against them.
God of War Ragnarök will be released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2022.
Source: Thomas Apel/Mythopedia