As a dedicated fan of the God Of War series, I should have been thrilled with the recent PlayStation State of Play event. Overall, the showcase was solid, but it featured two major God Of War announcements that, frankly, left me feeling uneasy. Instead of excitement, these reveals have sparked serious worries about the future direction of this beloved franchise.
Disappointing Spin-Off and Remake Plans
The first announcement, Sons Of Sparta, appeared lackluster from the start, with artwork that failed to impress. After watching streamers play it extensively, it's clear this spin-off is a below-average Metroidvania title, offering little in terms of story or value, especially given its high price point. Dozens of better alternatives exist in the genre, making this release feel unnecessary and underwhelming.
More concerning is the planned remake trilogy of the original Greek-era God Of War games. It remains unclear if Santa Monica Studio is leading this project, but I sincerely hope not. Remaking three classic titles—two from PlayStation 2 and one from PlayStation 3—is an enormous undertaking. Likely, these games will be condensed into a single release, which could lead to heated debates over what content gets cut. This approach risks alienating long-time fans who cherish the original experiences.
Content Challenges and Modern Sensibilities
The original games featured Kratos as a brutal, morally ambiguous character, with scenes that included extreme violence and controversial moments. For instance, there's a notorious part where he sacrifices an innocent woman to keep a door open. How will such content be handled in today's gaming landscape? Sanitizing these elements might provoke backlash, yet keeping them could clash with contemporary standards. This dilemma adds to the remake's precarious nature.
Additionally, the older games relied heavily on platforming and puzzle sections that may feel outdated and overly challenging to modern players. While I enjoyed these titles in their time, I now prefer the refined Norse saga entries. Remasters would suffice for preservation, but a full-scale remake of all three games seems excessive and potentially wasteful of developer resources.
Broader Industry Trends and Delays
This situation mirrors a troubling trend in the gaming industry, where studios prioritize remakes and remasters over new content. For example, Naughty Dog has yet to release a fresh game on PlayStation 5, focusing instead on re-releases. I fear Santa Monica Studio might follow suit, delaying the next mainline God Of War installment. With Ragnarök launching in 2022, fans reasonably expected a new game by around 2027, but these remake plans could push that timeline back significantly.
Spin-offs were manageable when they required less development time, but remakes demand as much effort as original games. This raises a critical question: when will we see a truly new God Of War adventure? Unless there's a secret project in the works, it might not arrive until the next decade. Such delays are exacerbated when studios divert attention to projects that may not resonate with fans.
Other companies, like Bethesda, face similar issues, with long waits for sequels like Fallout 5 or the next Elder Scrolls game. While keeping a franchise relevant is important, Sony should avoid diluting God Of War with subpar entries and instead focus on delivering high-quality sequels. I don't want this series to become like Horizon Zero Dawn, bogged down by spin-offs and hesitation rather than moving forward with compelling new stories.
In summary, these announcements have left me concerned that the God Of War franchise is straying from its path. By investing in unnecessary remakes and mediocre spin-offs, there's a real risk of tarnishing its legacy and frustrating loyal fans who eagerly await the next chapter in Kratos's journey.
