Why God of War Ragnarok Ends the Norse Story Explained By Developer
Cory Barlog recently said the end of the Norse saga in God of War Ragnarök allows the team to avoid spending an exorbitant amount of time on a trilogy of games. In a post-PlayStation Showcase interview, Ragnarok Creative Director Eric Williams confirmed the upcoming title will mark the end of God of War's Norse series.
Fans jumped into Kratos' Norse arc in God of War (2018), during a time of great tragedy in his life. Amid the passing of his wife Faye, the Spartan is left to care for their young son, Atreus, and fulfill her dying wish of having her ashes scattered from atop the highest peak in the Nine Realms. The journey to reach said peak proves long and arduous, complete with many a formidable threat along the way. By the end of it all, Kratos and Atreus receive a glimpse at their possible future, one paved with the cold road to Ragnarok.
Speaking with YouTuber Kaptain Kuba (via VGC), God of War (2018) Creative Director Cory Barlog offered an explanation as to why Ragnarok constitutes the end of Kratos' adventures in the world of Norse mythology. Barlog, specifically, noted that the 2018 title took five years to build; it seems Ragnarok will require a similarly long production cycle. Should Santa Monica Studio pursue a third Norse-centric entry, players will have waited "close to 15 years [for] a single story and I feel like that’s just too stretched out," the developer explained. Barlog continued:
"I feel like we’re asking too much, to say the actual completion of that story taking that long just feels too long, and given sort of where the team was at and where Eric was at with what he wanted to do, I was like look, I think we can actually do this in the second story."
The original God of War trilogy, set against the backdrop of the Greek pantheon, began in 2005 on PS2 and came to a close in 2010 on PS3. That's three mainline experiences spread across five years, the length of time it took to produce Kratos' return on PS4. Thus, condensing the current phase of God of War to only two parts seems a smart choice given the constantly evolving nature of game development.
God of War Ragnarok's recent gameplay reveal confirmed a slew of details about the eagerly-anticipated project. Thor, for example, will indeed play a role in the overarching narrative. And Atreus does long for answers about his connection to the Giants. One thing that remains up in the air, however, is when the title itself will hit store shelves.
God of War Ragnarök is expected to launch in 2022 on PS4 and PS5.
Source: Kaptain Kuba/YouTube via VGC