God of war: did sony santa monica almost build an egyptian epic?
Rumors have swirled for months within the God of War community – a persistent theory suggesting Sony Santa Monica initially envisioned a sprawling Egyptian saga for the franchise. Now, a former developer has lent credence to the speculation, revealing a pivotal moment where the studio pivoted to Norse mythology. The implications are fascinating: what might a God of War game steeped in Egyptian lore have looked like?
The norse choice: a familiar, yet daunting, challenge
According to Tim Moss, a programmer on 2018’s God of War, the decision to embrace the Norse pantheon wasn’t a foregone conclusion. During the game’s conceptualization phase, Sony Santa Monica explored multiple mythological landscapes. “The main mythologies we looked at were the obvious ones: Egyptian and Norse,” Moss explained in a recent interview. But the choice wasn’t simply about which mythology sounded coolest.
What’s intriguing is the reason behind the ultimate decision. Moss suggests the draw of Norse mythology stemmed from a peculiar balance of familiarity and challenge. “It was familiar, but not entirely familiar,” he stated. The team possessed a certain baseline understanding of Norse mythology, but bringing such a grand narrative to life presented a monumental undertaking – a challenge they ultimately embraced.
But the fact remains: the initial consideration of Egypt wasn’t just a passing thought. Moss believes, unequivocally, “that the plan was to do Egyptian mythology at some point.” This revelation throws a new light on the franchise's trajectory, suggesting a potential direction that was ultimately abandoned, perhaps for reasons we may never fully know.
Beyond ragnarok: remakes and a potential spin-off
With God of War Ragnarok concluded, Sony Santa Monica’s immediate future involves a significant undertaking: the ambitious trilogy of remakes. The recent release of God of War: Sons of Sparta on PS5 served as a prelude to this massive project, signaling a shift in focus. While the remakes themselves promise to be impressive, whispers of a spin-off, potentially starring Faye, Kratos’s late wife, are fueling even greater anticipation within the community. This would serve as a prequel, delving into her backstory and offering fresh perspectives on the franchise's complex narrative.
The community is abuzz with speculation regarding the future of Kratos and the God of War universe, and the possibility of an Egyptian adventure, though seemingly shelved, continues to intrigue. Whether it resurfaces in a future installment remains to be seen, but the revelation of this initial plan underscores the creative exploration that shaped the series we know and love. The specter of a desert-bound Kratos, battling ancient Egyptian deities, lingers—a tantalizing “what if?” in the annals of gaming history.