Even though Sony has been highlighting games like The Last of Us and Horizon Zero Dawn in recent years, the God of War series remains one of PlayStation’s top-selling franchises by a significant margin. While there was no indication of an exciting new update for the series at Sony’s latest State of Play, the announcement we did receive feels even more disappointing than receiving nothing at all.
Featuring a brief animated trailer unveiling the 20th anniversary God of War-inspired DualSense Controller from PlayStation, neither the announcement nor the franchise itself received much build-up or fanfare before being quickly passed over. Even though the controller bears the mark of the instantly recognizable Kratos, that hasn’t prevented the overly simplistic design from facing waves of backlash online.
God Of War’s 20th Anniversary Is A Letdown
So Far, We Haven’t Gotten Much To Celebrate
This isn’t to say that the subtle design of the controller is terrible by any means, but it feels like another misstep that fails to take advantage of the rich history and style that the God of War series possesses, such as gilded designs of weaponry or symbols from the series. Taking up an advertisement slot in the State of Play, it would have been much better to save it for a more significant update or announcement. Despite Sony promoting GoW‘s 20th anniversary with some exclusive merchandise and in-game cosmetics for God of War: Ragnarok, this year has been utterly lacking in any meaningful content for the beloved franchise.
The God of War controller fiasco isn’t even the first major disappointment this year from the series either, as the confusing title for God of War Ragnarok‘s Dark Odyssey Collection faced criticism for raising hopes that it would finally offer a remastered collection for the PlayStation 5. Even if the skins themselves looked great and harkened back to some iconic styles of the franchise, it simply wasn’t enough to satisfy fans after a three-year gap since Ragnarok‘s release. While the God of War franchise has been no stranger to rumors of spin-offs or sequel concepts over the years, it’s hard to imagine a better time to at least tease an announcement that isn’t just about its 20th anniversary.
While it’s a little too much to ask for a surprise shadow drop of a playable release in the next few months, at this point, fans are likely willing to take anything they can get to see what adventure Kratos and Atreus will embark on next.
The God Of War Franchise Deserves The Spotlight
After The Last Of Us, It’s God Of War’s Time To Thrive
It’s no secret that Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us has been Sony’s golden child for several years in a row now, with both games having their share of remasters and re-releases that offer varying levels of changes. Even if part of this massive boost in attention comes from the critical success of the series’ TV adaptation, God of War is equally deserving of similar recognition.
Offering a similarly narrative-driven focus with satisfying gameplay and a brooding father figure to play as, it’s more than a little odd that the new God of War reboot series has been relatively overlooked in favor of Sony’s other IPs, especially given its more universal praise compared to the controversial zombie franchise. With God of War even getting its own TV adaptation covering the Norse era of the reboots, Kratos’ instantly recognizable appearance, cultural impact on the industry, and heartfelt relationship with Atreus feel like perfect follow-ups to TLOU‘s live-action adaptation. Even if it will be some time before this project comes to fruition, even a small teaser can go a long way in building excitement for what’s upcoming.
Sony Could Still Be Saving A Surprise Announcement For Later
Late 2025 Makes Sense For A New God Of War Reveal
Even if it’s hard to believe Sony has a ready-to-release anniversary collection up its sleeve, it’s not really worth holding out hope for this idea. Given that the original God of War games aren’t even playable on PlayStation 5, outside of God of War 3, it’s a desperately needed inclusion for fans of the series. While classic hardware or emulators are still available to help fill the gap left by Kratos’ iconic past, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to actually obtain original games themselves, let alone in a way that befits their status as legendary classics.
Although some gameplay or controversial story elements may feel dated by today’s standards, there’s a reason why the original God of War games were so widely beloved in their time. Even with a greater focus on arcade-style gameplay or hack-and-slash combat, the franchise feels incomplete without being able to experience its story in its entirety on one next-generation system. Despite being half a year past the exact anniversary already, hopefully some recent remaster rumors for 2025 hold some truth. Fans are eager for God of War to provide a sneak peek at one of its mysterious projects soon.
- Released
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November 9, 2022
- ESRB
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M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
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Santa Monica Studio
- Publisher(s)
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Sony
- Engine
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Proprietary Engine
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