God of War Universe Expands: What's Next for Santa Monica Studio?

Sony's Santa Monica Studio is reportedly embarking on a new project related to the God of War franchise, as hinted by a prominent leaker. This revelation has ignited anticipation among fans, raising the possibility of the next installment in the God of War series already being in development. However, there are other potential scenarios to consider in light of this rumor.

The most recent addition to the long-standing God of War series was released in November 2022 and successfully lived up to the lofty expectations set by its acclaimed predecessor in 2018. While Santa Monica Studio has yet to officially disclose its future plans, it's worth noting that the studio had already begun recruiting talent for an undisclosed project even before the release of God of War: Ragnarok.

According to a well-known leaker known as ViewerAnon, Santa Monica Studio is actively engaged in a God of War-related endeavor. The precise nature of this project remains uncertain, with the possibility of it being either a standalone game or downloadable content (DLC) for God of War: Ragnarok. Should it turn out to be a full-fledged game, the leaker speculates that it might be a "half-sequel" that shares mechanical similarities with Ragnarok, which, in turn, drew inspiration from the 2018 God of War.

While rumors of Ragnarok DLC have circulated for some time, their credibility remains questionable, primarily because Santa Monica Studio has not traditionally focused on post-launch content. ViewerAnon suggests that the studio may break with tradition to maintain a regular release cadence, given the increasingly extended development cycles typical of contemporary AAA games.

However, if another God of War game is indeed in the works, it is unlikely to be officially announced before late 2024, at the earliest. This timeframe aligns with the studio's potential four-year production cycle, similar to the one followed for Ragnarok. It's worth noting that Ragnarok was initially unveiled in September 2020 with a planned 2021 release window, which was later postponed to late 2022. The 2018 God of War reboot also featured a two-year gap between its announcement and market release.

Based on LinkedIn data, Santa Monica Studio currently employs approximately 400 staff members. This sizeable workforce is capable of tackling one large-scale modern AAA game or multiple smaller projects, not accounting for any pre-production activities. The studio reportedly initiated another significant project in 2022, fueling speculation among fans that it might lead to a standalone God of War game centered around the character Atreus.