Although Santa Monica Studio remains silent about the sequel to God of War Ragnarök, a set of leaks and previous statements strongly point to the next setting being Ancient Egypt. This theory, fueled by the community, is based on leaked concept art and hidden files within Ragnarök itself, suggesting that the studio is already actively exploring this setting. The analysis of these development artifacts offers a unique window into the creative process in a AAA production.
From Concept to Files: The Development Trail 🕵️
The process is revealed through two key pieces of evidence. First, the revelation from Tim Moss, the original programmer, confirming that Egypt was a solid option for the 2018 reboot and planned for the future. Second, and more tangible, the discovery by fans of models and concept art of the Nile River and a possible Egyptian-origin companion in Ragnarök's files. These assets, although not used in the final product, are a common development practice for prototyping future ideas, indicating an advanced exploratory phase for the next installment.
World Design and Mythological Narrative ⚖️
The choice of mythology completely defines the world design, levels, and narrative. Switching to Egypt is not just an artistic matter, but a systemic design one: it involves creating new combat mechanics, puzzles based on its iconography, and a level structure that leverages its desert geography and the Nile. This leap reflects the constant challenge in developing established sagas: reinventing gameplay and setting while maintaining the character's essence and technical quality.
How could Egyptian mythology be integrated into the God of War saga's combat and character progression system without losing its identity as a narrative action game?
(P.S.: a game developer is someone who spends 1000 hours making a game that people complete in 2)