Summary
Some newly surfaced evidence suggests thatGod of WardeveloperSanta Monica Studiois working on an ambitious narrative combat game, possibly for the PlayStation 6. Not much is known about the award-winning developer’s plans since it releasedGod of War Ragnarokin 2022, but in-depth sleuthing may point to a “next-generation” project being underway atSanta Monica Studio.
AlthoughGod of War Ragnarok was a smash hitin every way for Sony and Santa Monica Studio, the game’s ending sparked a lot of speculation about the studio possibly letting theGod of Warfranchise rest for some time. Not only didGod of War Ragnarokfittingly cap off the Norse saga, but the free-to-playValhallaDLC also made a case for the retirement of Kratos, the series' iconic protagonist. It remains to be seen what the next mainlineGod of Wargame will look like and when it’ll come out, but for the time being, there are other Santa Monica Studio projects fans can look forward to.
It’s been known for a while now that one ofSanta Monica Studio’s upcoming projects is a brand-new IP, but a recent job listing suggests that the developer may already be chipping away on a game targeting Sony’s next-generation PS6 console. The job ad seeks a Senior External Development Environment Artist for a “next-generation narrative combat game.” While this could be dismissed as hyperbole in isolation, the job responsibilities section further confirms that this project will indeed target “next-generation platforms.”
Santa Monica’s “Narrative Combat” Project Might Be a Year-One PS6 Game
These clear “next-generation” mentions imply that this project is currently in the early stages of production and won’t be ready until after 2027/2028, which is the rumored release window for the PS6. Given that the wording is also different to previousSanta Monica Studio job openings hinting at an unannounced action RPG, it seems plausible that this narrative combat game is a separate project that won’t see the light of day for a long time. AAA games take anywhere from five to seven years to develop, so this could be a year-one PS6 game.
Interestingly, the job ad also mentions that experience “working on AAA projects similar to PlayStation Studios titles” is preferred, so Santa Monica’s mystery narrative combat game doesn’t seem to be straying too far from the studio’s established format. It’s yet to be determined whether this is anewGod of Wargameor potentially another new IP, but speculation points to the former due to the sheer popularity of theGod of Warfranchise.
It should also be exciting to see how Santa Monica Studio will leverage the PS6’s hardware for its narrative combat project, especially since the job listing indicates that the game will have a photorealistic art style.Rumors about the PS6are just beginning to surface among the general populace, but it appears PlayStation’s first-party studios have been working on games targeting the next-generation console for a while now.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
