Next God of War Game Is On The Way
GAMING
A new job listing at Sony’s Santa Monica Studio hints at the next God of War project. Could it be a sequel, spin-off, or entirely new mythology? Here’s what gamers need to know.
For years, the God of War franchise has stood as one of PlayStation’s crown jewels, combining visceral combat, breathtaking storytelling, and larger-than-life mythological settings. Since the release of God of War Ragnarök in 2022, fans have eagerly speculated about where Santa Monica Studio might take Kratos and Atreus next. While Sony has yet to make any official announcements, a new job listing at Santa Monica Studio has sparked fresh rumours and theories about the future of the series.
A Job Posting with Big Implications
Recently, Sony Santa Monica Studio posted an opening for a Senior Combat Designer (contract) role. At first glance, it seems like a routine hire. But when you dig deeper, the responsibilities and preferred qualifications raise some very intriguing questions.
According to the listing, the candidate would be responsible for designing and implementing enemies and boss encounters, working alongside teams in animation, level design, and art. The description further emphasises the need for expertise in third-person melee action RPGs—a category that perfectly fits the God of War series’ iconic gameplay.
Even more telling, the job ad specifically highlights experience with God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök (2022) as preferred qualifications. In other words, they’re not just looking for general combat design talent—they want someone who already understands the DNA of modern God of War.
What This Could Mean for the Franchise
Of course, a job posting isn’t a press release, so nothing is officially confirmed. Still, the clues are hard to ignore. The fact that Santa Monica is hiring specifically for combat and enemy design suggests that another God of War project is in active development.
1. A Direct Sequel to Ragnarök
Kratos and Atreus’ Norse saga concluded with Ragnarök, but the ending left plenty of room for new adventures. Atreus sets off to find the Giants, while Kratos embraces a new role as a god revered rather than feared. A direct continuation could expand on these threads, perhaps shifting the focus more toward Atreus’ journey or exploring new pantheons.
2. A Spin-Off or Side Project
Some rumours suggest Santa Monica may explore a Greek-era side project, revisiting Kratos’ past in a new light. This could provide fresh gameplay opportunities while expanding on parts of his story that fans never fully experienced.
3.Experimentation with New Gameplay
While the mainline series has been a huge success, Santa Monica might also be experimenting with different formats. Imagine a God of War spin-off with a heavier RPG structure, or even an Atreus-led adventure with different combat mechanics. Hiring a combat designer with deep RPG knowledge hints that they could be willing to innovate further.
Why Now?
Timing is everything in game development. AAA titles like God of War take years to craft, and hiring for combat design at this stage likely means pre-production or early development is underway. If that’s the case, the next God of War title might still be several years away—possibly targeting the latter half of the PlayStation 5’s lifecycle, or even the next generation of PlayStation hardware.
It’s also worth noting that Santa Monica Studio is rumored to be juggling multiple projects. In addition to whatever God of War-related content is being worked on, reports suggest the team is also developing a brand-new IP. If true, this would make the studio one of Sony’s most ambitious first-party developers, managing two large-scale productions simultaneously.
The Future of Kratos and Atreus
The God of War series has always thrived on reinvention. The original Greek trilogy was a fast-paced hack-and-slash adventure, while the Norse saga reinvented the franchise as a more grounded, narrative-driven epic with a father-son dynamic. The combat system itself evolved from chaotic combos to weightier, deliberate strikes with Kratos’ Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos.
Given this history, it’s safe to assume that the next project won’t just recycle what came before. Instead, Santa Monica may seek to refine combat even further or introduce new mythologies to keep the series fresh. Could we see Kratos in Egyptian or Mayan mythologies? Could Atreus take center stage with a completely different fighting style? The possibilities are endless.
Why Fans Should Be Excited
Even without official confirmation, the mere existence of this job posting is cause for excitement. It signals that Sony isn’t ready to shelve God of War anytime soon. Considering the massive commercial and critical success of the last two entries, it would make little sense to end the franchise here.
More importantly, the posting emphasises combat design—a cornerstone of the God of War experience. That means the studio is prioritising the aspect of the game that fans care about most: thrilling, challenging, and cinematic battles against gods, monsters, and everything in between.
A Long Wait Ahead
Fans should temper their expectations, though. Game development is a long process, and even if the next God of War is in active development right now, we may not hear anything official for years. Sony tends to reveal projects only when they’re confident in the timeline, and Santa Monica Studio is known for taking the time needed to get things right.
Still, keeping an eye on job postings has often been a reliable way to spot early hints of big projects. And this one, with its unmistakable references to past God of War titles, seems like a strong indicator that more mythological chaos is on the horizon.
Final Thoughts
The God of War franchise has never been afraid to evolve, and the latest hiring news suggests the next evolution is already in motion. Whether it’s a full sequel to Ragnarök, a Greek-era spin-off, or something completely unexpected, fans can rest assured that Kratos’ journey is far from over.
While we wait for official word, this job listing serves as a tantalizing glimpse into the future of one of gaming’s most beloved series. For now, all we can do is speculate—and dream of the next time we’ll pick up the Leviathan Axe, face down a towering foe, and lose ourselves in Santa Monica Studio’s mythic storytelling once again.
