Thanks to some insider leaks and teases from Santa Monica Studio itself, there’s still a sense online that Kratos’ sophomore Norse adventure will launch during the closing months of 2022. One recent announcement from the actor behind the franchise’s version of Thor in particular, even suggests that development progress is being made faster than some might have expected. If this turns out to be the case, players could receive an official God of War: Ragnarok status report soon.
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Ragnarok’s Thor
Following the publication of an article on the PlayStation Blog geared towards God of War: Ragnarok’s accessibility features, a less official update was also provided by a source close to Santa Monica Studio. During a question and answer panel at Comic Con Revolution in May, Hollywood actor Ryan Hurst spoke candidly about his involvement with the game. In addition to talking about how Sony had initially pitched him the role of Thor during a five hour-long meeting, the actor also promised that the game will feature a ‘super complex’ narrative.
What’s likely to have caught the attention of fans even more is Hurst’s comments about the process he’s gone through whilst bringing his incarnation of Thor to life. Based on how tight-lipped Sony has been on providing concrete updates on God of War: Ragnarok’s progress, it should be noted that the publisher likely didn’t green-light the comment beforehand. Despite their subsequent unofficial status, it’s now understood that Hurst has already wrapped up the finishing touches to his performance as the Norse god of thunder.
To make matters sweeter, additional clarification has now been provided as to the exact context in which Hurst initially made the comment. When the panel first surfaced on the internet there was a sense that the actor was alluding to the process of filming, using Sony’s motion-capture technology. However, following a comment from a YouTube user, the video’s uploader has since clarified that this wasn’t the case. Instead, it’s now believed that Hurst has wrapped up his final voiceover pick-ups and additional lines of dialogue.
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God of War: Ragnarok’s Development Status
Thanks to Santa Monica Studio’s attempts to ease some pressures of modern game development from its employees, fans have been left in the dark as to the current status of God of War: Ragnarok. Since the game’s first official gameplay trailer back at 2021’s PlayStation Showcase, the studio has avoided offering up anything that could set expectations too high. Instead, occasional hints and remarks have been made to tide players over until more concrete reports can be presented.
However, while there are some caveats that should be kept in mind, Ryan Hurst’s panel appearance feeds into the growing sense online that significant development landmarks are being passed in silence. Aside from insider leaks and comments from developers working on the game, the actor’s progress report is arguably the biggest indicator that Ragnarok’s 2022 release date is still on the table. Even though it’s likely that work on Kratos and Atreus will be wrapped after Thor, it bodes well that a degree of polish is already being applied to the game.
Player’s only have to look at Tony Todd’s recent comments about his work as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Venom for a window into how Sony’s first party studios seemingly operate. It’s understood that, for Insomniac Games at least, voiceover recording only starts once other hurdles have been conquered. While every studio has its own creative process, the fact that the final pieces of audio have been recorded for God of War: Ragnarok’s most famous Norse god, suggests that Santa Monica Studio is approaching the finishing line.
Even though the game industry is arguably more complex than other forms of media, thanks to the interactive nature of gaming, players can still look to other forms of entertainment for added reassurance. Typically, in TV and film production, re-shoots and re-recordings are two of the final pieces of the jigsaw to be completed. As a project is more fully realized, it’s natural for things to change at the last minute. With this context in mind, the fact that Santa Monica Studio is thinking on similar levels could speak volumes.
What’s Next for God of War
While it can be hard avoiding being consumed by hype, God of War fans should still look at Ryan Hurst’s comments with a degree of caution until an official statement is made by Sony. After all, game development can often swing in both a positive and negative direction at the drop of a hat. Right now though, there’s reason to believe that God of War: Ragnarok’s development is at least heading in an upward trajectory. In addition to the aforementioned remarks, the game has recently been rated in South Korea as well, which suggests that a playable build is being circulated
One way or another, Santa Monica Studio is going to have to break its vow of silence sooner rather than later. With only 6 months of the game’s previously announced release window left, it’s not unreasonable to expect a status report for God of War: Ragnarok being posted over the summer. If the comments from Hurst are indicative of the game being towards the end of its development, there are potentially a number of avenues that could open up for the studio to explore.
With Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest event only a few days away, there’s a chance that an update for God of War: Ragnarok could be provided there. It’s been suggested that previously announced AAA games will take center stage, which would theoretically make the sequel a prime candidate. Based on Hurst’s comments, it seems likely that a special God of War State of Play presentation will be unveiled in the coming months in either eventuality. The likes of Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 were shown off similarly, so it stands to reason that the game will receive the same treatment, provided progress is as positive as it seems.
God of War: Ragnarok is in development for PS4 and PS5.
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