God of War: Ragnarok is possibly the most anticipated PlayStation 5 game in development, following the overwhelming success of its 2018 predecessor on PS4. Sony originally teased a 2021 launch window during a 2020 press event, but with little news since, it seems increasingly likely God of War: Ragnarok will ship sometime in 2022, instead.
The PS5 God of War game will be a direct sequel, unlike the 2018 title, which was set long after prior events. The word “ragnarok” is Old Norse for “fate of the gods.” It refers to an apocalyptic event in which gods like Odin, Thor, and Loki are predicted to die – and the world submersed in water – only to be repopulated and begin again. It’s a natural backdrop for a God of War story and was hinted at in the 2018 game. With that said, the “Ragnarok” subtitle actually hasn’t been confirmed or denied, and fans know little more than the fact that Kratos will return with his son, Atreus. If the game were anywhere near launch, more concrete details would probably be public.
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God of War developer Santa Monica Studio is also working on the project the midst of a pandemic, and large developers have found it difficult to operate in a fully remote environment, leading to many pandemic-related game delays. Even if the studio is able to return to in-person work later in the year, it may have already lost months’ worth of productivity. Waiting out the pandemic could also be beneficial for God of War: Ragnarok‘s launch. It will need rock-solid QA testing and maximum publicity - not to mention a wider PS5 install base – in order to make the biggest splash possible, which could mean utilizing the return of in-person events and a stronger economy.
God Of War: Ragnarok – Why A Delay Is Likely
A God of War: Ragnarok release this year would also be a rather quick turnaround. Three years out from the previous game’s release might seem like an eternity for fans, but it’s actually a short time for a AAA series like God of War that isn’t made by alternating developers. The art, sound, music, and animation in a God of War game are all expected to be cutting-edge, particularly on a new console, and that doesn’t come cheaply or easily.
It’s unclear when fans might get firmer details about God of War: Ragnarok and its release date. Director Cory Barlog recently borrowed a line from John Carmack, promising the game only “when it’s done.” Sony will probably want to wait for E3 2021 or a future State of Play livestream to reveal more news, so it’s plausible to expect radio silence until June or later.
