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[LectureMaster]

God of War Director Explains Why There Will Only Be Two Games in the Norse Saga - IGN

God of War director Cory Barlog has opened up on why there will only be two games in the series' Norse saga.

www.ign.com

"I think one of the most important reasons is the first game took five years. The second game, I don't know how long it's going to take but I'm just going to throw out that it's going to take a close to a similar time," said Barlog.

Then if you think a third one in that same [timeframe], we're talking a span of close to fifteen years of a single story and I feel like that's just too stretched out. I feel like we're asking too much to say the actual completion of that story taking that long... it just feels too long. Given where the team was at and where Eric was at with what he wanted to do, I was like 'Look I think we can actually do this in the second story because most of what we were trying to do from the beginning was to tell something about Kratos and Atreus that the core of the story's engine is really the relationship between these two characters.

This is a good one. Hope to see a powerful ending.

 

[Butch_0451]

So he basically just confirmed that the game will be delayed again.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

 

[Vick]

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

God of War III successfully crammed Poseidon, Hades, Helios, Hermes, Hephaestus, Hercules, Hera, Cronos and Zeus into like 10 hours.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

God of War III successfully crammed Poseidon, Hades, Hercules, Cronos and Zeus into like 10 hours.

There a pretty big difference in the storytelling style between the third and fourth game. I don’t expect it to be as easy.

 

[LectureMaster]

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

I recall seeing somewhere that Ragnarok is going to be 30-40 hours for main story. If true, that's quite substantial for Thor , Freya and Odin each.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

Alot of development time for the 1st game went into the core tech. They have that, plus all the assets they're reusing so scope should be much larger this time around

 

[Physiognomonics]

I think the whole Norse mythology could have deserved a third game. How many games did they do on Greek mythology? So the main reason is because the main story about Kratos and Atreus will end after Norse? I find this rather worrying.

 

[Bartski]

good. This thing will be gigantic

 

[Marvel]

I'm fine with this, it's rather exciting tbh.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Alot of development time for the 1st game went into the core tech. They have that, plus all the assets they're reusing so scope should be much larger this time around

Nice, my only complaint with the first one was the lack of content, specially bosses.

 

[Haggard]

"The second game, I don't know how long it's going to take but I'm just going to throw out that it's going to take a close to a similar time," said Barlog"

Wait... What? When did the first game come out again, and when was the 2nd supposed to launch? Something isn't adding up here...... Or... Is it.....
...
...

 

[Knightime_X]

This is good.
That means the pacing will be kicked up a notch and shouldn't drag out.

 

[Twinblade]

What's next after Norse?

 

[ManaByte]

What's next after Norse?

Based on the last game, either Egypt or China.

 

[Magnific0giganticus]

So he basically just confirmed that the game will be delayed again.

4 and half is similar to 5, wouldn't you agree?

 

[Yoboman]

Makes sense

At 40 hours there's a lot they can do

Trilogies made sense when the games were 10 hours, and the idea of a trilogy is pretty arbitrary as it is

One thing they didn't really mention is that Norse mythology simply isn't as deep as Greek. It's really only the Eddas and folklore and there's a lot of filling in the gaps they need to do as it is

 

[Topher]

So he basically just confirmed that the game will be delayed again.

Really? God of War went gold in March of 2018. This coming March will be four years. So yeah, strictly speaking, that would mean God of War will go gold in March 2023 and release in April 2023. But Balrog is speaking generally so this doesn't confirm anything. Having said that.....I wouldn't put a wager down either way.

 

[Yoboman]

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

Yes but the first game laid the ground work for Thor, Freya and Odin already. Its not like they need to build these characters up from scratch

 

[Yoboman]

Really? God of War went gold in March of 2018. This coming March will be four years. So yeah, strictly speaking, that would mean God of War will go gold in March 2023 and release in April 2023. But Balrog is speaking generally so this doesn't confirm anything. Having said that.....I wouldn't put a wager down either way.

Yeah but like 6 months to a year of that was just Cory and a small team in pre production before Stigs game was canned

Hard to tell how far off the game is at this point but it was similar in 2018. I remember everyone was talking about how its not coming any time soon and then all of a sudden we had a release date only 3 months before it shipped

 

[TidusYuna]

Based on the last game, either Egypt or China.

Gotta be Egypt. Monkey King Sun Wukong will be taking care of the Chinese gods. & Asura already took care of Indian Gods.

 

[kyussman]

I'm cool with it......they dragged the Greek stuff out for too many games.Egypt next would be incredible imho.

 

[gow3isben]

The only thing I'm coming away with is that this is going to come out 2023 damn

 

[Gonpachiro Kamaboko]

Just keep the boat tales in goddamnit it’s my favorite part of the first game

 

[RoadHazard]

Yes but the first game laid the ground work for Thor, Freya and Odin already. Its not like they need to build these characters up from scratch

Thor and Odin were not really present in the first game at all.

But yeah, if the story really is 40 hours or whatever it should be fine.

 

[Yoboman]

Thor and Odin were not really a thing in the first game at all.

But yeah, if the story really is 40 hours or whatever it should be fine.

There's like 10 hours of stories about them from Mimir and others

They may not have shown up but we know alot about them and their characterisation through the eyes of the characters in the first game

 

[RoadHazard]

There's like 10 hours of stories about them from Mimir and others

They may not have shown up but we know alot about them and their characterisation through the eyes of the characters in the first game

Ok, yeah, I guess they're talked about quite a bit.

 

[ZehDon]

The idea you need 40 hours to tell a story about two characters is something that really only exists in video games. I'm glad to hear they won't be dragging it out... but, if they go the Game of Thrones Season 8 route, and cram four seasons into one convoluted mess... might not be good either. I'm sure they'll find the balance.

 

[ripeavocado]

If developing a sequel takes 5 years, it’s their fault, not some unavoidable outcome.

 

[LaughingStock]

It's ok.

And I don't think we need more games set in different mythologies.

 

[kingpotato]

No way this game isn't going to be top notch. Personally I don't think we need endless sequels and while I really enjoyed the last game I was basically done with the series before I gave it a chance. I'm glad I did, but I'm also interested in what SSM will make next.

 

[MrFunSocks]

I don't understand why this is even something they need to say. Where did the idea that it needs to be a trilogy in order to tell a story come from?

 

[kyliethicc]

So he basically just confirmed that the game will be delayed again.

1st game took 5 years from scratch. 2013 to 2018. He said GoWR will be similar.

He doesn't want to just say "4 years" because that would imply its coming in April-May 2022.
He doesn't want to just say "5 years" because that would imply its coming in April-May 2023.

Its probably aiming for September to November 2022. Which is roughly 4.5 years. Aka. similar to 5.

Of course it could be delayed, but nothing he said indicates that it will.

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

GoW antagonists = Baldur, Magni, Modi. (Plus Valkyries.) With Thor & Odin as background threats/forces.

GoW Ragnarok antagonists = Freya, Thor, Odin. (Plus Valkyries.)

Basically the same.

I don't understand why this is even something they need to say. Where did the idea that it needs to be a trilogy in order to tell a story come from?

Back in 2018, Cory Barlog said they had an outline for trilogy of games (in the Norse setting), with GoW 2018 being the 1st game.

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

good. This thing will be gigantic

It will, just look at the length of the Last of Us Part 2.

If this game is at least 40 hours they can definitely wrap everything up within those hours. The other games after will probably go into detail with how Kratos got to where he was in the first game or focus on Atreus’s story going forward.

 

[TGO]

Perhaps they should start making games in a single person's life time then....I'm kidding...or am I?
I know it takes long to make games these days.
But it did 20 years ago too and they had harder tools to work with and smaller teams.
Seriously though, 5 years? that's a bit of piss take.
But I get it.

 

[Elder Legend]

I am praising the egyptian gods that Egypt is next. I am Jewish, so anything Mediterranean hits a close to home for me. Always been fascinated with Egypt culture and mythos. My only concern is that there making desert looking interesting is a challenging feat, but then so is snow and they did it pretty well here. I am hoping at some point though we can go back to the Greece roots. I was raised on the Hercules Disney cartoon as a child and always loved that as well.

I think what they're are doing is a wise decision and they have my full support.

 

[Fake]

Go to Egypt Kratos... please.

 

[YukiOnna]

Go to Egypt Kratos... please.

The comic that tells of his journey to Scandinavia had him stop in Egypt and Kratos was told he has something hes destined to do there apparently. So pretty likely.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

I recall seeing somewhere that Ragnarok is going to be 30-40 hours for main story. If true, that's quite substantial for Thor , Freya and Odin each.

That sounds awful ngl

GoW antagonists = Baldur, Magni, Modi. (Plus Valkyries.) With Thor & Odin as background threats/forces.

GoW Ragnarok antagonists = Freya, Thor, Odin. (Plus Valkyries.)

Basically the same.

The Valkyrie were excellent optional bosses that stole the show. I sincerely hope that Thor and Freya don’t hold the same weight that Magni and Modi did. I didn’t include them in my initial post because they were less than lackluster.

 

[Mercenary09]

As long as we get more God of War in the future I don't care. I agree with him as waiting 15 years for a story is absurd. For comparison we got the entire Greek story, God of War 1-3, in the span of 5 years. Now we have to wait that long for a single game. So long as they do the story justice and nothing feels half assed I'm cool with it. Hope it doesn't get delayed to 2023 though based on his comment.

 

[Great Hair]

Next chapter:

F O R E S H A D O W I N G Z​

 

[lh032]

God of War III successfully crammed Poseidon, Hades, Helios, Hermes, Hephaestus, Hercules, Hera, Cronos and Zeus into like 10 hours.

gow 3 is an action game, not a story driven + action game though.

 

[YukiOnna]

With them being secretive about Odin and only highlighting Thor and Freya as the main antagonists, it really feels like Odin's going to be a continuing antagonist part of the overarching plot.

 

[iorek21]

I'm not really familiar with Norse Mythology, I know Odin is killed by Fenrir and Thor by the big serpent, these two deaths are probably happening near the game's ending.

What happens to Freya?

 

[gow3isben]

We better get boss fights:

- Surtr
- Fenrir
- Odin
- Thor
- Freya
- Freyr
- Heimdall
- Niddhogg
- Ragnar Lodbrooke

Maybe GoW Ragnarok isn't that overwhelming graphically because they spent all their budget on epic boss fights and enemy variety which I am totally ok with.

They shouldn't have made the first game so reserved in introducing epic norse figures we will really be cucked of the norse legends if they only give us Odin, Freya, and Thor.

 

[alabtrosMyster]

I think the whole Norse mythology could have deserved a third game. How many games did they do on Greek mythology? So the main reason is because the main story about Kratos and Atreus will end after Norse? I find this rather worrying.

Son of War is coming out in 10 years.

 

[sankt-Antonio]

Hope Loki dies in this one. The next batch of GOW games should be Kratos going back to his angry roots and just fuck shit up in Egypt. And kill like 20 gods in the first game. Wouldxreaölly like a brutal and gory game with the new combat system.

 

[Great Hair]

 

[Amiga]

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

there is enough time to feature them all in 40 hours.
gameplay wise the 1st game actually had plenty of bosses like the Valkyrie and Dragons in 20some hours. it would just take a few minutes per encounter to add narrative with Thor/Odin/Freya.

 

[jigglet]

Cramming Thor, Freya, and Odin into one game doesn't sound good when the first game had one primary antagonist. Sounds like one or two of those will get the short end of the stick.

Batman & Robin, Spiderman 3, Amazing Spiderman 2...Hollywood is filled with examples of them trying to cram too many villains in and it all imploding. You'd think they'd have learned some restraint by now.