God of War Developer Hiring for 'Next-Generation Narrative…

Summary

A new Santa Monica Studio job opening suggests that the developer is working on a "narrative combat game" targeting "next-generation platforms."
The phrasing clearly hints at the project being a PS6 game, which means it could possibly launch after 2027/2028.
Other details in the job ad point to the narrative combat game sporting a photorealistic art style and similarities to other AAA projects from PlayStation Studios.

Some newly surfaced evidence suggests that God of War developer Santa Monica Studio is 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 released God of War Ragnarok in 2022, but in-depth sleuthing may point to a "next-generation" project being underway at Santa Monica Studio.

Although God of War Ragnarok was a smash hit in every way for Sony and Santa Monica Studio, the game's ending sparked a lot of speculation about the studio possibly letting the God of War franchise rest for some time. Not only did God of War Ragnarok fittingly cap off the Norse saga, but the free-to-play Valhalla DLC also made a case for the retirement of Kratos, the series' iconic protagonist. It remains to be seen what the next mainline God of War game 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.

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By Nick Rodriguez

It's been known for a while now that one of Santa 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

santa monica next generation narrative combat 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 previous Santa 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 a new God of War game or potentially another new IP, but speculation points to the former due to the sheer popularity of the God of War franchise.

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 PS6 are 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.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%

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Released: November 9, 2022
ESRB: M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s): Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s): Sony

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God of War Ragnarok the crater region and lightning

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Intense combat with Kratos wielding fiery Blades of Chaos against a powerful enemy in God of War Ragnarok

Kratos gazing at colossal statues in a mystical, cloudy landscape in God of War Ragnarok

Kratos battling a creature with Atreus assisting in the background

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Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go
From 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.