Summary

  • God of War Ragnarok is selling well and continues to be a major money-maker for PlayStation, with over 15 million units sold.
  • The next saga in the God of War franchise has the opportunity to change the narrative and bring something new to the series.
  • After the events of God of War Valhalla, it's possible that Kratos' role in the next saga will focus on peace and uniting the Realms, rather than violence.

Pretty much since its debut all the way back in 2005, the God of War franchise has been a flagship property for PlayStation. For years, God of War enjoyed a close relationship with Sony, with both mainline and spinoff titles continuing to release on the PS2, PS3, and PSP. Though the series went on a short hiatus after the release of 2013's God of War Ascension, it's now back in full-force, once again rising to the very top of Sony's flagship first-party line-up.

Selling over 11 million units in just its first 10 weeks, and over 15 million by the end of 2023, God of War Ragnarok might not have topped the sales of its 2018 predecessor just yet, but it's definitely getting there. It's clear that God of War is still a major money-maker for the PlayStation, and where there's success in the gaming world, some more sequels aren't usually too far behind it. But the God of War franchise is currently at a bit of a narrative crossroads, and the next saga has the opportunity to flip what's come before it on its head.

God of War's Next Saga Can Cut Against the Grain

God of War Valhalla's Ending Suggests a New Future Is in Store for Kratos

For those who haven't played it, God of War Ragnarok's Valhalla DLC is paramount to Kratos' overall character arc. God of War Valhalla is essentially one big therapy session for Kratos, where he's forced to combat visions and echoes of his past, mostly the events that transpired during the Greek saga. From beheading Helios to sacrificing a slave just to get through a puzzle, Valhalla puts Kratos through the wringer, but it's all for his own good.

After six successive rounds through Valhalla, Kratos is finally deemed worthy to face his ultimate enemy, his younger self. In a beautifully-delivered monologue, Christopher Judge's Kratos states that he still can't forgive himself for his past actions. However, he has come to accept them, having realized that he can learn from those mistakes and take them with him as he attempts to be a better god.

Though Kratos comes to Valhalla for himself, one of the inciting incidents that led to him seeking such drastic self-reflection was an offer from Freya to come and work with her as one of the Nine Realms' new gods. During Kratos' speech to his younger self, he briefly mutters that he no longer needs to be a God of War, but could instead be a God of Hope, and upon returning to the land of the living, he accepts Freya's proposal.

God of War's Next Saga Could Revolve Around Peace

So much of the violence in Kratos' life has been due to circumstance. While the Greek saga saw Kratos go much too far in his quest for revenge, the Norse saga shows that Kratos is trying his best to avoid his past life of violence, using every opportunity he can not to kill and instead find a peaceful solution. After the events of God of War Valhalla, it would make a lot of sense for Kratos' role in the next saga to be completely different, no longer a God of War in the Nine Realms, but maybe a God of Hope, trying to unite the Realms against a common threat and only rising to violence when absolutely necessary.

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God of War: Ragnarok Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

God of War Ragnarok
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Action
Adventure
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1
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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
6 Images
God of War Ragnarok the crater region and lightning
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
God of War Ragnarok gameplay
Kratos from God of War Ragnarok
Kratos battling a creature with Atreus assisting in the background
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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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.

Franchise
God of War
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
How Long To Beat
26 Hours
Metascore
94
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium