An observant player has realized a hidden reference to Cory Barlog in God of War: Ragnarok. This newly discovered tribute to the producer of God of War: Ragnarok has been hiding in plain sight this entire time.
God of War: Ragnarok is known for having some of the toughest fights in the God of War series, and one of those fights is against a couple of trolls named Golrab of The Frost and Golrab of The Ashes. During his travels through Vanaheim, Kratos stumbles upon a set of statues that, when awakened, transform into the aforementioned trolls, ready to stomp Kratos into the mud. Most players would assume that “Golrab” is just another strange name that fits with the time period, but it turns out there’s a hidden meaning to the name that links to one of the most important minds in the franchise.
Hardcore fans are always on the lookout for God of War: Ragnarok Easter Eggs, and one Reddit user realized an Easter egg in the name “Golrab.” When the letters are reversed, the word spells out “Barlog,” a subtle nod to the producer of the game. This reference hasn’t been confirmed by Barlog or anyone else who has worked on the title, but it would be hard to believe that this could be a coincidence.
Cory Barlog is considered by many to be the reason behind the success of the God of War series, fulfilling various roles, including lead animator for the original in 2005, and as director for God of War (2018). For Ragnarok, Barlog passed the directing reigns to another veteran of the franchise, Eric Williams, who was responsible for perfecting the combat in the series. Williams has discussed the comparisons to Cory Barlog in the past and has stated that he doesn’t mind “being invisible” when it comes to fans praising the creators of the game. It’s clear that Williams has no ill will toward the former director, and a small tribute to Barlog’s history with the franchise makes sense.
This tribute is not the only name-based reference in the game, as the character named Raeb is a reference to Bear McCreary, the music composer for the title, who also portrays the character. With the recent news of God of War: Ragnarok’s Art Director Rafael Grassetti leaving Sony Santa Monica Studio, it’s hard not to wonder if his name will be incorporated into the next God of War installment.
God of War: Ragnarok is available now for the PS4 and PS5.