In 2018’sGod of War, one of the new standout characters proved to be Kratos' young son Atreus. Players witnessed the young boy’s growth over the game, and how a father and son who didn’t truly know each other finally formed a strong, loving bond as part of their journey. WithGod of War: Ragnarokcoming in the near future, one developer from Santa Monica Studios teased that fans may get to witness some of the next adventure from Atreus' perspective.
Sony Santa Monica has been relatively quiet about what it has in store forGod of War: Ragnarok. The game’s title teases Kratos and Atreus witnessing the Norse armageddon and doing battle against more beings of Norse mythology, most notably Odin and Thor after the latter’s cameo at the end ofGod of War.
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Kratos is set to lead the next game, but there have been questions about how much more Atreus players may get whenRagnarokreleases. Santa Monica concept artist Samuel Matthews spoke to this during a recent appearance on TheGod of WarPodcast and teased possibilities for Atreus in the game.
In a clip shared on Instagram, Matthews spoke about how muchThe Last of Usinfluenced 2018’sGod of Warand how the team is looking toThe Last of Us 2for more inspiration. He specifically pointed to the split perspectives of Ellie and Abby and how the team may be looking to do something similar with Kratos and Atreus. Matthews said while makingAtreus playable comes with its own challenges, the gameplay and story potentials it presents may have been something too good for Santa Monica to pass up.
Given the importance Atreus played to the story of 2018’sGod of War, it makes sense for Santa Monica to consider diving deeper into Atreus as he comes into his godhood. It would also reinforce the role Atreus has in Ragnarok, itself, after it was revealed at the end ofGod of WarAtreus' mother wanted to name him Loki, a name now all too familiar to fans thanks in part to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The god of mischief plays a major role in bringing about the end of Asgard and Odin’s downfall inNorse mythology, all of which could be made more impactful by having players witness these events from Atreus' perspective.
Playing as Atreus could also offer a fresh change in gameplay and greater variety in mechanics. While Kratos remained the powerful brute fans knew him as from the originalGod of Wargames, Atreus favored fighting from afar with his powerful bow and magic abilities. Santa Monica could expand on this by carrying over the upgrade and rune system used for Kratos’Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, giving players a little more agency in terms of how Atreus plays.
God of War: Ragnarokis currently set for 2021 release on PlayStation 5.
