God of War’s Canceled Live-Service Game is Illuminating in One Big Way

A shocking cancelation a few weeks ago revealed that a live-service God of War game was in development, but the project will never come to fruition. Since its genesis, God of War has been a single-player narrative-driven franchise. A live-service take on the long-running Sony exclusive would have been a bold departure from its formula, which could have been intriguing or ill-received.

Regardless of what the game’s hypothetical reception would have been like, it’s a letdown that a developer as strong as Bluepoint had to scrap a project. While the reasoning is uncertain, Sony has been pulling the plug on many titles that were in the middle of development. Specific details surrounding the God of War live-service spin-off remain a mystery, but it holds interesting implications for the Norse saga’s character roster.

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God of War’s Live-Service Spin-Off Raises Questions About the Game’s Playable Characters

Was the Norse Pantheon Going to Be Playable?

It’s hard to imagine just exactly how a live-service God of War could have worked, but the clear character options would be the various gods of the Norse realm. Freya, Angrboda, Thor, and Tyr could have been possible options to choose from. With plenty of questions surrounding the next mainline God of War game, the potential routes that a live-service spin-off could have gone present even more to ponder. Whether Bluepoint was working on an arena-style multiplayer game that pitted gods against one another or a god-powered battle royale remains to be seen, but in hindsight, it seemed bound to use Kratos’ allies as playable characters.

There is also the possibility that a live-service God of War could have featured customizable characters, but that would have run the risk of not feeling connected to the franchise at all. Since it’s a narrative-driven series, the various characters showcased throughout each story play an integral role in crafting the heart and tone of God of War. Therefore, it’s far more likely that the Norse pantheon was going to be the game’s character roster.

God of War’s Rumored Setting Change May Disrupt the Current Character Lineup

It’s compelling to imagine what playable versions of Freya, Tyr, and even Sindri could have been like, but this remains a mystery for now. Now that this God of War spin-off has met an early end, it now raises concerns about how these characters will be repurposed, if at all. One of the biggest rumors going around about God of War right now is that the next mainline installment is headed to Egypt. A lot of fans have been predicting this for years, but if it finally happens, it makes one wonder where Kratos’ Norse allies will end up.

This is purely speculation, but it’s worrisome to think that maybe Bluepoint’s live-service project was intended to be how the Norse pantheon lived on. The end of Ragnarok essentially wrapped up the Norse saga, and if Kratos heads to Egypt, it could mean that he’s leaving some characters behind. Of course, this may turn out not to be the case, but until Santa Monica Studio confirms the direction for the next entry, it’s at least a possibility.

God of War’s Upcoming Milestone Could Hold Surprises

On March 22, God of War will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Nothing has been confirmed, but such a significant milestone is the perfect moment to announce future plans for the franchise. Only time will tell, but if Santa Monica Studio wants to update fans on what’s next for Kratos and his allies after such a major cancelation, then its 20th anniversary would be the best time to do so.

God of War

Creation Year

2005

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment