God of War's Ragnarok sequel is currently scheduled to be released in 2021. It was formally announced in September 2020 with a brief title reveal, accompanied by some audio of Kratos speaking and some graphics. The new God of War game is highly anticipated and it's widely expected to become something of a system-seller for PlayStation 5. Most gamers anticipate that the title will continue the story from the last main entry in the series, and bring players into the events of Ragnarok, the Norse apocalypse. While the premise of the next game seems all but official, the currently-set 2021 launch could be on shaky ground.
The latest game in the series received acclaim by fans and critics alike, who praised the new Norse setting, visuals, and gameplay changes. The relationship between Kratos and his son Atreus was the heart of the story, and a lot of God of War fans can't wait to continue their adventure. Since the game's official announcement in September 2020, Santa Monica Studio has been quiet about the upcoming God of War title. Fans have been speculating that God of War's Ragnarok sequel won't be released in 2021, and considering how little is know about the game, among other factors, a delay wouldn't be surprising.
A Lack of Any Official Ragnarok News
When the God of War "Ragnarok" sequel was announced in September, fans were delighted to get the first piece of official news concerning the much-anticipated title. The initial teaser gained a large number of views and positive reactions from those who had been anticipating a formal reveal of the game. As the months came and went, there was no more official news revealed to fans, and currently, the initial teaser trailer remains the sole official tidbit regarding the game. As time goes on and with no further nuggets of information, it's more likely by the day that the God of War Ragnarok-set sequel will be delayed.
Cory Barlog of Santa Monica studio recently stated that that the game will be done when it's done, suggesting that the Santa Monica Studio is taking its time developing the sequel. Ultimately, this should bode well for the game, and presumably suggests that the team is looking to instill quality rather than rush its release. Despite this, the game is still currently set to be released in 2021, as far as the public knows. No specific release date was set for the God of War sequel, meaning that it could launch in the latter days of 2021, but the lack of information and Cory Barlog's comments could be indicative of a looming delay.
The God of War Sequel is Highly Anticipated
The new God of War sequel is right at the top of many fans' wish lists of most anticipated upcoming PS5 games. The last game in the series was a critical and commercial success, and it's easy to imagine that Santa Monica Studio is taking every step it can to ensure that the new game is a worthy follow-up. The team is undoubtedly working hard on the game so that it can measure up to lofty fan expectations, and this can take time.
After the controversy surrounding the release of Cyberpunk 2077 and its storied development, it's in the team's best interest to ensure that it takes its time developing the sequel. The God of War sequel might not release in 2021, but this could make for a fundamentally better game.
Considering how much fans are looking forward to the new God of War title, and how there is such little information on it, it might make sense for Santa Monica Studio to delay its new adventure with Kratos and Atreus. It can't be predicted how far along the new title is because of the lack of any official information, but it would suggest that its release is further away than expected. This, coupled with high fan expectations, might mean that a delay is not only likely but probable. The team undoubtedly wants to make the best game it can and to match existing levels of anticipation. A delay could be necessitated, which would be unsurprising for a large portion of gamers in 2021.
Global Pandemic Makes a God of War Delay More Likely
One major external factor that can't be ignored is the ongoing Covid-19 health crisis. The pandemic has resulted in numerous game delays, as teams are required to work from home to observe social distancing. This an unavoidable circumstance that also delayed the launches of other PlayStation exclusives in 2020, such as Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part 2. It would be unfortunate but entirely understandable if the new God of War was delayed, partly due to the ongoing pandemic. Much like other PlayStation developers, Santa Monica Studio is bound to be affected by the global health crisis and could be a determining factor in a delayed launch.
It stands to reason that much of the team is working from home, which could make any team-based project more difficult to manage. What could make things more difficult is that the new God of War is likely going to be on Sony's new console rather than PlayStation 4. PlayStation 5 is still relatively new hardware and could potentially mean more development time, as Santa Monica Studio gets more familiar with the next-generation console. With the team being presumably more scattered when compared to the development of the last God of War game, this could mean a longer certain development processes are slowed.
While the God of War Ragnarok sequel is one of the most anticipated games of 2021, it might not even end up releasing before the year is done. Considering the high expectation and the lack of news on the title, some gamers wouldn't be surprised to see a delay in the cards. Santa Monica Studio seems content to quietly work on the title, with Cory Barlog's comments being suggestive of a thorough developmental approach. Fans of the God of War series will be excited for any new information on the game, even if it's the formal announcement of a delayed release date.
God of War's Ragnarok sequel is currently scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 in 2021.