Santa Monica Studio has shared a new screenshot from God of War Ragnarok featuring the frozen realm of Niflheim. The issue, as those who played the God of War reboot in 2018 know, is that something happened in Niflheim that should have permanently changed the realm forever. As such, the new God of War Ragnarok screenshot is eyebrow-raising, prompting more questions about the sequel than it answers. That's likely exactly why Santa Monica released it ahead of launch, though.In God of War, players were able to visit Niflheim as an optional location. Those who did the work to visit Niflheim will recall that a terrible disaster had occurred, leaving the realm of fog, wind, and snow, as a desolate wasteland of poisonous fog. That's how players left Niflheim in God of War. The venture into Niflheim was only to gather resources, learn what had happened, and potentially battle the Valkyrie Hildr. By all accounts, Niflheim should still be covered in poison fog.RELATED: God of War Ragnarok Gets Launch Trailer Ahead of Release Next WeekThe new God of War Ragnarok screenshot indicates otherwise, however. The screenshot, shared on Santa Monica's official Twitter account, shows an ice-covered expanse, with certain ruins peeking out from the edges of where the ice has climbed. Text for the post states clearly that this is Niflheim, the realm of fog, and that as God of War players remember it had been through a "terrible accident" and had been transformed into a "desolate wasteland." Lastly, the post adds a God of War Ragnarok hashtag, if only to confirm this is from the upcoming game.

Obviously, there are many questions stemming from the screenshot. Whether this is a picture of Niflheim before or after it was overtaken by poisonous fog is obviously the big one. It's possible that God of War Ragnarok will allow players to travel back in time to see Niflheim before its apocalypse. It's alternatively possible that something has happened to return Niflheim to its former glory.

Time travel isn't an unheard-of concept in the God of War reboot. There's a conversation between the World Serpent Jormungandr and the disembodied head of Mimir where Jormungandr says that Atreus looks familiar. Mimir mentions to Kratos that this could have something to do with time travel, but the topic is never brought up again in the game.

It won't be long before the secrets of God of War Ragnarok are laid bare. In the meantime, Santa Monica Studio is clearly having some fun hinting at the adventures to come. Niflheim was, in many ways, a lost opportunity for Santa Monica in the God of War reboot. It certainly seems like it's going to make up for that lost opportunity in God of War Ragnarok.

God of War Ragnarok releases on November 9 for PS4 and PS5.

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