It looks like we finally know what Cory Barlog – director of 2018’s God of War – has been working on.
It seems the secret is finally out: Cory Barlog’s “new” IP, previously rumored to be sci-fi, is actually an expansion of the existing God of War universe into a new franchise. The confirmation comes from a LinkedIn profile belonging to a senior writer who worked remotely at Sony Santa Monica between August 2020 and September 2025, and wrote the following in their résumé: “Helped shape Sony Santa Monica Studio’s narrative vision and creative direction for a new franchise within the God of War universe, developing characters, stories, and original lore that expanded the popular IP. Integrated story with gameplay and world-building through scripts and narrative content, collaborating across disciplines to deliver an emotionally resonant experience for a global audience. Contributed to long-term narrative and franchise strategy.”
This also lines up with Jason Schreier’s claims. He previously said Barlog’s game was not truly based on a brand-new IP, but would feel like one. Writing at Bloomberg – beyond reporting on the closure of Bluepoint Games after FromSoftware rejected a Bloodborne remake proposal – Schreier said Sony wanted to expand God of War via multiple sequels and spin-offs, effectively building its own smaller version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). One of those projects would have been a live service game developed by Bluepoint Games that was later canceled, but it is clear Sony Santa Monica has been working on its own spin-off as well.
As for what it could be about, rumors have circulated for a long time that God of War would move into Egyptian mythology. A few months ago, insider Tom Henderson claimed Kratos would use a khopesh in the next game. Last week, dataminers reportedly found a hidden scene in the files of God of War: Ragnarök that strongly suggests the next entry is set in Egypt. If this is truly a new franchise within God of War’s fictional world, there could also be new protagonists – it is not certain Kratos and Atreus will be the leads again.
Even so, we may not have to wait long: Kratos’ voice actor, Christopher Judge, recently said Sony Santa Monica’s new game will be revealed by late summer.
