Since the original PS2 classic, God of War has reigned as one of the most iconic action video games ever and a mascot for the PlayStation. Because of this, Sony made many attempts to expand the franchise and capitalize upon it. However, not all of these have taken off over the years. Recently, Sony announced they canceled two unnamed live-service games, one for God of War from Bluepoint Studio. Here is a breakdown of why this upcoming title was canceled and what could have been.
New God of War Cancelled
According to IGN, Sony recently canceled two unnamed games. One of them was a live-service God of War game. It was canceled alongside another unnamed live-service game from Days Gone developer Bend Studio. As for the latter game, no information was released, nor was it confirmed to be part of a larger IP. Given that the projects were not even announced, it’s unknown what gamers lost. Because God of War has always been a story-driven single-player franchise, it’s unknown how a live-service entry would function.
According to the article, these games would have been part of Sony’s initiative to have a dozen live-service games by 2025. Despite these cancellations, Sony still has several others coming up, including two Horizon games, a Marathon game from Bungie, a PvP from Haven Studios, and several others. In the same article, a Sony spokesperson announced they would take time to reconsider their plans for both studios.
Live-Service Controversies
While a God of War game being canceled sounds like bad news, “live-service” games have become highly controversial among modern gamers. “Live-service” games are built to be played continually, even with little to no original content added to the base game. They usually rely on microtransactions, loot boxes, “season passes,” and limited-time events.
In general, most gamers have become exhausted with the live-service formula. Many critics call it tedious and repetitive, while it is designed to make as much money as possible through microtransactions. Last year, Sony’s latest attempt at a live-service game, the hero shooter Concord, failed so spectacularly that it was shut down within weeks. As such, this likely contributed to Sony’s change of plans.
Furthermore, Bluepoint is a fairly controversial developer. They made HD remasters of the classics Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls. While the original games were legendary, and their graphics were impressive, longtime fans were skeptical. Many believed the shift in art direction removed nuances that made the originals’ atmospheres work. Additionally, they have yet to publish an original game or a live-service one.
The Franchise’s Future
The original trilogy (and spinoffs) followed the Greek warrior Kratos on his path of vengeance against the Olympians of Greek Myth. While the original saga was one of gaming’s most iconic franchises from the era, its 2018 reboot reached another level. Set within the realm of Norse Myth, the duology explored a more wisened Kratos alongside his son, Atreus.
However, perhaps this game’s cancellation was for the best. Games such as Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League demonstrated how adding these elements would ruin even iconic franchises. Furthermore, the rapid investment in too many games during the lockdowns led to the mass layoffs that swept the gaming industry last year. As such, it was likely for the best that Santa Monica Studio held control over the series’ direction.
Conclusion
While God of War will always be an iconic franchise, a live-service game from them simply would not fit the themes and gameplay that made it so acclaimed. Otherwise, games from that genre have quickly overstayed their welcome for their transaction-heavy mechanics. While many were likely disappointed by the game’s cancellation, it shows how consumers vote with their wallets. With so many live-service games failing, gaming companies must work harder to reclaim their audience’s goodwill. Hopefully, fans will once again enjoy stellar single-player experiences.
