Sony Santa Monica reportedly developing new God of War spin-off franchise

PlayStation’s Santa Monica Studio is reportedly developing a new franchise set within the established God of War universe, signaling a strategic shift to expand one of gaming's most successful intellectual properties. The revelation comes from a former senior staff member and aligns with recent industry reports suggesting a broader, multi-project future for the series.

The information first surfaced through the professional profile of a former senior writer who served at the studio for five years until late last year. According to the now-removed LinkedIn credentials, the developer was instrumental in shaping the narrative vision and creative direction for a "new franchise within the God of War universe." The description detailed the creation of original lore, characters, and storylines intended to build upon the foundation of the acclaimed action-adventure series.

This development follows persistent rumors that Sony Interactive Entertainment aims to transform the God of War brand into a sprawling ecosystem, drawing comparisons to the structure of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Renowned industry journalist Jason Schreier recently supported these claims, noting that while the studio’s next major project might not be a "new IP" in the traditional sense, it is designed to feel like a significant departure from previous entries.

While Santa Monica Studio has not officially confirmed the project, the move matches the company's recent activity surrounding the IP. The studio recently shadow-dropped Sons of Sparta, a 2D action title, and announced a remake collection of the original Greek-era trilogy. Furthermore, veteran director Cory Barlog is known to be leading a separate, unannounced project, though it remains unclear if these various reports refer to the same title.

Speculation among industry analysts suggests the new franchise could explore different pantheons or focus on secondary characters introduced in the 2018 reboot and its sequel, God of War Ragnarök. By leveraging the established "universe" rather than a direct sequel, the studio could potentially experiment with new gameplay genres and protagonists while maintaining the brand recognition that has driven millions of console sales for PlayStation.

The timing of this leak coincides with a broader push for the franchise across different media, including a high-profile live-action adaptation currently in production at Amazon Prime Video. As the series approaches its 20th anniversary, the prospect of a standalone sub-franchise marks a pivotal moment for Kratos’s legacy and the future of Sony’s first-party lineup.