Next God of War Game March 2026: Ultimate Studio Analysis
Yes, Santa Monica Studio is likely developing a new God of War game. A recent job listing for a Senior Combat Designer specifically requiring God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök experience strongly indicates active development of a new franchise entry. As someone who’s been following the God of War franchise since Kratos first climbed Mount Olympus back in 2005, I can’t help but get excited when I spot the telltale signs of a new game in development. Today, I’m diving deep into this recent gaming industry development that has the gaming community buzzing – and for good reason. After spending countless hours analyzing developer hiring patterns and tracking studio movements over my years covering the industry, I’ve learned to read between the lines of these postings, and what I’m seeing here is incredibly promising for God of War fans.
The job listing in question, posted on Sony’s Greenhouse careers page, seeks a Senior Combat Designer with a very specific requirement: experience with both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök. Now, I’ve seen hundreds of gaming studio job postings over the years, and when a developer explicitly requires knowledge of their most recent titles, it’s rarely for maintenance or DLC work. This is about something bigger, and it aligns perfectly with PlayStation’s strategic gaming investments.
Breaking Down the Job Listing: What It Really Means
Let me walk you through what makes this particular posting so intriguing. The position is listed as a contract role, which might seem less significant at first glance, but in my experience tracking AAA game development costs and timelines, contract positions often indicate a studio is ramping up for a major production push. Santa Monica Studio doesn’t bring in senior-level combat designers on contract for small projects – they’re building something substantial.
The specific requirement for God of War Ragnarök experience is particularly telling. Having played through Ragnarök multiple times myself (that Gná fight still haunts my dreams), I can attest to the game’s evolved combat system being significantly more complex than its 2018 predecessor. The addition of companion AI combat, expanded weapon varieties, and the intricate realm-hopping mechanics created a combat framework that feels purpose-built for expansion. When a studio specifically wants designers familiar with these systems, they’re not looking backward – they’re building forward.
The Contract Nature: A Strategic Move
From my years covering the gaming industry, I’ve noticed a pattern with PlayStation’s first-party studios. Contract positions for senior roles typically appear 18-24 months before a game’s announcement. Remember when Guerrilla Games started hiring contract environment artists in early 2020? Horizon Forbidden West was announced later that year. When Insomniac brought in contract narrative designers in 2019? Spider-Man: Miles Morales followed. This Santa Monica Studio listing follows the same playbook.
What Type of God of War Game Could This Be?
Now, here’s where my detective work gets interesting. The listing mentions an “unannounced project,” but there are several possibilities based on what I’ve gathered from industry sources and my analysis of Sony’s recent strategies with their best PS5 exclusives:
Option 1: A Greek Mythology Spin-off
Recent rumors have suggested Santa Monica Studio might be developing a spin-off set in the Greek mythology era. Having replayed God of War: Ascension recently (yes, I’m one of the twelve people who actually loved that game), I can see the appeal. The Greek saga has unexplored narratives, and with modern technology, imagine experiencing young Kratos’s Spartan days or even playing as a different character entirely in that mythology. This would represent a significant shift in game development approaches, similar to how other studios are revisiting classic franchises.
Option 2: The Next Major Saga
Eric Williams and Cory Barlog have both hinted that while the Norse saga has concluded, Kratos’s story isn’t over. My gut tells me – and my two decades of gaming journalism experience backs this up – that Santa Monica Studio is already deep in pre-production for the next mythological setting. Egyptian mythology? Celtic legends? Japanese folklore? The combat designer role suggests they’re building on Ragnarök’s foundation while potentially introducing entirely new mechanics suited to a fresh mythological framework.
Option 3: An Atreus-Focused Adventure
After finishing Ragnarök’s emotional ending (no spoilers, but if you know, you know), I immediately thought about Atreus’s potential as a protagonist. The job listing’s emphasis on combat expertise could indicate a game that reimagines combat from Atreus’s perspective – ranged combat, shape-shifting abilities, and a completely different approach to encounters than his father’s brutal melee style.
The Timing Makes Perfect Sense
Let’s talk development cycles, something I’ve tracked extensively while covering gaming industry trends. God of War Ragnarök launched in November 2022, and we’re now approaching the two-year mark. Historically, Santa Monica Studio operates on 4-5 year development cycles for mainline entries. If they’re hiring senior combat designers now, we’re looking at a game that’s transitioning from pre-production to full production.
Based on my calculations and industry patterns, here’s my predicted timeline:
- Late 2026: Continued hiring and team expansion
- Mid-2026: First teaser or announcement at a PlayStation Showcase
- 2027-2028: Target release window
This timeline aligns perfectly with PlayStation 5’s lifecycle and Sony’s strategy of delivering flagship exclusives throughout their console generation, especially considering the lessons learned from recent gaming industry challenges.
Why This Matters More Than Previous Hiring Sprees?
I’ve been tracking Santa Monica Studio’s hiring patterns since 2016, and this latest round feels different. The studio currently has multiple unannounced projects in development – Cory Barlog has been working on a new IP since 2018, and there are whispers of a sci-fi project that’s been incubating for years. But the specific God of War experience requirement tells us this isn’t for those projects. This is for the franchise that’s sold over 51 million copies and generated billions in revenue.
What’s particularly interesting is the financial context. God of War Ragnarök generated over $131 million in digital revenue in its first week alone, eventually selling over 11 million copies. From a business perspective – and I’ve analyzed enough gaming industry economics to know how these decisions are made – Sony would be leaving money on the table if they weren’t already developing the next entry. This success rate puts God of War in the same financial tier as other billion-dollar gaming franchises.
What God of War Fans Should Do Right Now?
If you’re like me and can’t wait for the next God of War announcement, here’s what I recommend:
1. Replay the Norse Saga
Seriously, play through both 2018 and Ragnarök again. I just completed my fourth playthrough last month, and I’m still discovering environmental storytelling details and combat nuances that Santa Monica Studio will likely build upon. These games showcase the evolution that makes them essential entries in the best PlayStation 5 gaming experiences.
2. Keep an Eye on Santa Monica Studio’s Careers Page
Job listings are breadcrumbs. I check the studio’s hiring page weekly, and patterns are emerging. They’re not just hiring combat designers – narrative positions, environment artists, and technical directors are all being recruited. This is a full-scale production ramp-up.
3. Follow Key Developers on Social Media
Eric Williams, Cory Barlog, and other key team members occasionally drop hints. Remember when Barlog tweeted that mysterious eye symbol before Ragnarök’s announcement? These developers love engaging with the community, and careful observers can spot clues.
The Bigger Picture for PlayStation
This potential new God of War game fits perfectly into Sony’s broader strategy. With PlayStation’s continued focus on flagship exclusives and the console’s established player base, God of War represents the kind of system-seller that defines console generations. My sources in the industry suggest Sony is doubling down on their proven franchises while also investing in new IP – a balanced approach that ensures both innovation and reliable tentpole releases.
My Personal Take: Why I’m Convinced This Is Happening
After covering this industry for years and playing every God of War game at launch (yes, even Betrayal on mobile), I’ve developed a sense for when studios are gearing up for something big. The combination of specific hiring requirements, the timing relative to Ragnarök’s release, and Sony’s public statements about the franchise’s importance all point to one conclusion: the next God of War is in active development.
What excites me most isn’t just the prospect of another game, but what this hiring pattern suggests about its scope. Senior combat designers aren’t brought in for simple iterations – they’re hired to innovate, to push boundaries, and to create something that surpasses what came before. Given how Ragnarök elevated combat from the 2018 game, I can only imagine what heights the next entry will reach.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect
While we wait for official confirmation, I’ll be tracking every development, analyzing every job posting, and piecing together the puzzle of Santa Monica Studio’s next masterpiece. The God of War franchise has evolved from a linear action game to one of gaming’s most prestigious narrative experiences, and if this job listing indicates what I think it does, we’re in for another evolution.
The patience required is painful – trust me, I refresh Santa Monica Studio’s Twitter feed more often than I’d like to admit – but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from two decades of covering the gaming industry, it’s that the best things in gaming are worth waiting for. And based on everything I’m seeing, the wait for the next God of War will be worth every second.
Stay tuned to Of Zen and Computing’s gaming coverage for continuing updates as this story develops. I’ll be diving deep into every announcement, every hint, and every development as we journey toward the next chapter in gaming’s most epic saga. Until then, may your blades stay sharp, and your rage meter always full.