You’ve felt it, haven't you? That specific kind of silence that usually precedes a massive earthquake in the gaming industry. It’s been a minute since Kratos hung up his axe in the Valhalla DLC, and honestly, the air around Sony Santa Monica Studio is getting heavy with anticipation. We aren't just talking about another sequel. We’re talking about a studio that basically redefined what a "prestige" game looks like, now standing at a weird, fascinating crossroads in 2026.
People love to speculate. If you spend five minutes on any forum, you’ll see the "Egypt or Bust" crowd arguing with the "Cory Barlog’s Space Odyssey" believers. But the reality is actually a lot more nuanced—and maybe a little more stressful—than just picking a new mythology off a map.
The Secret Project That Isn't a Secret Anymore
For years, the worst-kept secret in Los Angeles was that Cory Barlog, the mastermind behind the 2018 God of War soft reboot, moved away from the director’s chair to cook up something entirely new. We've seen the cryptic tweets. We've seen the space-themed headers. For a long time, everyone just assumed it was a sci-fi epic.
Then came the rumors that muddied the water.
Late last year, industry insiders like Jason Schreier started dropping hints that made everyone do a double-take. The word on the street? It might not be a "new IP" in the way we think, but it "might feel like one." That’s a classic "corporate speak" riddle if I've ever heard one. It leads to the big question: Is Sony Santa Monica Studio reinventing an old, dusty PlayStation franchise, or is this a God of War spin-off so radical it barely resembles the original?
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Some fans are banking on a return to the Greek era, perhaps a 2D-style Metroidvania or a smaller-scale "Lost Legacy" type experience focused on Atreus. Others are convinced the studio is digging into Sony's back catalog to revive something like The Mark of Kri or even SOCOM.
Whatever it is, Sony spent a reported $25 million on a separate new IP that they eventually scrapped because it just wasn't hitting the mark. That’s a staggering amount of money to "eat," but it shows you how high the bar is at that office. If it isn't a masterpiece, they’d rather bury it.
Why Sony Santa Monica Studio is the "Safe Bet" for PlayStation
Let's look at the numbers. God of War Ragnarök didn't just sell well; it moved hardware. By the end of 2025, reports indicated the game had cleared well over 15 million copies and was single-handedly responsible for a massive spike in PS5 sales during its launch window.
In a world where "Live Service" became a dirty word for a lot of PlayStation fans, Santa Monica remains the gold standard for the single-player experience.
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They’ve grown. A lot.
The studio now houses between 500 and 1,000 creatives at their West Jefferson Boulevard facility. That’s a far cry from the "scrappy" team that almost saw the franchise cancelled back in the early 2010s. But with that growth comes the weight of expectation. When you’re the studio that wins "Game of the Year" like it’s a participation trophy, what do you do for an encore?
The Human Side of the Machine
It hasn't all been golden statues and champagne.
Like the rest of the industry, Sony Santa Monica Studio felt the sting of the 2024-2025 layoffs that rocked Sony Interactive Entertainment. Even the "untouchable" studios had to tighten their belts. We also saw some friction with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) regarding labor practices and the right to organize. It's a reminder that behind these incredible cinematic worlds are actual people dealing with very real, very modern industry pressures.
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What’s Next for the Axe and the Blades?
Kratos is in a weird spot. He’s found peace—sorta.
If the studio decides to stick with their flagship brand, the "where" is less important than the "who." Transitioning a series from a legendary protagonist like Kratos to his son is a move that has killed many a franchise in the past. But if anyone can pull off the "passing of the torch," it’s this team.
The most likely scenario for the next 18 months?
- A smaller project reveal: Think of a standalone expansion or a creative spin-off to bridge the gap.
- The "Barlog Reveal": A teaser for the non-God of War project that will likely break the internet for 24 hours.
- PC Ports: Continued support for the "PlayStation to PC" pipeline, which has been a massive revenue driver for them.
Honestly, the best thing you can do right now is keep an eye on the technical job listings. When a studio like Sony Santa Monica Studio starts hiring heavily for "combat designers with experience in ranged weaponry" or "procedural environment artists," the tea leaves start to make a lot more sense.
The wait is painful, sure. But in an era of rushed releases and "fix it later" patches, Santa Monica is one of the few places left where "it's done when it's done" actually means something.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the technical side of how these games are built, you should check out the "Raising Kratos" documentary if you haven't yet. It’s an older watch now, but it’s still the most honest look at how close God of War came to failing before it became a titan. You can also follow the official Santa Monica Studio social channels for their "behind the scenes" developer spotlights, which often hint at the tech they’re prioritizing for their next-gen engines.