Gamers have been excited to hear more about God of War: Ragnarok, the sequel to the 2018 title. There currently isn't much known about the game, but it's currently scheduled to be released in 2021. Many reasonable question that, but for now, that's the last official word. The last game left players with a lot to chew on, as there were revelations about Atreus, his mother, and the gods uncovered. Certain narrative threads can be expected from God of War: Ragnarok, although Santa Monica Studio could have a few surprises up its sleeve. While it hasn't necessarily been confirmed, it's expected that the new game will take place during the Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok.
While it's currently set to release in 2021, God of War: Ragnarok could end up facing a delay. Since its official teaser in September 2020, there has been no further public information revealed. Most fans expect that Santa Monica Studio is hard at work on the game, but for some, the lack of news has been disheartening. While God of War: Ragnarok continues to be developed, fans have been theorizing about the story and what twists could take place. There are certain developments expected in the next God of War, but nothing is guaranteed, and the developer has proven its ability to surprise fans. That's exactly what it should do too: a lot of the story feels simple enough to predict, due to the cyclical nature of Ragnarok, and so the game would benefit by pulling out the unexpected.
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Fans are expecting certain narrative twists in the new game. One such twist is the use of time travel in God of War: Ragnarok. Many fans of the series are expecting the plot device to be used in some capacity, primarily due to the world serpent, Jormungandr. Players learned towards the conclusion of the 2018 game that Atreus is also known as Loki, who just so happens to be the father of the world serpent in the mythology, but the world snake is still called "Son of Loki" in the game. Seeing as Atreus is a young boy in 2018's God of War game, some players are expecting that time travel will be used to explain the leviathan's parentage.
Another expected inclusion in the story is Thor as one of the main villains. In 2018's God of War, Kratos and Atreus killed his two sons, Magni and Modi, and his half-brother, Baldur. Undoubtedly, Ragnarok's version of the god of thunder is going to want to take his revenge. Thor has been described as lustful for blood, arrogant, and completely merciless towards his enemies. After his teaser appearance in the true ending of 2018's God of War, players can expect a vengeful Thor to attempt ferocious and violent revenge against Kratos and his son.
One of the advantages Santa Monica Studio has with God of War: Ragnarok is that the game is set up for unexpected events to take place. God of War's version of Ragnarok has already differed from Norse mythology While Fimbulwinter, the prelude to Ragnarok, has begun with Baldur's death just like in the mythology, there are some key differences in God of War's version of events.
In the mythology, Loki is imprisoned and bound with the entrails of his children, but Atreus/Loki's age doesn't line up with this event in God of War's timeline. Due to the differences between the events recorded in the Poetic Edda and God of War's lore, Santa Monica Studio has an opportunity to use creative license with the apocalyptic prophecy.
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Many gamers have a good idea of what to expect from God of War: Ragnarok, but those should be thrown out the window. It's time to defy expectations. It seems clear that Thor is going to be on a quest for revenge against Kratos and his son, as is Freya, the mother of Baldur. The events of Ragnarok are bound to materialize as well, with several climactic battles and cataclysmic events set to take place. With the idea of something out of left field being needed, tinfoil hat territory feels appropriate; everything that follows is purely fun speculation.
If the presumed battle with the Norse pantheon is going to happen, Kratos and Atreus don't have many people they could truly consider to be allies. With this in mind, Kratos and Atreus could return to a time when they might be able to recruit some allies. Through the use of time travel, the father-son duo could go to Jotunheim, when the giants were freely roaming the land and before their near-total annihilation. This is where Laufey could come into God of War: Ragnarok directly, Kratos' wife, and Atreus' mother.
While time travel in God of War: Ragnarok could be met with a mixed reception, it could potentially open up significant storytelling opportunities. Laufey is considered by many fans to be the instigator of Ragnarok ,despite her having passed by the time God of War 2018 begins. When Kratos cut down the trees surrounding their house, this alerted the Aesir gods who had long been hunting her. With her markers drawn throughout Midgard, Kratos and Atreus embarked on their journey to spread her ashes. A lot of fans consider this part of Laufey's plan to start Ragnarok, though her motivations for it aren't currently clear.
If Kratos were to learn of this deception, a possible face-to-face meeting with Laufey might not be amicable. Kratos' old self could reappear and harm and possibly kill Laufey in a fit of rage, a fitting-if-sad thematic choice. In the 2018 title, Kratos is shown to be a more restrained and wizened version of the character, but finding out he has been manipulated in such a way could push him over the edge. While this wouldn't necessarily make Laufey the villain of the piece, it could serve to untether Kratos and have him perform an act of self-sabotage in his efforts to abate the apocalypse.
God of War: Ragnarok is highly anticipated, and fans have many questions about the upcoming sequel. There are certain events that a lot of gamers expect to happen, but thanks to the creative license used by Santa Monica Studio, there are seemingly endless possibilities. The time travel aspect is likely as far as some fans are concerned, but a twist with Laufey and Kratos' reversion to his unrestrained anger could be a big twist that few would see coming. It's all speculation at this point, and fans will likely have to wait a bit longer before their questions are answered.
God of War: Ragnarok is currently in development and scheduled for release in 2021.