God of War: Ragnarok is wrapping up the Norse story, to many fans' dismay. It was originally confirmed by Ragnarok's director, Eric Williams, following the game's trailer debuting at PlayStation Showcase 2021. Immediate concerns arose regarding the decision, with some questioning why the story is not a trillogy and what it means for the game itself. However, the decision bodes well for Ragnarok, and for the franchise in general moving forward.

In a recent interview, God of War (2018)'s director Cory Barlog explained why Ragnarok is ending the Norse storyline, owing it to the development time it takes for one of these games and what Santa Monica Studio's priorities are for the its story. Ragnarok ending the Norse story is okay because the game will likely be more exciting and provocative than fans thought, and God of War will be able to explore new ideas sooner.

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God of War: Ragnarok Is Now a Big and Bold Finale

The idea of the 'trilogy' has long been the conventional narrative structure. Spreading a story across three entries allows the first to worldbuild and set up the conflicts, the second to show the characters try and fail at solving them, and the third to redeem and make them successful. God of War (2018) and Ragnarok, then, are two halves of one story, rather than two thirds. Although some fans may already know what happens in God of War: Ragnarok because of the original mythological event, in terms of God of War's interpretation of Ragnarok, there is no telling where players will be by the game's end.

With the knowledge that part of God of War's story is now ending, players can expect a game that is just as big, if not bigger, than the first because of looming obstacles ahead of Kratos and Atreus. From Thor's pursuit of the father and son to the inevitable showdown with Odin, there are many potential storylines going into God of War: Ragnarok that are going to be so exciting to experience. Furthermore, these storylines won't just be expanded, they will be resolved in Ragnarok, meaning players will have their answers sooner than ever.

It has already been confirmed that Thor and Freya are God of War: Ragnarok's villains, and from what was shown in the new trailer, they will not be holding back against Kratos and Atreus. Thinking back on the original game's most spectacular moments; the fights with Baldur, defeating the dragon, travelling within the World Serpent; Ragnarok is bound to deliver more incredible set pieces and scenarios. While these would have likely been in a middle title to begin with, the stakes have automatically been heightened knowing that Ragnarok is now a finale. The decision to end the Norse story here should excite fans rather than discourage them.

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What Comes After God of War: Ragnarok?

Though the original God of War trilogy was a bit of a rollercoaster ride in terms of its story, the finality of God of War 3 still looms greatly over the series, and suggests what may happen during Ragnarok. At the end of the first trilogy, Kratos slays practically the entire Greek pantheon, plummeting the world into chaos, and causing him to travel elsewhere (literally into a whole other mythology) to start anew. With that in mind, as Ragnarok brings the destruction of Asgard and this game is the last of the God of War Norse saga, there will likely be nothing left for Kratos and Atreus by the end, meaning they must go elsewhere.

Based on Barlog's estimate that each game takes about five years to develop, had the Norse saga been a trilogy, fans would not see where God of War goes next for another 10 years or so. Whether that means Atreus gets a trilogy of his own or Kratos goes to Egypt and kill those gods, nobody yet knows. Since the Norse saga is just two games, Santa Monica can more quickly explore new stories likes these with the God of War franchise. Obviously for fans of the Norse setting, leaving it behind may be disappointing, but in terms of God of War as a franchise, this decision will prevent it from stagnating.

At the end of the day, as Barlog notes in his interview, the Norse saga is about Kratos and Atreus' relationship, not the mythology itself. There is not a list of Norse stories at Santa Monica that the team must include while they are neck-deep in the mythos; the team uses the mythology as a backdrop for telling its character-centered stories. Certainly the mythology helps reinfornce these stories by presenting character conflicts or foils, but Kratos and Atreus are not confined to any one mythology as the franchise has shown previously. What would be more exciting is seeing Kratos and Atreus in a totally unfamilar setting, rather than dragging them through the same conflicts for a few more years.

When God of War was revealed a few years back, many were surprised by its shift in direction from the over-the-top, hack-and-slash games of the past. Furthermore, when the game went on to deliver a mature, nuanced parental tale, that totally redefined what God of War can be. Ragnarok looks to continue this ambitious reboot by telling the necessary story, one that offers more potential for the series, and Santa Monica should be commended for being so willing to try something new.

God of War: Ragnarok launches on PS4 and PS5 in 2022.

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