The detective work leading up to The Game Awards 2025 has been nothing short of exhausting. First, Geoff Keighley dropped a cryptic coordinate puzzle that led fans to a terrifying, demon-covered statue in the Mojave Desert. Then, the internet collectively lost its mind.
While Diablo fans were the first to get their hopes crushed by insider Jason Schreier, the God of War community wasn’t far behind. With the statue’s “regal” and “inspiring” description, many hoped this was the first tease of the next chapter in Kratos’ saga. Unfortunately, Cory Barlog has entered the chat to deliver some bad news.
Cory Barlog Shuts It Down
If you follow Cory Barlog on social media, you know he loves a good troll. The Creative Director at Santa Monica Studio is notorious for posting vague GIFs and changing his bio to mess with fans. But when it comes to managing genuine expectations, he usually shoots straight.
Following the explosion of theories that the skeletal, imposing figure found in the desert was related to the Norse (or Egyptian?) pantheon, Barlog reportedly confirmed that the statue has zero connection to God of War. This denial effectively kills the theory that we are getting a surprise Kratos reveal next week.
The Statue: What Are We Looking At?
For those who missed the initial discovery, this wasn’t just a JPEG on Twitter. Geoff Keighley shared a What3Words address—regal.inspiring.thickness—which led fans to a physical location near Joshua Tree, California. Standing there was a grotesque, detailed statue featuring what looks like demonic faces, skeletons, and a bear head.
It is metal as hell, but apparently, it is not God of War metal.
Process of Elimination
With two of the industry’s biggest heavy hitters officially out of the running, the field of possibilities is narrowing. Here is where the rumor mill stands right now:
| Franchise | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diablo IV | DEBUNKED | Jason Schreier confirmed it is not related to Blizzard. |
| God of War | DEBUNKED | Cory Barlog confirmed no connection. |
| BioShock 4 | Possible | The “Statue” theme fits the BioShock 1 marketing history. |
| Doom: The Dark Ages | Possible | Demons, skeletons, and metal aesthetic fit perfectly. |
What About Santa Monica’s New IP?
Just because the statue isn’t theirs doesn’t mean Santa Monica Studio will be silent forever. We know Cory Barlog has been directing a new project for years—a brand new IP that is rumored to be a sci-fi game. If the statue is demonic and skeletal, it makes sense that it wouldn’t fit the aesthetic of a futuristic sci-fi title.
While we might not see Kratos, there is still a chance Barlog’s new mystery game could make an appearance at TGA, just not via a statue in the desert.
FAQs
1. Who is Cory Barlog?
Cory Barlog is the Creative Director at Santa Monica Studio and the director behind the critically acclaimed 2018 God of War reboot and a producer on God of War Ragnarök.
2. What was the statue tease?
Geoff Keighley posted an image of a statue located in the Mojave Desert with the caption “regal.inspiring.thickness.” It features demonic imagery and a bear head.
3. Is God of War over?
No. While Kratos’ Norse saga concluded in Ragnarök, the franchise is a flagship for PlayStation. However, the studio is currently splitting focus between the next steps for the franchise and a new IP.
4. Could Cory Barlog be lying?
Developers sometimes mislead to preserve surprises (Andrew Garfield in No Way Home style), but direct denials of specific marketing stunts are usually honest to avoid backlash.
5. When do we find out the truth?
The Game Awards streams live on December 11, 2025. The mystery of the desert statue will likely be the opening act.
Conclusion
The list of candidates for this mystery reveal is shrinking fast. With Kratos and Diablo out of the picture, the stage is set for a different franchise to steal the spotlight. Whether it is the long-awaited return of BioShock or the Doom Slayer coming to rip and tear, we will be watching. Just don’t expect to hear “Boy!” when the curtain falls.