First Look at the God of War Game That Sony Axed
The God of War franchise is famous for its epic, single-player sagas. But what if there was another path? What if, instead of just playing as Kratos, you could team up with friends to battle your way through the world of Greek mythology? It sounds like a wild idea, but new leaks have revealed that it was very close to becoming a reality. Screenshots have surfaced online showing a cancelled God of War multiplayer game that was in development at Bluepoint Games, the celebrated studio behind the remakes of Demon’s Souls and Shadow of the Colossus.
The project was a live-service title that would have taken the series back to its bloody Greek roots. The game was scrapped by Sony earlier this year, but these images give us a fascinating glimpse into what could have been. Let’s dive into the underworld and see what Bluepoint was cooking up.
A Multiplayer Return to Olympus
The most exciting detail from the leak is that the game would have marked a return to the franchise’s original Greek setting. Since the 2018 reboot, the series has been firmly planted in Norse mythology, so a trip back to the world of Zeus, Hades, and the Furies would have been a big deal for long-time fans.
The leaked screenshots are mostly environmental renders, but they tell an interesting story. They show wide, open areas designed to accommodate multiple players at once. One of the locations is reportedly called “Hades’ Armory,” suggesting that the god of the underworld would have played a key role, perhaps as an NPC who doles out gear. The images also reveal a fascinating mechanic where locations could have a “cursed” state, transforming their appearance and likely the challenges within them. Unfortunately, the leaks didn’t include any character models, so we can only guess what kind of warriors we would have played as.
Why Did Sony Cancel the Game?
So, if the concept was so intriguing, why was it cancelled? According to reports, the decision came from the top. Earlier this year, Sony conducted a review of its aggressive push into live-service games and decided to scale back. The God of War multiplayer title was one of the casualties, along with another unannounced game from Bend Studio (the team behind Days Gone). It seems Sony decided to double down on the blockbuster, single-player experiences that have defined the PlayStation brand, and this multiplayer experiment didn’t make the cut.
A Strange Fit for the Kings of Remakes
The fact that Bluepoint Games was behind this project was a source of debate among fans. Bluepoint has earned a stellar reputation as the industry’s premier remake studio. Their work on Demon’s Souls for the PS5 was a masterclass in modernizing a classic. When news first broke that they were working on a live-service game, many fans were disappointed. They felt the studio’s incredible talent for preservation and restoration was being wasted on a multiplayer title, a genre that didn’t seem to fit their strengths. Many argued they should have been tasked with remaking the original God of War 1 & 2 instead.
While the cancellation is a bummer for those curious about a multiplayer God of War, for many, it’s a relief. It means that Bluepoint is now free to work on a new project, and recent job listings for roles involving “third-person melee action” have fans hopeful that they are returning to what they do best.
Conclusion
The leaked screenshots of the cancelled God of War multiplayer game offer a tantalizing look at a road not taken. A cooperative, live-service adventure through ancient Greece is a bold concept, but it’s one that might have strayed too far from what makes the series special. While we’ll never get to storm Mount Olympus with our friends, the cancellation frees up a world-class studio to hopefully deliver another stunning single-player experience. It remains a fascinating “what if” and a reminder of the tough decisions that shape the games we ultimately get to play.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What was the cancelled God of War game?
It was a multiplayer, live-service game developed by Bluepoint Games that was set to take place in the original Greek mythology setting of the series.
2. Who is Bluepoint Games?
Bluepoint Games is a development studio owned by Sony that is famous for its high-quality remakes of classic games, including Demon’s Souls on PS5 and Shadow of the Colossus on PS4.
3. Why was the game cancelled?
Sony reportedly cancelled the project after a review of its live-service game strategy. The company decided to focus more on its signature single-player titles.
4. What did the leaked images show?
The leaks consisted of environmental screenshots showing wide-open areas designed for multiple players. They revealed a return to a Greek setting, including a location called “Hades’ Armory,” and a mechanic where areas could enter a “cursed” state.
5. Why were fans divided on the project?
Many fans felt that Bluepoint Games, known for its incredible remakes, was not a good fit for a live-service multiplayer game. They would have preferred the studio to remake the original God of War games instead.
6. Has there ever been multiplayer in a God of War game before?
Yes, God of War: Ascension on the PlayStation 3 featured a competitive multiplayer mode, but this cancelled project appears to have been a much larger-scale, live-service experience.