God of War Developer Santa Monica Studio Hiring for 'Next-Generation Narrative Combat Game'

Recent findings suggest that Santa Monica Studio, the renowned developer behind the God of War series, is embarking on an ambitious project centered around narrative-driven combat, potentially aimed at the upcoming PlayStation 6. Since the release of God of War Ragnarok in 2022, details about the studio's future endeavors have been scarce, but diligent investigation hints at a "next-generation" title in the works.

While God of War Ragnarok achieved tremendous success for both Sony and Santa Monica, the conclusion of the game has led to speculation that the studio may be considering a hiatus for the God of War franchise. The ending of Ragnarok effectively wraps up the Norse saga, and the free-to-play Valhalla DLC raises questions about Kratos' future as the series' central figure. As fans await news on the next installment in the God of War series, there are other projects from Santa Monica Studio to keep an eye on.

It has been established for some time that one of the studio's upcoming projects is an entirely new intellectual property (IP). A recent job posting, however, hints that Santa Monica may already be working on a game designed for the next-generation PS6 console. The advertisement seeks a Senior External Development Environment Artist for a "next-generation narrative combat game." While this could easily be dismissed as marketing hype, the job description explicitly mentions that the project is indeed aimed at "next-generation platforms."

Potential Year-One PS6 Title from Santa Monica

The repeated references to "next-generation" suggest that this game is still in its early development phase, likely not debuting until after 2027 or 2028, which aligns with rumors surrounding the PS6's launch window. Additionally, the language in this job ad differs from previous Santa Monica listings that hinted at an unannounced action RPG, indicating that this narrative combat game is a distinct project likely to be in the pipeline for several years. Given that AAA games typically require five to seven years of development, it could very well launch as a year-one title for the PS6.

Moreover, the job listing specifies a preference for candidates with experience in "AAA projects similar to PlayStation Studios titles," suggesting that this new narrative combat game will adhere closely to the studio's established approach. While it's still unclear whether this will be a new entry in the God of War series or another original IP, speculation leans towards the former due to the franchise's immense popularity.

It’s also intriguing to consider how Santa Monica Studio plans to harness the capabilities of the PS6’s hardware for this narrative combat title, particularly since the job listing highlights a photorealistic art style. As rumors about the PS6 begin to circulate among gamers, it appears that PlayStation's first-party studios have been diligently developing games for the next-generation console for quite some time.