David Jaffe, the creator of the iconic video game God of War, recently expressed his disapproval of the character development of Kratos, the game’s protagonist, in the latest installments of the franchise. Jaffe, who is a well-known figure in the gaming industry, took issue with the father-and-son dynamic between Kratos and Atreus, as well as the overall storyline that has unfolded in the more recent games.
Concerns with Kratos’s Character Development
According to Jaffe, the latest game, God of War Ragnarok, took a turn that he did not find in line with the character he originally created. While the previous God of War games, set in the Greek era, were a reflection of the team’s college years and experiences, the latest installment appears to be influenced by the developers’ current stage in life, where many have started families.
In a recent podcast, Jaffe elaborated on his stance, expressing that while a storyline centered on personal experiences and family dynamics might be suitable for a new character or IP, it does not resonate with the essence of Kratos as a character:
“If you’re going to build a brand new IP or you’re going to build a character into the God of War lore and that character is struggling or dealing with your problems that a lot of you guys that have gotten older and girls at the studio have dealt with, that’s wonderful. Do that s*** all day long. But don’t take the character Kratos, or Indiana Jones, and go “you know what, […] I’m older now and I’m really into family and I want to tell stories about fathers and sons and God.” No […]. That’s not what this character is.”
However, despite Jaffe’s objections, God of War Ragnarok has achieved significant commercial success, with an impressive 15 million copies sold worldwide. The game’s senior writer, Orion Walker, has hinted at the potential for more content, leaving fans curious about what the next chapter in Kratos’s journey might entail.