Summary
The discussion has been rampant aroundGod of War Ragnarok’s newValhallaDLC, with it being quickly dropped on players and possessing a surprising amount of narrative content that complements the game’s main story. While the free content did well to delve into Kratos' deep history, many fans are also looking for as much information as possible that might hint toward the future of the God-slaying franchise.
The presence of certain iconography in theValhallaDLC forGod of War Ragnarokis being considered as a direct tease of the next major setting for the IP, with many now expecting the franchise to move onto the Egyptian pantheon of Gods. While this is definitely a possibility for the IP’s next steps, this imagery inValhallamay be a callback to Kratos' wider-universe history as opposed to where he may go in the future.
God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla’s Egyptian Imagery Could Be a Red Herring
Many were expectingGod of War Ragnarok’sValhallaDLCto be a casual experience, simply adding an addictive and replayable post-game element to the title, but the narrative quality of the expansion has painted a very different picture.Valhalla’s story is extremely layered for a free expansion, essentially playing out a spiritual journey of deep psychological reflection from Kratos' point of view.
Valhallasmartly adds a lot of substance to the main eventsand characters ofRagnarok’s core narrative, although there are some tentative nods towards where the franchise will extend beyondRagnarok. With Kratos' recent story coming to a relative end and ending the IP’s successful foray into Norse mythology, fans are wondering what culture of Gods will come next, and some believe thatValhallafeatures a deceptive hint towards this.
In the background ofValhalla’s addictive roguelike gameplay, fans seem to have spotted a range of shadowy pyramids, closely matching the Egyptian Great Pyramids of Giza. Of course, Ancient Egypt is renowned for its vast pantheon of Gods, and many believe this to bethe perfect next setting for theGod of Warfranchise.
God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla’s Pyramids Speak to the Past, Not the Future
While this seems like an obvious hint to the future due to the lack of relevance behind pyramids in Norse mythology, recentGod of Warmedia outside the games may provide some clarity behindValhalla’s Egyptian imagery. A recent tie-in comic forGod of Wardetailed Kratos' journey from Ancient Greece to Midgard, providing a much-needed narrative bridge between the originalGoWgames and their modern counterparts.
During this journey, Kratos briefly traveled to Egypt before arriving at Midgard, withValhalla’s focus on reflection means that this pyramid imagery may be a nod to the comics as opposed to a teaser for the future. While it obviously could indicate anEgyptian setting for futureGod of Wargames, it is more likely thatValhalla’s pyramids simply paint a wider picture of Kratos' overall journey.
If this were the case, perhaps the pyramids could even be a hint at a future roguelike experience for the IP that takes place in Egypt, as opposed to a fully-fledged sequel that explores this setting. Still, the future ofGod of Waris likely to follow the events ofRagnarok, and Kratos' pre-existing Egyptian story means thatValhalla’s attention-grabbing pyramids are likely references to the past above all else.
While it is highly expected thatGod of Warwill change its core setting in its next mainline title, this has not been confirmed by Santa Monica Studio.
God of War Ragnarok
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Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
