Summary
The developer of theGod of Warfranchise,Santa Monica Studio, is seemingly working on a brand-new IP, according to a former employee who recently returned to the company. This would mark the first timeSanta Monica Studiohas worked on an IP other thanGod of Warin an official capacity since 2005, when that series first debuted.
Santa Monica Studio started off slowly with its first game,Kinetica,being an early title for the PlayStation 2 beforeit became known for the action-adventure seriesGod of War,on which it has worked ever since. While the studio has courted new IPs in recent years, with one seemingly being an open-world sci-fi adventure game, theGod of Wardevelopers seem to finally be making the commitment and developing something entirely original.
According to their account on LinkedIn, a former Santa Monica Studio employee has recently returned to the studio in a new position as a character supervisor on a brand-new IP. While the listing does not indicate any details about what the new IP may be, it seems to indicate a commitment from the studio to an entirely original concept not attached to any existing franchise, which would be the first time it has done so sinceKineticareleased in 2001.
Santa Monica Studio’s New IP Remains a Mystery
Santa Monica Studio made an announcement back in 2022 following the launch ofGod of War Ragnarokthat it was looking at a few new projects and evenpotential remakes of the originalGod of Wartrilogy. However, the studio never revealed anything about what these projects may look like, and it remains to be seen if its alleged new IP may have stemmed from one of these former projects.
Sony has been experimenting a lot in recent years when it comes to its IPs, with itsHorizonseries of open-world action games getting a family-friendly side game withthe multiplatform spinoffLEGO Horizon Adventures.The popular PS5 tech demoAstro’s Playroomis also receiving a standalone follow-up, as the action platformer gameAstro Bot,which has quickly become a highly-anticipated title.
When it comes to entirely new IPs, the PS5 exclusive action RPGStellar Bladehas continued to boast impressive player numbersand receive new content, showing a clear interest in fresh ideas from fans. Meanwhile,God of War Ragnarokplayers enjoyed the roguelike action of its recent Valhalla DLC, and with potential plans for a further sequel, the series that made Santa Monica Studio so prominent does not appear to be going anywhere any time soon.
