The release of God of War: Sons of Sparta has sparked controversy, with David Jaffe, the original director of God of War and creative director of God of War 2, publicly criticizing the new title. Jaffe, who has transitioned into creating content centered around video games, voiced his strong disapproval of the 2D spin-off, calling it “insulting to the fans” and those who worked on the game.
David Jaffe Criticizes New God of War Title
In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, Jaffe expressed his disappointment with God of War: Sons of Sparta, stating, “I don’t like it at all.” He specifically took issue with the portrayal of a younger Kratos, and questioned the purpose of the game’s existence. “Why does this exist? I don’t understand, I really don’t understand,” he said. “I only played about an hour and I will never go back. Seriously, stop trying to hype this up.”
Jaffe further explained that, according to conversations with former Santa Monica Studios employees, the studio is increasingly focusing on narrative elements, citing the storyline involving Atreus and Angrboda in God of War Ragnarok as an example. This shift in focus appears to be a point of contention for the original creator.
He described the current iteration of Kratos as a “generic kid” with “no sense,” and compared Sons of Sparta unfavorably to other games in the genre, including Blasphemous, Neon Inferno, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, arguing that those titles offer a better experience for a lower price point—often under 30 euros. “This really pisses me off,” Jaffe stated. “Not just as I have a personal connection to the brand and the franchise, but because it shows a collapse of the great creative work that Sony has done in the past.”
“What were they thinking? I signify, what were they thinking? Why does this even exist? I don’t understand, I just don’t understand,” he added. “It’s garbage, it’s ridiculous, it’s stupid; I would say avoid this crap.” Jaffe’s criticism comes as Sony continues to expand the God of War universe, a move that reflects the industry’s growing trend of leveraging established franchises across multiple platforms.
In a tweet, Jaffe described Sons of Sparta as “well-made but generic and boring,” and called it “one of the worst decisions the God of War team has ever made.” He added that its very existence is “confusing and offensive.” He initially stated that the game was “the type of game I’ve always wanted” from the God of War franchise, as he has long advocated for a 2D title in the series. Still, he quickly clarified that “this isn’t God of War” and questioned whether the “generic kid” possesses the emotional weight and identity of the Kratos fans have come to understand.
Jaffe has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the direction of the God of War series since 2018, when Sony Santa Monica opted to humanize Kratos by introducing Atreus as his son. He believes this change diminished the essence of what he helped create, and Sons of Sparta represents another step in that direction.
Despite Jaffe’s harsh critique, God of War: Sons of Sparta appears to be receiving a largely positive reception on the PlayStation Store, with a score of approximately 4.8/5 from over 3,000 players. The general consensus is that while it may not be a masterpiece, it provides an enjoyable and worthwhile God of War experience while fans await larger projects in the franchise.
Beyond Sons of Sparta, remakes of the original God of War trilogy are in development, though the project is in its early stages and is expected to take years to complete. Santa Monica Studio is similarly reportedly working on at least two additional projects, including a potential sequel to God of War Ragnarok, and a new IP from Cory Barlog. More information is expected in the coming months, as is news regarding the God of War television series, which is nearing completion of casting and is expected to begin filming soon, with a potential release in mid-to-late 2027.
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