The God of War franchise has evolved quite significantly over the past few decades, with the more recent entries focusing on a far more somber Kratos visiting an entirely new land and fighting against a whole host of awful, horrible, and spiteful gods. God of War's exploration of various cultures' mythology is one of its greatest strengths, as not only is it respectful and well-researched, but it breathes new life into these over-saturated tales, while also spotlighting some more obscure ones. That's why so many fans want the next game to switch settings entirely.

Of course, now Sony canceled the next God of War game, fans are eager to know what is coming next and are naturally turning to whatever sources they can find. Many rumors have begun circulating that the next mainline God of War game will take place in a brand-new setting, one that will likely surprise players: Egypt. If true, this could be a bold and exciting move for the series, as it would not only help bring to life some truly fascinating mythology but would also make the series so much darker.

God Of War Might Be Set In Egypt Next

This Is According To Rumors

According to an alleged leak, the next God of War game will see Kratos travel to Egypt and tackle the iconic anthropomorphic Egyptian gods. This leak comes from prominent insider Daniel Richtman, as reported by The Game Post, who stated that Sony was hiring Middle Eastern actors for an unannounced AAA game. While the leak doesn't specify which game, Richtman believes it to be a new God of War, which is not an unreasonable assumption. Richtman claims he received this information from another unnamed leaker, which he then shared on to his paywalled Patreon.

While the information presented here is a little patchy and should undoubtedly be taken with a grain of salt, there is good reason to believe that, even outside this alleged leak, God of War will take place in Egypt next. Not only does Sony have a rumored God of War game in the works, but Cory Balrog, the game's director, stated during the extensive God of War documentary, Raising Kratos, that the studio had initially planned for the reboot to take place in Egypt, but ultimately decided to focus on Norse mythology instead.

Additionally, there are several references to Egyptian mythology and Egypt scattered throughout God of War and Ragnarök. In the 2018 God of War, when exploring Tyr's Vault, Atreus wears an Egyptian crown, Mimir refers to it as a "great desert land very far from here," and also mentions that lots of gods live there. In Ragnarök, players can find the Egyptian Ankh, Tyr's poses in the endgame have been linked to various Egyptian gods, including Ra and Thoth, and there are several more references, including Tyr's tattoos. It is easily the most referenced mythology outside the game's main setting.

A God of War prequel comic, which explored what happened between the events of God of War 3 and 2018's God of War, revealed that Kratos visited Egypt and even met the Egyptian god Thoth. So, there is absolutely a precedent for the next God of War game to be set in Egypt, which gives a little more credence to these otherwise vague rumors. Nevertheless, the next God of War game should be set in Egypt, as it is absolutely the perfect setting for the series.

Egypt Is The Perfect Setting For God Of War

Egyptian Mythology Is Full Of Dark And Devious Gods

While Ancient Egypt, its culture, and the Egyptian gods are all well-documented, they're rarely represented in video games. Occasionally, it may serve as one of many factions in a strategy game, or as the backdrop for an adventure game, but it has only been at the forefront a handful of times. Most notably, it serves as the phenomenal open-world setting for Assassin's Creed: Origins, with the game's DLC focusing more on the mythologies and deities, something that naturally would be the focus of a God of War game.

Considering its lack of attention in AAA games and that God of War 2018 was to be set in Egypt, it makes sense that the next entry is set there. It's also a rich setting full of fascinating stories that could serve as the foundation for a sprawling God of War narrative. The gods and stories of Egyptian mythology are complex, endlessly dark, and cruel, yet filled with hope and love. As it is a foreign land to Kratos, it would also be the perfect opportunity for him to try and live out his life as a god of peace.

It would also be a good excuse to separate Kratos from Atreus, even if briefly. Now that they have reason to be apart from one another, Kratos could visit Egypt to discover himself, or to seek wisdom on what to do next. He could also be forced to go there if, for whatever reason, the Egyptian deities threatened ancient Scandinavia, which he now believes himself to be a protector of. While many loved him, there were a lot of fans who hated Atreus in Ragnarök, so it wouldn't hurt to have another solo Kratos adventure, at least for one game.

The Egyptian Gods Will Be The Perfect Enemy For Kratos

They're Brilliantly Macabre And Clever

The Egyptian gods would also serve as the ideal enemy for Kratos to go up against in a new God of War game. Not only are they visually distinct from the buff men and women of 2018's God of War and Ragnarök - in large part because many of them have animal heads - but they're layered and emotionally complex beings that could be used effectively to further explore Kratos' crisis of self and coming to with his desire to no longer be a force of destruction, but rather one of good.

There are over 1,500 gods in Egyptian mythology - naturally, not all of whom would appear in the game - several of whom, including Anhur and Montu, are gods of War. There also are significantly more gods of death, violence, and disaster, including Anubis, Osiris, Set, and Sekhmet, all of whom could serve as counterparts to Kratos as he attempts to distance himself from that path. The sheer number of Egyptian gods coupled with their varied roles and their many dramatic interactions with one another would give Santa Monica Studio plenty to work with when crafting Kratos' next narrative.

It would also just be incredible to fight against a towering crocodile-headed god. While Assassin's Creed Odyssey did a fairly decent job of bringing to life these towering monolithic figures, Santa Monica Studios knows how to craft spectacular and epic boss fights unlike anyone else. A new God of War game set in Egypt could finally be the opportunity fans have been waiting for to see these gods brought to life in the most cinematic and expertly written way, exploring their untapped potential, and perhaps even taking a look at lesser-known figures.

Source: The Game Post, DanielRPK/Patreon, PlayStation Europe/YouTube, Mythical Madness/YouTube