<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Sony	O
Interactive	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
in	O
April	O
2018	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
Windows	O
port	O
in	O
January	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
the	O
eighth	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
series	O
,	O
the	O
eighth	O
chronologically	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
2010	O
's	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
loosely	O
based	O
on	O
Greek	O
mythology	O
,	O
this	O
installment	O
is	O
loosely	O
inspired	O
by	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
it	O
set	O
in	O
ancient	O
Scandinavia	O
in	O
the	O
realm	O
of	O
Midgard	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
two	O
protagonists	O
:	O
Kratos	O
,	O
the	O
former	O
Greek	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
who	O
remains	O
the	O
only	O
playable	O
character	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
young	O
son	O
,	O
Atreus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
also	O
uses	O
an	O
over-the-shoulder	O
free	O
camera	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
one	O
shot	O
,	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
the	O
fixed	O
cinematic	O
camera	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
entries	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
's	O
development	O
team	O
worked	O
on	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
designed	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
accessible	O
and	O
grounded	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
separate	O
short	O
text-based	O
game	O
,	O
A	O
Call	O
from	O
the	O
Wilds	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
February	O
2018	O
through	O
Facebook	B-Protocol
Messenger	I-Protocol
and	O
follows	O
Atreus	O
on	O
his	O
first	O
adventure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
received	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
for	O
its	O
story	O
,	O
world	O
design	O
,	O
art	O
direction	O
,	O
music	O
,	O
graphics	O
,	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
and	O
characters	O
,	O
in	O
particular	O
the	O
dynamic	O
between	O
Kratos	O
and	O
Atreus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
performed	O
well	O
commercially	O
,	O
selling	O
over	O
5	O
million	O
units	O
within	O
a	O
month	O
of	O
its	O
release	O
and	O
23	O
million	O
units	O
sold	O
by	O
November	O
2022	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best-selling	B-Application
PlayStation	I-Application
4	I-Application
games	I-Application
and	O
the	O
best-selling	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
novelization	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
August	O
2018	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
a	O
prequel	O
comic	O
series	O
that	O
began	O
publication	O
in	O
November	O
2018	O
and	O
concluded	O
in	O
June	O
2021	O
,	O
while	O
a	O
live	O
action	O
television	O
series	O
is	O
currently	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
Amazon	B-Application
Prime	I-Application
Video	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
Ragnarök	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2022	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
to	O
similar	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
is	O
a	O
third-person	O
action-adventure	O
video	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
features	O
an	O
over-the-shoulder	O
free	O
camera	O
,	O
a	O
departure	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
which	O
featured	O
a	O
fixed	O
cinematic	O
camera	O
(	O
with	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
2007	O
's	O
two-dimensional	O
side-scroller	O
Betrayal	B-Language
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
previous	O
main	O
installment	O
,	O
Ascension	B-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
,	O
introduced	O
multiplayer	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
this	O
installment	O
is	O
single-player-only	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
players	O
battle	O
Norse	O
mythological	O
foes	O
,	O
like	O
dark	O
elves	O
,	O
wulvers	O
,	O
and	O
draugrs	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Gullveig	O
and	O
the	O
revenants	B-Application
,	O
beings	O
warped	O
by	O
seiðr	O
magic	B-Application
,	O
among	O
many	O
others	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
,	O
he	O
uses	O
a	O
magical	O
battle	O
axe	O
,	O
called	O
the	O
Leviathan	O
Axe	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
infused	O
with	O
ice	O
elemental	O
magic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
axe	O
can	O
be	O
thrown	O
at	O
enemies	O
and	O
magically	O
summoned	O
back	O
to	O
his	O
hand	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
Thor	B-Algorithm
's	O
hammer	O
Mjölnir	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Over	O
time	O
,	O
it	O
can	O
be	O
upgraded	O
with	O
runes	B-Application
to	O
allow	O
for	O
magical	O
runic	B-Application
attacks	O
,	O
with	O
one	O
slot	O
being	O
for	O
a	O
light	O
magical	O
attack	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
for	O
a	O
heavy	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kratos	O
also	O
utilizes	O
hand-to-hand	O
combat	O
,	O
a	O
feature	O
originally	O
introduced	O
in	O
Ascension	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Blades	O
of	O
Chaos	O
,	O
infused	O
with	O
fire	O
elemental	O
magic	B-Application
,	O
are	O
acquired	O
later	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
via	O
a	O
plot	O
device	O
and	O
perform	O
in	O
a	O
similar	O
manner	O
as	O
in	O
previous	O
installments	O
—	O
they	O
are	O
a	O
pair	O
of	O
blades	O
attached	O
to	O
chains	O
that	O
can	O
be	O
swung	O
around	O
in	O
various	O
maneuvers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
weapon	O
can	O
also	O
be	O
upgraded	O
with	O
magical	O
runic	B-Application
attacks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
magical	O
runic	B-Application
attacks	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
collecting	O
blue	O
orbs	O
to	O
replenish	O
the	O
ability	O
(	O
like	O
in	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
)	O
,	O
there	O
is	O
a	O
cool	O
down	O
timer	O
for	O
each	O
ability	O
and	O
once	O
that	O
time	O
is	O
up	O
,	O
the	O
magical	O
runic	B-Application
attacks	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
again	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Atreus	O
also	O
acquires	O
new	O
skills	O
,	O
armor	O
,	O
and	O
runic	B-Application
attacks	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
special	O
light	O
and	O
shock	O
arrows	O
for	O
his	O
Talon	O
Bow	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Atreus	O
 '	O
runic	B-Application
attacks	O
summon	O
different	O
spectral	O
animals	O
with	O
different	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
first	O
seven	O
games	O
were	O
loosely	O
based	O
on	O
Greek	O
mythology	O
,	O
this	O
installment	O
is	O
loosely	O
inspired	O
by	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
,	O
taking	O
place	O
at	O
least	O
150	O
years	O
after	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
(	O
2010	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Predating	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
,	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
ancient	O
Scandinavia	O
in	O
the	O
realm	O
of	O
Midgard	B-Language
,	O
which	O
is	O
inhabited	O
by	O
humans	O
and	O
other	O
creatures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Access	O
to	O
the	O
other	O
three	O
realms	O
—	O
Asgard	O
,	O
home	O
of	O
the	O
Æsir	O
gods	O
;	O
Vanaheim	O
,	O
home	O
of	O
the	O
Vanir	O
gods	O
;	O
and	O
Svartalfheim	O
,	O
home	O
of	O
the	O
dwarves	O
—	O
has	O
been	O
blocked	O
by	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
the	O
ruler	O
of	O
Asgard	O
and	O
the	O
Æsir	O
gods	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
center	O
of	O
the	O
realms	O
is	O
the	O
mythical	O
tree	O
Yggdrasil	B-Application
,	O
which	O
connects	O
each	O
realm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Travel	O
to	O
and	O
from	O
realms	O
can	O
be	O
done	O
by	O
using	O
the	O
Bifröst	O
from	O
a	O
root	O
of	O
Yggdrasil	B-Application
contained	O
within	O
Týr	O
's	O
Temple	O
at	O
the	O
center	O
of	O
the	O
Lake	O
of	O
the	O
Nine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
temple	O
was	O
created	O
by	O
its	O
namesake	O
,	O
Týr	O
,	O
a	O
peaceful	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
who	O
traveled	O
to	O
other	O
lands	O
and	O
learned	O
about	O
their	O
mythologies	O
;	O
it	O
was	O
told	O
that	O
Odin	B-Application
had	O
him	O
killed	O
as	O
he	O
believed	O
Týr	O
was	O
secretly	O
aiding	O
the	O
Giants	O
and	O
would	O
try	O
to	O
overthrow	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kratos	O
is	O
a	O
warrior	O
originally	O
from	O
Sparta	O
who	O
became	O
the	O
Greek	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
is	O
a	O
son	O
of	O
Zeus	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
antagonist	O
is	O
the	O
Æsir	O
god	O
Baldur	O
(	O
Jeremy	O
Davies	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
half-brother	O
of	O
Thor	B-Algorithm
,	O
whose	O
sons	O
Modi	O
and	O
Magni	O
(	O
Nolan	O
North	O
and	O
Troy	O
Baker	O
,	O
respectively	O
)	O
assist	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	O
's	O
parents	O
are	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Allfather	O
and	O
King	O
of	O
the	O
Æsir	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Vanir	O
goddess	O
Freya	O
(	O
Danielle	O
Bisutti	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
former	O
Queen	O
of	O
the	O
Valkyries	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Freya	O
tried	O
leaving	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
after	O
he	O
began	O
corrupting	O
her	O
Vanir	O
magic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
in	O
turn	O
stripped	O
her	O
of	O
her	O
Valkyrie	O
wings	O
,	O
banished	O
her	O
to	O
Midgard	B-Language
,	O
and	O
cast	O
a	O
spell	B-Application
on	O
her	O
that	O
prevented	O
her	O
from	O
causing	O
harm	O
to	O
others	O
and	O
from	O
leaving	O
the	O
realm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
protect	O
her	O
son	O
from	O
a	O
prophecy	O
that	O
foretold	O
his	O
death	O
,	O
Freya	O
cast	O
a	O
spell	B-Application
of	O
immortality	O
on	O
Baldur	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
prevented	O
him	O
from	O
feeling	O
pain	O
or	O
pleasure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
effects	O
of	O
the	O
spell	B-Application
caused	O
Baldur	O
to	O
greatly	O
resent	O
his	O
mother	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Weapons	O
forged	O
by	O
the	O
Huldra	O
Brothers	O
,	O
including	O
Thor	B-Algorithm
's	O
hammer	O
Mjölnir	O
,	O
were	O
used	O
by	O
the	O
Æsir	O
gods	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
spirit	O
of	O
the	O
Greek	O
goddess	O
Athena	B-Application
(	O
Carole	O
Ruggier	O
)	O
makes	O
a	O
cameo	O
appearance	O
,	O
and	O
Zeus	B-Application
(	O
Corey	O
Burton	O
)	O
appears	O
to	O
Kratos	O
as	O
an	O
illusion	O
in	O
Helheim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
years	O
after	O
defeating	O
and	O
ending	O
the	O
reign	O
of	O
the	O
Olympian	O
gods	O
,	O
Kratos	O
lives	O
with	O
his	O
son	O
Atreus	O
in	O
the	O
realm	O
of	O
Midgard	B-Language
and	O
is	O
often	O
abrasive	O
and	O
passive	O
aggressive	O
towards	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Successful	O
,	O
they	O
reach	O
Midgard	B-Language
's	O
peak	O
and	O
overhear	O
a	O
conversation	O
between	O
the	O
stranger	O
—	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
Baldur	O
—	O
his	O
nephews	O
,	O
Modi	O
and	O
Magni	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
imprisoned	O
Mímir	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kratos	O
returns	O
home	O
to	O
unearth	O
his	O
old	O
weapons	O
,	O
the	O
fiery	O
Blades	O
of	O
Chaos	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
haunted	O
by	O
Athena	B-Application
's	O
spirit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
retrieving	O
the	O
heart	O
,	O
he	O
has	O
a	O
haunting	O
vision	O
of	O
Zeus	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Atreus	O
becomes	O
increasingly	O
arrogant	O
and	O
,	O
against	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
orders	O
,	O
murders	O
a	O
weakened	O
Modi	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
beaten	O
by	O
Thor	B-Algorithm
for	O
not	O
avenging	O
Magni	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Midgard	B-Language
's	O
peak	O
,	O
Kratos	O
and	O
Atreus	O
are	O
ambushed	O
by	O
Baldur	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
Jötunheim	O
's	O
portal	O
being	O
destroyed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
learn	O
of	O
Freya	O
and	O
Baldur	O
's	O
familial	O
relationship	O
and	O
the	O
spell	B-Application
of	O
invulnerability	O
she	O
cast	O
on	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Returning	O
to	O
Midgard	B-Language
,	O
Mímir	O
realizes	O
another	O
way	O
to	O
reach	O
Jötunheim	O
but	O
needs	O
his	O
missing	O
eye	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	O
is	O
pierced	O
by	O
Atreus	O
 '	O
mistletoe	O
arrow	O
,	O
breaking	O
Freya	O
's	O
spell	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
discover	O
Faye	O
was	O
a	O
Giant	O
who	O
had	O
decided	O
to	O
stay	O
in	O
Midgard	B-Language
,	O
meaning	O
Atreus	O
is	O
half	O
Giant	O
,	O
one-quarter	O
god	O
,	O
and	O
one-quarter	O
mortal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
fight	O
with	O
Baldur	O
is	O
shown	O
,	O
revealing	O
he	O
sought	O
Faye	O
the	O
whole	O
time	O
under	O
orders	O
from	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
unaware	O
she	O
was	O
dead	O
and	O
Atreus	O
was	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
Loki	B-Device
by	O
his	O
mother	O
and	O
the	O
Giants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Returning	O
to	O
Midgard	B-Language
,	O
they	O
retrieve	O
Mímir	O
,	O
who	O
warns	O
them	O
Baldur	O
's	O
death	O
has	O
caused	O
the	O
three-year-long	O
Fimbulwinter	O
to	O
begin	O
nearly	O
a	O
century	O
earlier	O
than	O
prophesized	O
,	O
meaning	O
Ragnarök	O
is	O
soon	O
to	O
follow	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Atreus	O
has	O
a	O
vision	O
of	O
Thor	B-Algorithm
arriving	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Fimbulwinter	O
to	O
confront	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
on	O
the	O
next	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
began	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
confirmed	O
by	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
's	O
creative	O
director	O
Cory	O
Barlog	O
at	O
the	O
first	O
annual	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Experience	O
on	O
December	O
6	O
that	O
year	O
,	O
where	O
Barlog	O
said	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
in	O
very	O
early	O
development	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
a	O
prequel	O
,	O
but	O
possibly	O
a	O
reboot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
demo	O
showed	O
the	O
title	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
confirmed	O
it	O
was	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
(	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
original	B-Application
2005	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
Barlog	O
has	O
been	O
a	O
major	O
contributor	O
in	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
previously	O
most	O
notably	O
as	O
the	O
director	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
II	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
;	O
this	O
new	O
installment	O
was	O
his	O
fifth	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
said	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
titled	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
with	O
no	O
numeral	O
or	O
subtitle	O
because	O
,	O
although	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
continuation	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
"	O
we	O
...	O
 [ reimagined ] 	O
everything.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Head	O
of	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
,	O
Shannon	O
Studstill	O
,	O
and	O
Barlog	O
said	O
that	O
Sony	O
Interactive	O
Entertainment	O
had	O
to	O
be	O
convinced	O
to	O
do	O
another	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
game	O
as	O
many	O
people	O
at	O
Sony	O
wanted	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
"	O
sleep	O
and	O
rest	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
lackluster	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
previous	O
game	O
,	O
Ascension	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
explain	O
why	O
Kratos	O
was	O
now	O
in	O
the	O
Norse	O
world	O
,	O
Barlog	O
said	O
that	O
different	O
cultures	O
 '	O
belief	O
systems	O
coexisted	O
,	O
but	O
they	O
were	O
"	O
separated	O
by	O
geography	O
"	O
,	O
suggesting	O
that	O
Kratos	O
traveled	O
from	O
Greece	O
to	O
Norway	O
(	O
Scandinavia	O
)	O
after	O
the	O
conclusion	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
said	O
the	O
new	O
game	O
predates	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
as	O
it	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
time	O
when	O
their	O
gods	O
walked	O
the	O
Earth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
that	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
original	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
worked	O
on	O
the	O
new	O
installment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
enemy	O
count	O
was	O
increased	O
to	O
up	O
to	O
100	O
enemies	O
on-screen	O
,	O
although	O
this	O
limit	O
is	O
never	O
approached	O
;	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
Ascension	B-Application
had	O
up	O
to	O
50	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
previous	O
installment	O
,	O
Ascension	B-Application
,	O
introduced	O
multiplayer	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
decided	O
to	O
drop	O
it	O
and	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
single-player	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
had	O
originally	O
pitched	O
the	O
idea	O
for	O
a	O
one-shot	O
camera	O
while	O
he	O
was	O
at	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
working	O
on	O
2013	O
's	O
Tomb	B-Application
Raider	I-Application
,	O
but	O
he	O
was	O
turned	O
down	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Furthermore	O
,	O
Barlog	O
and	O
lead	O
level	O
designer	O
Rob	O
Davis	O
were	O
also	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
series	O
,	O
particularly	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
4s	I-Application
"	O
combination	O
of	O
poised	O
camera	O
exploration	O
and	O
scavenging	O
"	O
and	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
7s	I-Application
"	O
strong	O
vision	O
"	O
from	O
a	O
team	O
making	O
"	O
bold	O
decisions	O
,	O
and	O
actually	O
hav[ing]	O
the	O
audience	O
follow	O
them.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
wanted	O
it	O
close	O
whereas	O
the	O
combat	O
team	O
wanted	O
it	O
further	O
away	O
,	O
like	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
and	O
Batman	B-Application
:	I-Application
Arkham	I-Application
games	O
;	O
he	O
eventually	O
convinced	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
go	O
with	O
a	O
close	O
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
took	O
inspiration	O
from	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
(	O
2011	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
influenced	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
particularly	O
its	O
gameplay	O
loop	O
and	O
strategic	O
decision-making	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
approach	O
to	O
storytelling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
designers	O
Anthony	O
DiMento	O
and	O
Luis	O
Sanchez	O
revealed	O
how	O
God	O
of	O
Wars	O
level	O
design	O
and	O
exploration	O
were	O
influenced	O
by	O
Bloodborne	B-Application
(	O
2015	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
ended	O
up	O
with	O
a	O
four-tiered	O
system	O
for	O
side	O
quests	O
:	O
the	O
top	O
tier	O
quests	O
were	O
from	O
the	O
characters	O
Brok	O
and	O
Sindri	O
,	O
the	O
next	O
level	O
from	O
wayward	O
spirits	O
,	O
then	O
treasure	O
maps	O
and	O
artifacts	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
bottom	O
tier	O
were	O
milestones	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
destroying	O
all	O
of	O
Odin	B-Application
's	O
ravens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
confirmed	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
built	O
for	O
the	O
standard	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
but	O
would	O
"	O
benefit	O
from	O
the	O
power	O
"	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
Pro	O
;	O
an	O
updated	O
version	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
that	O
can	O
render	O
games	O
in	O
4K	B-Architecture
and	O
was	O
released	O
a	O
few	O
months	O
after	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Favoring	O
resolution	O
runs	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
4K	B-Architecture
with	O
checkerboard	O
rendering	O
at	O
a	O
target	O
frame	O
rate	O
of	O
30	O
frames	O
per	O
second	O
(	O
fps	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
performance	O
option	O
runs	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
1080p	O
and	O
targets	O
60fps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Until	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
launch	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
included	O
a	O
section	O
on	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
website	O
titled	O
"	O
The	O
Lost	O
Pages	O
"	O
,	O
detailing	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
lore	O
of	O
God	O
of	O
Wars	O
Nordic	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
went	O
gold	O
on	O
March	O
22	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Referencing	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
character	O
Mario	B-Application
and	O
the	O
Mario	B-Application
games	O
,	O
Barlog	O
said	O
that	O
like	O
Mario	B-Application
,	O
"	O
Kratos	O
is	O
intrinsically	O
tied	O
"	O
to	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Referencing	O
the	O
Marvel	O
Comics	O
character	O
Hulk	B-Application
,	O
Barlog	O
said	O
that	O
in	O
regards	O
to	O
Kratos	O
,	O
"	O
We	O
've	O
already	O
told	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Hulk	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Christopher	O
Judge	O
,	O
best	O
known	O
as	O
Teal'c	O
from	O
Stargate	O
SG-1	O
,	O
replaced	O
Terrence	O
C	O
.	O
Carson	O
as	O
the	O
voice	O
of	O
Kratos	O
;	O
Carson	O
had	O
voiced	O
Kratos	O
since	O
the	O
original	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
explaining	O
the	O
actor	O
change	O
,	O
Barlog	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
way	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
were	O
made	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
have	O
someone	O
else	O
do	O
the	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
instead	O
of	O
the	O
voice	O
actor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Carson	O
had	O
done	O
the	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
for	O
Kratos	O
in	O
Ascension	B-Application
,	O
Barlog	O
said	O
the	O
actor	O
change	O
was	O
made	O
because	O
of	O
the	O
type	O
of	O
camera	O
work	O
they	O
wanted	O
to	O
do	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
new	O
camera	O
work	O
,	O
they	O
needed	O
someone	O
who	O
was	O
closer	O
to	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
size	O
to	O
do	O
the	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
along	O
with	O
a	O
child	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Judge	O
did	O
all	O
of	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
for	O
the	O
cinematic	O
scenes	O
,	O
stuntman	O
Eric	O
Jacobus	O
did	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
combat	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
;	O
Jacobus	O
was	O
found	O
by	O
God	O
of	O
Wars	O
animators	O
on	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
.	I-General_Concept
</s>
<s>
Former	O
WWE	O
wrestler	O
Shad	O
Gaspard	O
also	O
performed	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
for	O
Kratos	O
;	O
Gaspard	O
's	O
body	O
was	O
digitally	O
scanned	O
as	O
the	O
model	O
for	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
new	O
look	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2017	O
,	O
after	O
a	O
fan	O
downloaded	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
overture	B-Application
and	O
saw	O
the	O
track	O
's	O
details	O
that	O
said	O
,	O
"	O
An	O
introduction	O
to	O
Kratos	O
and	O
Atreus	O
"	O
,	O
Barlog	O
confirmed	O
on	O
Twitter	B-Application
that	O
Atreus	O
was	O
in	O
fact	O
the	O
son	O
's	O
name	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
said	O
Atreus	O
was	O
unaware	O
that	O
Kratos	O
was	O
a	O
demigod	B-Language
and	O
did	O
not	O
know	O
about	O
his	O
past	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
said	O
that	O
during	O
gameplay	O
,	O
Atreus	O
would	O
be	O
"	O
like	O
magic	B-Application
,	O
an	O
additional	O
combat	O
resource	O
,	O
and	O
[	O
the	O
player	O
is ]	O
training	O
him	O
and	O
teaching	O
him.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
said	O
he	O
did	O
not	O
want	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
an	O
escort	O
mission	O
where	O
the	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
caused	O
a	O
problem	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
was	O
revealed	O
at	O
E3	O
2016	O
,	O
it	O
drew	O
comparisons	O
to	O
Naughty	O
Dog	O
's	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
also	O
featured	O
a	O
father-child	O
type	O
story	O
and	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
he	O
did	O
not	O
directly	O
state	O
they	O
were	O
influenced	O
by	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
in	O
developing	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
he	O
did	O
say	O
,	O
"	O
I	O
think	O
we	O
're	O
all	O
inspired	O
by	O
each	O
other.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
did	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
use	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
as	O
an	O
example	O
to	O
show	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
how	O
an	O
in-game	O
companion	O
could	O
work	O
without	O
the	O
game	O
becoming	O
an	O
escort	O
mission	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
(	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Soundtrack	O
)	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
20	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
by	O
Sony	O
Classical	O
Records	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
McCreary	O
was	O
called	O
into	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
in	O
November	O
2014	O
to	O
meet	O
with	O
music	O
producers	O
Peter	O
Scaturro	O
and	O
Keith	O
Leary	O
to	O
discuss	O
"	O
a	O
secret	O
project	O
"	O
;	O
McCreary	O
had	O
previously	O
collaborated	O
with	O
Scaturro	O
and	O
Leary	O
on	O
2011	O
's	O
SOCOM	B-Application
4	I-Application
:	I-Application
U.S.	I-Application
Navy	I-Application
SEALs	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ideas	O
of	O
folk	O
music	O
,	O
mythology	O
,	O
Nordic	O
ethnic	O
instruments	O
,	O
vocal	O
writing	O
,	O
and	O
classical	O
thematic	O
development	O
were	O
discussed	O
;	O
McCreary	O
correctly	O
guessed	O
that	O
the	O
discussions	O
were	O
about	O
a	O
new	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
meeting	O
with	O
him	O
,	O
McCreary	O
felt	O
the	O
franchise	O
was	O
in	O
good	O
hands	O
because	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
which	O
Barlog	O
also	O
directed	O
,	O
was	O
his	O
favorite	O
installment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
ensure	O
the	O
music	O
represented	O
the	O
setting	O
,	O
McCreary	O
spent	O
months	O
researching	O
and	O
listening	O
to	O
Viking	B-Application
folk	O
music	O
,	O
which	O
resulted	O
in	O
him	O
using	O
"	O
exotic	O
instrumentation	O
and	O
languages	O
from	O
various	O
Northern	O
European	O
folk	O
traditions.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
track	O
"	O
Witch	O
of	O
the	O
Woods	O
"	O
uses	O
a	O
renaissance	O
and	O
baroque	O
instrument	O
called	O
a	O
viola	O
da	O
gamba	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
an	O
ancestor	O
of	O
the	O
modern	O
cello	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
three-note	O
Kratos	O
theme	O
is	O
most	O
obviously	O
heard	O
in	O
the	O
title	O
track	O
,	O
"	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
it	O
was	O
decided	O
that	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
would	O
be	O
revealed	O
at	O
E3	O
2016	O
,	O
Sony	O
wanted	O
McCreary	O
to	O
perform	O
his	O
original	O
score	O
with	O
a	O
live	O
orchestra	O
at	O
the	O
press	O
conference	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
McCreary	O
opened	O
the	O
show	O
with	O
the	O
new	O
main	O
theme	O
before	O
the	O
unveiling	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
performed	O
the	O
gameplay	O
demo	O
's	O
music	O
live	O
during	O
the	O
presentation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
13	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
a	O
live	O
recording	O
from	O
E3	O
2016	O
of	O
God	O
of	O
Wars	O
overture	B-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
a	O
limited	O
time	O
free	O
of	O
charge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
released	O
the	O
overture	B-Application
as	O
a	O
thank	O
you	O
to	O
fans	O
for	O
God	O
of	O
Wars	O
E3	O
2016	O
trailer	O
reaching	O
fifteen	O
million	O
views	O
on	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
.	I-General_Concept
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
on	O
April	O
20	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
was	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
,	O
including	O
an	O
exclusive	O
shield	O
skin	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
an	O
armor	O
set	O
and	O
another	O
shield	O
skin	O
for	O
Kratos	O
,	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
dynamic	O
theme	O
,	O
a	O
digital	O
artbook	O
,	O
and	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
#0	O
by	O
Dark	O
Horse	O
Comics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
special	O
editions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
Limited	O
Edition	O
PlayStation	B-Device
4	I-Device
Pro	I-Device
bundle	O
was	O
available	O
the	O
same	O
day	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
bundle	O
included	O
the	O
standard	O
base	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Device
4	I-Device
Pro	I-Device
console	O
decorated	O
with	O
the	O
runes	B-Application
as	O
on	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
axe	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
similarly	O
themed	O
DualShock	O
4	O
controller	O
with	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
logo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
an	O
official	O
tabletop	O
card	O
game	O
titled	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Card	O
Game	O
was	O
released	O
by	O
CMON	O
Limited	O
on	O
October	O
25	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
launch	O
,	O
Barlog	O
confirmed	O
that	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
would	O
not	O
have	O
microtransactions	O
,	O
a	O
feature	O
that	O
had	O
become	O
prominent	O
with	O
other	O
games	O
and	O
criticized	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
confirmed	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
not	O
have	O
post-release	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
like	O
an	O
expansion	O
pack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
said	O
he	O
had	O
pitched	O
an	O
idea	O
for	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
"	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
too	O
ambitious	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
idea	O
was	O
similar	O
in	O
scope	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
:	I-Application
Left	I-Application
Behind	I-Application
and	O
Uncharted	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Lost	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
,	O
large	O
standalone	O
expansions	O
for	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
and	O
Uncharted	B-Application
4	I-Application
:	I-Application
A	I-Application
Thief	I-Application
's	I-Application
End	I-Application
(	O
2016	O
)	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
said	O
it	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
too	O
big	O
to	O
be	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
warranting	O
its	O
own	O
standalone	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Post	O
launch	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
supported	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
patch	O
updates	O
to	O
address	O
software	B-Error_Name
bugs	I-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2020	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
(	O
PS5	B-Device
)	O
launched	O
and	O
is	O
backwards	B-General_Concept
compatible	I-General_Concept
with	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
games	O
;	O
these	O
games	O
see	O
a	O
performance	O
boost	O
when	O
playing	O
on	O
the	O
PS5	B-Device
thanks	O
to	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
the	O
newer	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
further	O
enhance	O
the	O
playing	O
experience	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
on	O
the	O
PS5	B-Device
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
released	O
an	O
enhancement	O
update	O
on	O
February	O
2	O
,	O
2021	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
at	O
full	O
60fps	O
with	O
checkerboard	O
4K	B-Architecture
resolution	I-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
Sony	O
's	O
larger	O
efforts	O
to	O
port	O
their	O
first-party	O
exclusive	O
games	O
to	O
Windows	O
(	O
PC	O
)	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
announced	O
in	O
October	O
2021	O
that	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
would	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
on	O
January	O
14	O
,	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
port	O
,	O
handled	O
by	O
Jetpack	O
Interactive	O
with	O
supervision	O
by	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
,	O
includes	O
additional	O
graphic	O
options	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	O
,	O
including	O
Nvidia	O
's	O
Deep	B-Device
Learning	I-Device
Super	I-Device
Sampling	I-Device
(	O
DLSS	B-Device
)	O
technology	O
and	O
ultra-widescreen	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
in	O
turn	O
marks	O
the	O
first	O
main	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
release	O
on	O
a	O
non-PlayStation	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
A	O
Call	O
from	O
the	O
Wilds	O
is	O
a	O
text-based	O
game	O
playable	O
through	O
Facebook	B-Protocol
Messenger	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
help	O
further	O
promote	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
Sony	O
partnered	O
with	O
Facebook	O
,	O
Inc	O
.	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
play-by-web	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
released	O
on	O
February	O
1	O
,	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
archery	O
training	O
and	O
learning	O
runes	B-Application
with	O
his	O
mother	O
,	O
Atreus	O
ventures	O
into	O
the	O
wilderness	O
after	O
telepathically	O
hearing	O
the	O
voice	O
of	O
a	O
dying	O
deer	O
;	O
he	O
finds	O
it	O
covered	O
in	O
blood	O
and	O
stays	O
with	O
it	O
during	O
its	O
final	O
moments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
then	O
battle	O
a	O
revenant	B-Application
before	O
returning	O
home	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
Mímir	O
's	O
Vision	O
is	O
a	O
smartphone	O
companion	O
app	O
that	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
17	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
for	O
Apple	O
and	O
Android	B-Application
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
alternate	O
reality	O
,	O
it	O
provides	O
some	O
background	O
for	O
the	O
Norse	O
setting	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Raising	O
Kratos	O
is	O
a	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
documentary	O
of	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
's	O
five-year	O
process	O
in	O
making	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
showing	O
the	O
"	O
herculean	O
effort	O
"	O
that	O
went	O
into	O
reviving	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Art	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
is	O
a	O
book	O
collecting	O
various	O
pieces	O
of	O
artworks	O
created	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
during	O
its	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
never	O
revealed	O
how	O
or	O
why	O
Kratos	O
ended	O
up	O
in	O
ancient	O
Norway	O
,	O
or	O
how	O
much	O
time	O
had	O
passed	O
since	O
the	O
ending	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
but	O
the	O
novel	O
gives	O
some	O
indication	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
Kratos	O
had	O
the	O
Blades	O
of	O
Exile	O
,	O
but	O
this	O
novel	O
says	O
he	O
had	O
the	O
Blades	O
of	O
Chaos	O
after	O
killing	O
Zeus	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Kratos	O
does	O
recover	O
the	O
Blades	O
of	O
Chaos	O
,	O
he	O
hears	O
Pandora	B-Device
's	O
speech	O
about	O
hope	O
from	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mímir	O
also	O
mentioned	O
that	O
Faye	O
,	O
or	O
rather	O
Laufey	O
the	O
Just	O
,	O
thwarted	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
Æsir	O
's	O
plans	O
,	O
including	O
freeing	O
slaves	O
,	O
and	O
Thor	B-Algorithm
could	O
never	O
find	O
her	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
four-issue	O
comic	O
series	O
titled	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
was	O
published	O
monthly	O
from	O
November	O
2018	O
to	O
February	O
2019	O
by	O
Dark	O
Horse	O
Comics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
second	O
four-issue	O
series	O
from	O
Dark	O
Horse	O
titled	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
Fallen	O
God	O
was	O
published	O
monthly	O
from	O
March	O
to	O
June	O
2021	O
—	O
it	O
was	O
originally	O
to	O
begin	O
publication	O
in	O
June	O
2020	O
but	O
was	O
delayed	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
COVID-19	O
pandemic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Taking	O
place	O
before	O
the	O
first	O
series	O
,	O
Fallen	O
God	O
covers	O
the	O
timespan	O
from	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
to	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
comic	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
B	O
is	O
For	O
Boy	O
is	O
an	O
"	O
ABC	O
storybook	O
for	O
adults	O
"	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
retold	O
in	O
an	O
abridged	O
format	O
with	O
illustrations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
Lore	O
and	O
Legends	O
is	O
a	O
tome	O
that	O
recreates	O
Atreus	O
 '	O
journal	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
received	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
,	O
tying	O
it	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
for	O
the	O
highest	O
score	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
the	O
fourth-highest	O
score	O
of	O
all-time	O
for	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
game	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
highest	O
score	O
for	O
an	O
original	O
,	O
non-remastered	B-Device
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
exclusive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
highest	O
rated	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
game	O
of	O
2018	O
until	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Red	B-Application
Dead	I-Application
Redemption	I-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
October	O
,	O
which	O
pushed	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
to	O
second	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
also	O
tied	O
with	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Celeste	B-Application
for	O
the	O
second-highest	O
score	O
of	O
2018	O
,	O
regardless	O
of	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
received	O
particular	O
praise	O
for	O
its	O
art	O
direction	O
,	O
graphics	O
,	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
music	O
,	O
story	O
,	O
use	O
of	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
cinematic	O
feeling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
said	O
that	O
regardless	O
of	O
which	O
character	O
the	O
player	O
meets	O
,	O
the	O
cast	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
is	O
"	O
strong	O
,	O
convincing	O
,	O
and	O
oddly	O
enchanting.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Speaking	O
of	O
the	O
relationship	O
between	O
Kratos	O
and	O
Atreus	O
,	O
Faulkner	O
wrote	O
that	O
,	O
"	O
Watching	O
the	O
two	O
grow	O
throughout	O
their	O
journey	O
is	O
incredibly	O
rewarding	O
,	O
"	O
equating	O
it	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
Ellie	O
and	O
Joel	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
or	O
Lee	O
and	O
Clementine	O
from	O
Telltale	O
Games	O
 '	O
The	O
Walking	O
Dead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Speaking	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
visuals	O
,	O
Faulkner	O
said	O
the	O
game	O
looks	O
amazing	O
,	O
"	O
and	O
with	O
4K	B-Architecture
and	O
HDR	B-General_Concept
this	O
game	O
goes	O
a	O
step	O
beyond	O
what	O
even	O
games	O
like	O
Horizon	B-Application
Zero	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
showed	O
us	O
was	O
possible	O
on	O
this	O
platform.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Brown	O
noted	O
that	O
"	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
is	O
a	O
technical	O
and	O
artistic	O
showcase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dan	O
Ryckert	O
of	O
Giant	O
Bomb	O
claimed	O
that	O
games	O
like	O
Uncharted	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Lost	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
and	O
Horizon	B-Application
Zero	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
"	O
made	O
great	O
cases	O
for	O
a	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
Pro	O
and	O
a	O
4K	B-Architecture
television	O
,	O
but	O
God	O
of	O
Wars	O
visuals	O
are	O
a	O
bigger	O
selling	O
point	O
than	O
anything	O
I	O
've	O
seen	O
on	O
Sony	O
's	O
platform	O
to	O
date.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
to	O
the	O
vast	O
world	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
Faulkner	O
said	O
that	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
great	O
thing	O
about	O
the	O
exploration	O
in	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
is	O
that	O
you	O
can	O
participate	O
in	O
it	O
as	O
little	O
or	O
as	O
much	O
as	O
you	O
want.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
said	O
an	O
excellent	O
design	O
decision	O
is	O
that	O
during	O
main	O
plot	O
points	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
keeps	O
the	O
player	O
on	O
task	O
,	O
while	O
in	O
between	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
explore	O
,	O
allowing	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
"	O
to	O
have	O
the	O
best	O
of	O
both	O
worlds	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
flaws	O
,	O
Plessas	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
is	O
so	O
good	O
that	O
its	O
most	O
egregious	O
failing	O
is	O
not	O
letting	O
fans	O
play	O
more	O
of	O
it	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
New	O
Game	O
Plus	O
was	O
not	O
an	O
option	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
the	O
review	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
he	O
enjoyed	O
these	O
features	O
,	O
Faulkner	O
noted	O
some	O
players	O
may	O
dislike	O
that	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
has	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
player	O
agency	O
,	O
and	O
players	O
have	O
to	O
explore	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
foot	O
or	O
by	O
boat	O
since	O
the	O
fast-travel	O
feature	O
is	O
unlocked	O
late	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Brown	O
felt	O
that	O
if	O
anything	O
in	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
was	O
a	O
letdown	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
final	O
fight	O
against	O
Baldur	O
:	O
"	O
He	O
's	O
great	O
from	O
a	O
narrative	O
standpoint	O
,	O
unraveling	O
in	O
a	O
manner	O
that	O
changes	O
your	O
perspective	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
's	O
the	O
fight	O
itself	O
that	O
leaves	O
you	O
wanting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
its	O
release	O
week	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
became	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
selling	O
35%	O
more	O
physical	O
copies	O
than	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
remained	O
at	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
the	O
all	O
format	O
sales	O
chart	O
for	O
six	O
consecutive	O
weeks	O
through	O
April	O
and	O
May	O
,	O
setting	O
a	O
record	O
for	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
exclusive	O
having	O
the	O
most	O
consecutive	O
weeks	O
at	O
number	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
sold	O
over	O
3.1	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
within	O
three	O
days	O
of	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
exclusive	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
month	O
of	O
its	O
release	O
and	O
contributed	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
being	O
the	O
best-selling	O
console	O
of	O
that	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
August	O
2021	O
,	O
total	O
sales	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
exceeded	O
over	O
19.5	O
million	O
units	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
best-selling	B-Application
PlayStation	I-Application
4	I-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
won	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
awards	O
from	O
several	O
gaming	O
publications	O
,	O
including	O
British	O
Academy	O
Games	O
Awards	O
,	O
The	O
Blade	O
,	O
CNET	O
,	O
Destructoid	O
,	O
D.I.C.E.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Show	O
,	O
Best	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
Game	O
,	O
and	O
Best	O
Action	O
Game	O
at	O
IGNs	O
Best	O
of	O
E3	O
2016	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
won	O
the	O
award	O
for	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
Best	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
Action-Adventure	O
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
Art	O
Direction	O
,	O
and	O
Best	O
Story	O
at	O
IGNs	O
Best	O
of	O
2018	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2016	O
Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
2016	O
Special	O
Commendation	O
for	O
Graphics	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
Most	O
Wanted	O
Game	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2016	O
Most	O
Anticipated	O
Game	O
2017	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
Most	O
Wanted	O
Game	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2017	O
Most	O
Anticipated	O
Game	O
2018	O
The	O
Independent	O
Game	O
Developers	O
 '	O
Association	O
Awards	O
Best	O
Action	O
and	O
Adventure	O
Game	O
Best	O
Audio	O
Design	O
9th	O
Hollywood	O
Music	O
in	O
Media	O
Awards	O
Original	O
Score	O
-	O
Video	O
Game	O
2018	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
Best	O
Storytelling	O
Best	O
Video	O
Design	O
Best	O
Audio	O
Design	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Ultimate	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2018	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Best	O
Game	O
Direction	O
Best	O
Narrative	O
Best	O
Art	O
Direction	O
Best	O
Score/Music	O
Best	O
Audio	O
Design	O
Best	O
Performance	O
(	O
Christopher	O
Judge	O
)	O
Best	O
Action/Adventure	O
Game	O
Gamers	O
 '	O
Choice	O
Awards	O
Fan	O
Favorite	O
Game	O
Fan	O
Favorite	O
Action	O
Game	O
Fan	O
Favorite	O
Single	O
Player	O
Gaming	O
Experience	O
Fan	O
Favorite	O
Character	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Fan	O
Favorite	O
Male	O
Voice	O
Actor	O
(	O
Christopher	O
Judge	O
)	O
Fan	O
Favorite	O
Male	O
Voice	O
Actor	O
(	O
Jeremy	O
Davies	O
)	O
Fan	O
Favorite	O
Female	O
Voice	O
Actor	O
(	O
Danielle	O
Bisutti	O
)	O
201946th	O
Annie	O
Awards	O
Character	O
Animation	O
in	O
a	O
Video	O
Game	O
17th	O
Visual	O
Effects	O
Society	O
Awards	O
Outstanding	O
Visual	O
Effects	O
in	O
a	O
Real-Time	O
Project	O
22nd	O
Annual	O
D.I.C.E.	O
</s>
<s>
Barlog	O
also	O
said	O
he	O
liked	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
having	O
different	O
directors	O
for	O
each	O
game	O
,	O
as	O
had	O
happened	O
with	O
the	O
Greek	O
era	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
although	O
he	O
might	O
not	O
direct	O
another	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
he	O
would	O
still	O
be	O
at	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
future	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
Ragnarök	I-Application
,	O
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
at	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
Showcase	O
event	O
in	O
September	O
2020	O
and	O
was	O
originally	O
scheduled	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
delayed	O
,	O
in	O
part	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
COVID-19	O
pandemic	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
worldwide	O
on	O
November	O
9	O
,	O
2022	O
,	O
for	O
both	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
marking	O
the	O
first	O
cross-gen	O
release	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2022	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
reported	O
that	O
a	O
live	O
action	O
television	O
series	O
was	O
said	O
to	O
be	O
in	O
development	O
at	O
Amazon	B-Application
Prime	I-Application
Video	I-Application
by	O
Mark	O
Fergus	O
,	O
Hawk	O
Ostby	O
,	O
and	O
Rafe	O
Judkins	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
an	O
investor	O
briefing	O
in	O
May	O
2022	O
,	O
Sony	O
Interactive	O
Entertainment	O
president	O
Jim	O
Ryan	O
confirmed	O
that	O
a	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
television	O
series	O
was	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
Prime	B-Application
Video	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
adaptation	O
is	O
being	O
produced	O
by	O
Sony	O
Pictures	O
Television	O
and	O
Amazon	O
Studios	O
in	O
association	O
with	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Productions	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
will	O
premiere	O
on	O
Prime	B-Application
Video	I-Application
in	O
more	O
than	O
240	O
countries	O
and	O
territories	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
executive	O
producers	O
include	O
Barlog	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Productions	O
 '	O
Asad	O
Qizilbash	O
and	O
Carter	O
Swan	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
's	O
Yumi	O
Yang	O
,	O
and	O
Vertigo	O
Entertainment	O
's	O
Roy	O
Lee	O
.	O
</s>
