Sony Santa Monica, the acclaimed developers behind the legendary God of War series, is stepping into uncharted territory with their first new intellectual property (IP) in over 20 years. This tantalizing tidbit comes courtesy of an eagle-eyed member of ResetEra, who spotted a key detail on a developer’s LinkedIn profile. This developer, who had recently rejoined the studio, revealed they’re now overseeing the entire character development pipeline for this mysterious new project.

In a detailed “about” section, the developer expressed their excitement about returning to Sony Santa Monica after a brief stint with Striking Distance and Unknown Worlds. “Santa Monica Studios presented the opportunity of coming back as character supervisor, looking after the entire Character Development pipeline, on their new IP,” they wrote. “So here I am, thrilled to be back, working again with the crew and pushing characters in video games together.”

However, the developer stopped short of revealing specifics about the new IP, leaving fans to speculate about what kind of world and characters might be in the works. This new project marks a significant departure for Sony Santa Monica, whose last non-God of War title was the PS2 racer Kinetica, released in 2001. Since the 2005 debut of God of War, the studio has been exclusively focused on that series, aside from offering support on other projects.

The prospect of a brand-new franchise from such a storied developer is undeniably intriguing. With the recent success of God of War Ragnarok and the high standards set by the series, expectations are sky-high for whatever comes next. Adding to the excitement, Sony recently unveiled a new range of figurines called “The Shapes Collection.” This line includes characters from God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West, and Ghost of Tsushima. Developed in collaboration with toy company Spin Master, these highly detailed figures aim to bring the interactive storytelling of these games into the physical realm, extending the gaming experience beyond the digital screen.

Back in 2022, following the release of God of War Ragnarok on PS4 and PS5, producer Cory Barlog teased that the studio was juggling multiple projects. However, he remained tight-lipped about the specifics. Rumors also swirled about an ambitious open-world sci-fi game in development at Sony Santa Monica, but that project was reportedly canceled.

Given Sony’s announcement that no new major franchise games will be released until April 2025 at the earliest, it seems fans will need to exercise patience before getting their hands on this new IP. In the meantime, there’s plenty to look forward to. God of War Ragnarok is slated to arrive on PC on September 19, and PS5 fans have an exciting lineup of titles like Astro Bot, Concord, and Lego Horizon Adventures to tide them over. As we wait with bated breath for more details on this mysterious new IP, one thing is clear: Sony Santa Monica is poised to deliver something truly special. The studio’s track record speaks for itself, and if their past work is any indication, their next venture will be well worth the wait. Stay tuned for more updates as we follow this exciting new chapter in Sony Santa Monica’s storied history.