After the massive success of God of War Ragnarok, Sony Santa Monica has been quietly at work on its next major title – and yes, Cory Barlog is once again leading the charge. While official details remain tightly sealed, a recent comment by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier has reignited fan speculation and offered a glimmer of clarity.
Schreier recently replied to a ResetEra thread, confirming that Barlog’s project is indeed the studio’s next big release and that “it’s going well” as of a month or two ago. 
Though vague, the update at least reassures fans that development is progressing smoothly.
But here’s where things get interesting. Schreier followed up with a rhetorical question: “Why does everybody think Barlog’s game is a new IP?” The tone of his reply cast doubt on the widely held belief that Sony Santa Monica was finally breaking away from the God of War universe.
Since its founding, the studio has been synonymous with God of War. A pivot to a new IP would be a monumental shift – but Schreier’s cryptic comment has sparked a new wave of theories that perhaps the team isn’t venturing far from their roots after all.
One of the hottest rumors in circulation is a 2.5D Metroidvania-style God of War spinoff, supposedly close to being revealed. While nothing is confirmed, sources earlier this year hinted that the announcement could be imminent.
For now, Sony remains characteristically silent, and fans are left to decode breadcrumbs. Whether it’s a bold new universe or a stylized return to Kratos’ mythological stomping grounds, all eyes remain on Cory Barlog and what magic his team is brewing behind the curtain.