Sonyboasts a strong roster of exclusive studios, with Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Housemarque being some of the most notable. Over the years,Sonyhas proven itself as a stage for strong single-player narratives to premiere on, and there are a lot of questions surrounding these three studios' next projects.
Housemarque is bringing another sci-fi story to life with the compellingSaros, while Naughty Dog is switching up its usual formula by also venturing into the genre withIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Santa Monica Studio may be ready to shake up its approach, too, as rumors have suggested thattheGod of Wardeveloper may be embracing sci-fi, as well. Fellow Sony studios like Naughty Dog and Housemarque bringing their own sci-fi stories to players may present some stiff competition, but at the end of the day, Santa Monica Studio likely won’t need to worry about being overshadowed.
Santa Monica Studio’s Rumored Leap Into the World of Sci-Fi is a Promising Evolution
A Legacy Built by God of War
As of now, Santa Monica Studio has only directly developed one game that isn’t aGod of Warentry, and that’sKinetica, the studio’s very first game.Kineticawas a racing title for the PS2 that earned some favorable reviews, butGod of Warmarked a huge turning point for the developer. Since the first game hit the scene in 2005,God of Warhas quickly become one of the most notable franchises in gaming. Its blend of fantasy and fast-paced, satisfying combat is brought together with a strong story and protagonist in Kratos.
There have been plenty of other fantasy and action adventure titles released alongsideGod of War, but the franchise has continued to stand on its own, avoiding the shadow of similar projects. Even more importantly,God of War’s identityis incredibly unique, which is one of its greatest strengths. From its story to its gameplay, there aren’t many other games that feel likeGod of War. The mechanics are unmistakable, and it’s likely that Santa Monica Studio would apply the same strong individuality to its rumored sci-fi story.
God of Warturns 20 this year. The first game launched for the PS2 on June 15, 2025.
Intergalactic and Saros Are Promising Their Own Unique Approaches
Intergalacticsignals a big change for Naughty Dog, as the first trailer for the game teases an attention to melee this time around.UnchartedandThe Last of Uswere centered more around long-range weapons, soIntergalactic’s switch-up is compelling. This might make it one of Santa Monica Studio’s biggest competitors overall, asGod of Waris heavily entrenched in melee fighting mechanics.
Sarosmay not be a full-blown roguelike, but the roguelite approach being taken this time around teases thatHousemarque is still sticking to its gunswith the upcoming project. Its predecessor,Returnal, was a wonderful challenge, andSarosevolving its mechanics to make in-game deaths important is a thrilling prospect. Staying in the same realm asReturnalkeepsSarosdifferent enough fromGod of Warthat it’s unlikely that Santa Monica Studio’s sci-fi project will feel similar.
God of War Ragnarok’s freeValhallaDLC takes the roguelike formula and uses it as a strong storytelling device for Kratos.
Santa Monica Studio’s Thrives On Originality
The developer may soon be officially added to the list of studios taking a sci-fi turn right now, butGod of Warproves that Santa Monica Studio is skilled at crafting a unique and special experience within a popular genre. Withthe future ofGod of Warup in the air, Santa Monica Studio’s future plans are currently a mystery and claims should be taken with a grain of salt. However, if the rumors of a sci-fi project prove true, the developer is fully capable of setting itself apart.
