The writers of God of War Ragnarok had other plans for Kratos. The game’s plot could have developed differently

The narrative director of Sony Santa Monica Studios’ new game revealed that Ragnarok’s writers had other plans for the protagonist

God of War Ragnarok’s narrative director Matt Sofos spoke to MinnMax and said that the fate of the bearded Greek, the most bearded Greek in Midgard, could have turned out very differently.

The following are spoilers for God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok

At the end of God of War (2018), a mural depicting Kratos’ death is shown, clearly hinting that an unenviable fate awaits the protagonist in the sequel. The same mural is shown in Ragnarok, but Kratos makes it safely to the game’s end credits.

Sophos was asked if the writers had plans to kill Kratos in Ragnarok, to which he replied:

“That was the earliest draft of the script that we prepared and showed [director Eric Williams]. Kratos was supposed to die in a fight with Thor at the very beginning of the game.”

Sophos explained that Kratos was not dying permanently, but was going to Hell, from where he was then to be rescued by Atreus. Williams did not appreciate the idea, considering it hackneyed, as Kratos had already died in previous games in the series, but still returned.