God of War Ragnarok Has a Side Quest That Is a Beautiful Tribute to a Developer Who Passed Away
God of War Ragnarok side quest spoilers ahead!
God of War Ragnarok has a side quest that is a beautiful tribute to Jake Snipes, gameplay programmer at Santa Monica Studio, who passed away in 2020.
The sidequest in question was called Across the Realms, and its importance was shared on Twitter. Sam Handrick Senior Gameplay Programmer at Santa Monica Studios, who was also a partner at Snipes.
God of War Ragnarok has something most special to me. I had to sell it and the team made everything I wanted.
I wanted to talk to you after waiting for a while, but I wanted to share just in case.
It is a ballad of Jari and Somul. pic.twitter.com/S9itiutGbq
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
“God of War: Ragnarok has something most special to me,” Handrick wrote. “I had to suggest it and the team made everything I could have hoped for. I was hoping to wait a while to talk about it, but just in case I would like to share it with you now.It is the ballad of Yari and Somul.”
Those traveling through the world of God of War Ragnarok may have noticed the first sign of a side quest with green hearts carved into rocks throughout the realms. Their origins and quests began with an idea of Handrick and Snipes formed years ago. .
The two said, “We want to leave our symbol in Ragnarok. Some signs in this game are why we first met and the first game we made together. He once suggested simply the heart, this world we made with our initials in Norse runes.”
We talked about how much we wanted our symbols to stay in Ragnarok. Some signs in this game were the reason we first met and it was the first game we made together. I once suggested that we carve a simple heart with our initials in Norse runes into this world we made. pic.twitter.com/3QpcS5MMNu
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
Sadly, Snipes passed away in 2020. When Handrick was able to get back to work, he wanted to create the god of war, Ragnarok. [Snipes] He also wanted to ensure that Snipes’ memory would live on forever in the game.
Snipes asked Eric Williams, director of God of War, if Jake’s memorial could be included in the game.
“I told Eric and the team about Jake’s suggestion to have our initials carved into the heart.”And he and the team are back with that and something even more special. The story of two men who find each other and simply find a place to belong in each other.
“I wanted this story to be something a lot of queer people know: traveling through a world that doesn’t always understand you to find a place that truly feels like home. And sometimes the place is just a person. And something as simple as a recipe.It can be the link back home.”
During the quest, you will come across a ‘burning’ rainbow campfire. This is part of Jake’s memory that will live on forever.
This fire will never burn out. Even on extremely cold days and nights when you don’t want to live.it will stand in this world we are in @Sony Santa Monica It was created all along that tells the story of a man who finds something that cannot be named. which I still carry with me. pic.twitter.com/I9XbP5DGJZ
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
“This fire will never burn out,” Handrick said. “Through the coldest days, through the nights you don’t want to live. Carrying the story of a man who stood in this world forever created by @SonySantaMonica and found something unnamed. Something I still do right now bring.”
A quest for the curious travels the realm to find four ingredients to create a comfort meal that permanently increases all stats by 5. “Delicious creative cuisine that warms the body and soul.”
For more on God of War Ragnarok, check out our review, how the puzzle-filled level design is a gift from the gods, and how some of the team will share with us three months before the long-awaited sequel launches. Be sure to check what you said. Damn, I’m bad at games.”
Any tips? Want to talk about possible stories?please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @Adam Bankhurst and Cramp.