At Santa Monica Studio, one our guiding phrases is “we’re fans of our fans.” Whether it’s a response to a trailer, a deep-dive lore video, or cosplay – understanding that there’s an viewers that appreciates all the small print in our work motivates us to create one thing worthy of God of War followers. 

Cosplayers are an enormous a part of our group and have been because the very first recreation launched in 2005. Over a few years we’ve seen how a lot time, love, and dedication it takes to create a single character. God of War characters particularly have many alternative supplies, layers, and particulars to account for. One factor we’ve realized is that the perfect beginning block for any cosplayer is an efficient reference of the character they’re portraying!

Once you’ve taken a peek on the new guides, ensure you try the interview under with Santa Monica Studio Art Director Raf Grassetti on how the staff up to date the designs of Kratos and Atreus in God of War Ragnarök! 

Official Kratos and Atreus cosplay guides

To present our appreciation for all of the God of War cosplayers who’ve taken on Kratos and Atreus through the years, we wished to make their up to date guides for God of War Ragnarök much more complete than those we did for God of War (2018).

We’re labored with our improbable character artists and writers at SMS, in addition to B is for Boy artist Romina Tempest, to create guides that not solely give the in-depth references vital for cosplayers, but in addition allow us to play extra on this planet of God of War by these designs by way of the lens of our characters.

Community cosplay companions

Photo Credit: Carlos Adama Photography

While we all know visible references are key, we additionally wished to usher in the experience of two of our group cosplayers to supply how-to assets and suggestions they put collectively whereas making the cosplays themselves! 

Photo Credit: Laughing Orc Photography

We’re thrilled to have partnered with Opal Ink Cosplay (Atreus) and Jonny Mathers – Baldsasquatch (Kratos), who each did improbable variations of Kratos and Atreus again in 2018. 

They have put collectively a wealth of assets for cosplayers to reference alongside the official cosplay guides, to not point out they’ll be releasing movies documenting key components of their creation course of on their very own channels.  

Interview with Art Director Raf Grassetti

The new designs for Kratos and Atreus you’ve seen for God of War Ragnarök are a fruits many months of iteration among the many proficient character and idea artists right here at Santa Monica Studio. Atreus particularly posed a singular problem and alternative for us with a number of years having handed because the final recreation. 

To focus on the Fimbulwinter-ready appears to be like of our heroes in God of War Ragnarök, Art Director Raf Grassetti walked us by way of among the key selections that have been made alongside the way in which. 

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Grace Orlady: Let’s begin firstly with the early growth part of God of War Ragnarök. When you discovered there was going to be a time-skip for the characters between the video games – what first went by way of your head by way of what that meant for Kratos and Atreus’ visible appears to be like? 

Raf Grassetti: It was wonderful to revisit our heroes and design their costumes serious about what they’ve been going by way of since we final noticed them. Since we knew they have been coaching on their very own and with out the assistance of the Huldra Brothers, we went again to extra easy and iconic costumes, from the way in which they’d have made their very own armor. 

You can see that mirrored in the way in which issues are stitched, the selection of supplies, and being extra considerate on how they’re surviving the acute climate circumstances.

Kratos Concept Art by Rafael Grassetti 

We’ve established that God of War Ragnarök begins through the occasion of Fimbulwinter. Midgard, the place Kratos and Atreus stay, appears to be like to be lined in snow and ice. How did that affect the design selections the staff?   

We integrated quite a lot of parts as an instance the characters journey from the top of God of War (2018) to the start of God of War Ragnarök. The chilly climate was positively a vital issue, you may see on Atreus’ costume, for instance, the inverted pelt to guard him from the chilly and Kratos utilizing a bear pelt as effectively.  

God of War Ragnarök Cosplay Guide – Pg. 5

In God of War (2018), the staff considerably modified Kratos’ look to match the brand new setting whereas nonetheless sustaining the long-lasting parts of the character that make him immediately recognizable. 

With the Norse period Kratos design now established in gamers’ minds, what issues or challenges did you face with updating his search for God of War Ragnarök?  

Since God of War Ragnarök is a sequel, we knew we didn’t wish to utterly change Kratos, quite a lot of the alternatives made have been to replace his look to replicate the brand new setting. We determined to protect his proper pauldron and preserve his iconic tattoos seen. 

Even although Kratos appears to be like just like the model of him in God of War (2018), his 3D mannequin was utterly re-done to enhance high quality for the PS5, all element maps and costumes have been created from scratch.

God of War Ragnarök Cosplay Guide – Pg. 4

When it involves visible storytelling, what elements of Kratos’ character are most essential to convey by way of his design and the way did you achieve this?  

Kratos has been by way of quite a bit and his design at all times displays that. He cares about perform greater than visuals, so quite a lot of the choices made on his design serve a sensible objective. Several items are there primarily based on their utility in battle, for instance, the pauldron with metallic items protects his dominant arm and the bracers can be utilized to defend him if vital. 

We additionally embrace touches of his previous, such because the pink Spartan skirt materials, which are reminders of the place he has come from. All the design parts collectively are intentionally chosen to make Kratos plausible as a personality.

Is there any side of Kratos’ design for God of War Ragnarök that you’re particularly pleased with or need gamers to note?   

At the top of God of War (2018), Kratos removes his bandages and units them free into the winds of Jötunheim, revealing his scars to Atreus. That was such a strong second for the character, so we determined to place a chunk of the bandages that Kratos saved at his house on his new gear as a visible callback. On his proper bracer, you may see him utilizing them to maintain the armor collectively.

God of War Ragnarök Cosplay Guide – Pg. 15

Enough of the dad, let’s get to the son! Atreus has hit a growth-spurt or 5 since God of War (2018), he’s clearly had just a few birthdays and received some new digs since we final noticed him. Can you’re taking us by way of how that preliminary design brainstorm for older Atreus went?   

Atreus is at all times a lot enjoyable to work on, having the ability to collaborate with the writers and see the character develop offers us a lot to play with as artists and replicate these selections in his look. 

More than on Kratos, we knew that the coaching would have a big effect on him, so he wanted to have higher gear to guard himself. With Atreus, we will additionally play a bit extra with design parts only for visible curiosity and make him look cool. 

God of War Ragnarök Cosplay Guide – Pg. 31

Are there any distinctive challenges the staff confronted when iterating on Atreus’ new design? 

Kratos is so iconic that we would have liked to ensure we discovered what made Atreus distinctive in order that he may stand subsequent to the large man and be recognizable. That’s by no means a straightforward job. We ended up specializing in the weather that we felt made his design particular from God of War (2018) and constructed upon these items.

What made you decide on going with the ultimate path we see within the Atreus cosplay information?  

We knew we would have liked to maintain the items that symbolize his mother and father, particularly Atreus’ yellow scarf representing Faye and his pink skirt piece from Kratos’ Greek outfit. 

We additionally wished to maintain the “X” form on his chest, as that was probably the most memorable visible parts from his outfit as a child. From that base, we explored quite a lot of totally different variations. 

Dela Longfish (Lead Character Concept Artist) had some wonderful designs for Atreus and the one we see now’s an evolution of many iterations to seek out the proper model.

Atreus Concept Art by Dela Longfish

When it involves visible storytelling, what elements of Atreus’ character are most essential to convey by way of his design?  

Atreus is a young person and we wished to make his outfit an avenue by which he may categorical himself, particularly since he makes quite a lot of his personal clothes. It’s essential to us that our character designs replicate the occasions they’re dwelling in, so the usage of supplies, stitching, and coloring of the costume have to be grounded, however not a lot as to be overly limiting. 

We at all times attempt to discover the steadiness between realism and fascinating designs that make the characters in God of War so iconic.

Atreus within the final recreation had some pops of shade. In God of War Ragnarök he appears to be like to have leaned in much more to vivid colours. What made the staff wish to go this path along with his design? 

At this level in his life, Atreus is looking for out who he’s and the colour selections play with that theme. The yellow from the Giants may be very sturdy and one thing we’ve got used since God of War (2018) to trace at what was to come back concerning his heritage. 

The affect of his father is proven within the pink waist fabric piece, the aggressive pink arrows, and the pink in his bow – it is possible for you to to see how that affect impacts his future upgrades in God of War Ragnarök.

God of War Ragnarök Cosplay Guide – Pg. 36

Is there any side of Atreus’ design for God of War Ragnarök that you’re particularly pleased with or need gamers to note?   

Atreus is a product of his surroundings and the individuals round him. A really fascinating element that most individuals gained’t discover is the trace of Kratos’ tattoos coming by way of his armor design. 

You can see on his left arm/shoulder the cuts of Kratos’ tattoo coming by way of the costume –  like father, like son.

God of War Ragnarök Cosplay Guide – Pg. 34

Any message for our God of War cosplayer group?  

One of probably the most rewarding issues as an artist is to see cosplayers do such an incredible job recreating these characters. We do that with all our hearts to present followers characters that appear plausible and it’s unbelievable to see individuals relate a lot that they determine to cosplay them. 

I do know the quantity of labor that goes into making issues this complicated, so I thanks and recognize each single one in all you.

If you determine to cosplay a personality from God of War, ensure you tag Santa Monica Studio on social or use the hashtag #GodofWarRagnarokay! We at all times like to see your work. 

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For the newest updates round God of War Ragnarök, ensure you comply with Santa Monica Studio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

To be part of the dialog with different followers, head to the official Santa Monica Studio Discord. 

God of War Ragnarök launches November 9, 2022. Pre-order your copy right here.