God of War Creator David Jaffe Slams Sons of Sparta, Doubles Down After More Playtime

God of War: Sons of Sparta made an unexpected debut during PlayStation’s latest State of Play, but series creator David Jaffe has publicly criticized the spin-off despite playing only a few hours. Shortly after the reveal, Jaffe published a reaction video calling the project “total crap” and questioning its creative direction. His comments have sparked debate within the God of War community.

Sony officially unveiled and shadow-dropped Sons of Sparta during the State of Play broadcast, confirming it as a 2D co-op spin-off set in the God of War universe, as detailed on the PlayStation Blog. The reveal trailer positioned the game as a stylized action-Metroidvania focused on a younger Kratos and his brother Deimos.

Jaffe: “This Is Not God of War”

In his initial reaction video published on his official YouTube channel, Jaffe said Sons of Sparta “makes no f**king sense” and argued that the spin-off does not reflect what defines God of War. While he acknowledged that the combat felt “serviceable,” he questioned why Sony Santa Monica chose to center the experience around a younger version of Kratos.

Jaffe stated that he has long supported the idea of a 2D God of War project, but he believes Sons of Sparta misses the opportunity to embrace the brutal, fully realized Kratos players associate with the original trilogy. He described the protagonist portrayal as feeling generic rather than iconic.

Follow-Up Video: Opinion Unchanged

After criticism of his limited playtime surfaced, Jaffe uploaded a second video expanding on his views. Reporting from TheGamer highlights that Jaffe admitted his tone may have been theatrical but maintained that his core concerns remain unchanged.

In the follow-up, he broadened his critique beyond narrative direction and questioned the production values and combat feel. He compared the project unfavorably to other modern Metroidvania-style titles and suggested that Sons of Sparta lacks the polish expected from a Sony Santa Monica release.

Community Reaction More Mixed Than Jaffe’s

Despite Jaffe’s strong stance, early player reactions appear more balanced. Many fans have praised the surprise release and welcomed the genre shift, though some players report early technical issues with co-op functionality. The experimental format marks a sharp departure from the cinematic third-person structure that defined the franchise’s 2018 reboot and its sequel.

Whether Sons of Sparta becomes a lasting branch of the franchise will depend on player engagement rather than creator approval. Jaffe no longer works with Sony Santa Monica, but his public criticism carries weight due to his role in creating the original God of War in 2005.

A Broader Debate About Franchise Identity

Jaffe has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the modern direction of the series, particularly its emphasis on emotional storytelling and character humanization. Sons of Sparta appears to continue that tonal evolution, which may explain why the project resonates differently with newer audiences than with its original creator.

The disagreement highlights a recurring tension in long-running franchises: evolve to reach new audiences or preserve the tone that built the brand. Sons of Sparta now sits at the center of that debate, regardless of how its sales ultimately perform.