God of War Remake Trilogy is Already Stirring Controversy, But It Shouldn’t

The announcement of a remake for the original God of War trilogy should have been a cause for celebration. While it’s a little frustrating that development is still early, considering how long these remakes have been discussed, it’s still exciting to see these classic games updated after twenty years. With Amazon’s God of War series jumping straight to the Norse saga, more people might become interested in Kratos’ history. However, that backstory is largely found in older games that don’t look very modern, which could discourage new players. These remakes will be great for newcomers, and longtime fans will finally have a reason to revisit the older titles. Despite all this good news, I can’t help but feel disappointed by the reaction from the God of War community.

It’s frustrating to see games become targets in culture wars, and it’s happening again with the upcoming God of War remakes. We’ve seen this before – unnecessary backlash over minor details, like harassment of character models in Marvel’s Spider-Man, the hateful reaction to The Last of Us 2, and attempts to sexualize or “fix” characters like Aloy from Horizon. It’s often the same people who praise games like Stellar Blade for superficial reasons. Complaints about characters looking “too old” (like in the Dead Space remake) or having female representation (as seen with Battlefield 6) are just more examples. Now, a completely unimportant sex mini-game in God of War is likely to spark similar, pointless controversy, and it’s incredibly disappointing.

I Truly Don’t Care Whether God of War’s Remakes Keep the Sex Mini-Game

It really doesn’t matter how Santa Monica handles a minor gameplay detail when the God of War remakes need to focus on bigger things. This series is known for its massive battles, stunning worlds, and enjoyable combat, so things like character models, gameplay smoothness, and performance – like consistent frame rates and fast loading times – are much more important. Fans should be discussing things like whether the remakes will use the newer combat system from the Norse games or stick with the classic style, or speculating about potential characters and extra story details. Instead, the conversation seems fixated on a single, small feature: whether players will be able to perform a simple button-mashing action.

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The older God of War games included brief, somewhat dated sexual encounters. These involved simple button presses to start and continue the scene, with the camera focusing away from the action. Players earned rewards – experience points and, later, PlayStation trophies – by successfully completing quick-time events during these scenes. It’s surprising and a bit frustrating that these minor, easily forgotten moments are now receiving so much attention following the announcement of the game remakes.

Opinions on these scenes have always been sharply divided. Some view them as outdated and even harmful to women, while others, including the original God of War director David Jaffe, believe they were important for the story. Jaffe explained that the scenes were intended to portray Kratos using sex as a way to cope with the pain of losing his family. However, the way these scenes were presented in the game didn’t quite match that intention. Instead of conveying emotional numbness, they often came across as simply crude or unnecessarily provocative.

There’s a Healthy Middle Ground for God of War’s Sex Scenes, Even If They Ultimately Don’t Matter

image via Santa Monica

The game could address the problematic sexual content by portraying it as a way Kratos copes with his trauma, rather than simply including it for shock value. Specifically, removing the player’s direct interaction with these scenes – the button-mashing, for example – and focusing on the narrative purpose would be a significant improvement. The original games presented Kratos as a one-dimensional rage-fueled character, and while the Norse saga deepened him, revisiting and refining the more exploitative elements of his past could contribute to a more well-rounded and meaningful portrayal. Instead of gratuitous scenes, they could be integrated into the story in a way that reveals more about Kratos’s internal struggles.

Honestly, I don’t have a strong opinion either way. Santa Monica can either keep the bonus scenes if they want to appeal to fans who prefer a darker Kratos, or they can remove them if they feel those scenes haven’t aged well. I wouldn’t mind either choice, though I’d appreciate some extra rewards if they were cut. It’s just surprising that with a remake of epic battles like the Poseidon and Ares fights, everyone is focused on a minor, somewhat embarrassing mini-game that isn’t that important to the overall story.

With God of War’s Remakes Still Years Away, I’m Dreading The Road to Release

Leaving fans to speculate for years about whether certain scenes will be included in future remakes is a recipe for disaster. As a God of War fan, I anticipate a constant stream of questions about their inclusion, and if they are cut, the backlash will likely be huge, especially considering the debates already happening. Santa Monica Studio should clarify their plans soon to put an end to this uncertainty. It’s also frustrating to see people already claiming the character of Kratos will be weakened if these scenes are removed – it’s a tiring argument to watch play out.

Okay, so if you’re asking my opinion as someone who plays these games, yeah, I’d definitely prefer if those scenes were handled differently. I think there’s a way to do mature content well – look at Baldur’s Gate 3 as a great example. Especially since the story seems to be hinting at those moments being about Kratos dealing with stuff. I’d ditch the quick-time events for sure, and it’s super important that the women involved aren’t just treated like prizes. No need for the camera to be all suggestive either, you know, like they’re trying to be sneaky. If people are really worried about censorship, and not just the awkwardness or seeing nudity, then showing more of the scene, but doing it with respect, would be perfect. But at the end of the day, it’s not my call, or any gamer’s. It’s up to the developers at Santa Monica Studio to decide what stays and what goes.

The optional sexual content in God of War shouldn’t be a major concern either way. If you dislike it, you can simply skip it, and if it’s removed, it’s not worth getting upset over. It’s disappointing to see so much energy wasted on complaining about a minor, off-screen sequence when the real focus should be on the game’s core strengths. I’m eager to discuss the meaningful aspects of the God of War remakes, but it’s frustrating to have to sift through endless debates about something that doesn’t affect the overall quality of the game.

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2026-02-16 03:05