Are we really debating the artistic merit of digital pot-wobbling in a blockbuster video game remake? That’s where we are, folks. Sony’s announcement of a remake of the original God of War trilogy – the Greek mythology era starring Kratos – has predictably ignited a firestorm, but not about graphics or gameplay. It’s about the sex minigames. And the real story here isn't whether these scenes are “problematic” or “dated” – it’s about how desperately we cling to outdated notions of maturity in gaming, and what that says about the industry’s ongoing struggle to grow up.
The original God of War games, released on the PS2 and PS3, were defined by operatic violence. Sammy Barker of Push Square rightly points out the head-tearing, the sheer brutality. But alongside the gore was a layer of…silliness. Optional sex minigames, euphemistically described as “rewards” for players, were woven into the fabric of the experience. The first game featured a suggestive, implied act with a wobbling pot. God of War III went further, depicting interactions with Aphrodite that, while not explicit, were undeniably exploitative. These weren’t integral to the plot; they were side quests offering in-game currency – red orbs – to upgrade weapons. In 2005, this was often presented as edgy, “mature” content. Today, it feels…embarrassing.
Based on the original pushsquare.com report.
The question now is what Santa Monica Studio, the developers, will do with these relics of a bygone era. Barker suggests two paths: a faithful remake akin to Demon’s Souls or Dead Space, or an adaptation like Resident Evil 2, which reimagined the original with a modern sensibility. The industry consensus, as Barker notes, leans towards the former, preserving the original camera angles and gameplay. But the minigames are a different beast. Removing them will undoubtedly trigger backlash from a vocal contingent who see it as censorship or a betrayal of the original vision. Keeping them, however, risks cementing God of War as a product of its time – and not in a good way.
This isn’t simply about prudishness. It’s about the evolution of storytelling. The original trilogy established Kratos as a monstrous figure, a god fueled by rage and devoid of empathy. The developers now argue that these early depictions are crucial to understanding his later character arc in the Norse saga, where he’s a more nuanced, even sympathetic, protagonist. But does portraying a character as monstrous require explicitly rewarding players for simulated sexual encounters? The argument feels increasingly flimsy. The Norse games proved that compelling character development doesn’t require relying on tired tropes of hyper-masculinity and sexual objectification. In fact, the contrast between the Greek and Norse eras is what makes Kratos’s transformation so powerful.
The debate also highlights a broader tension within the gaming industry. For years, “maturity” was equated with graphic violence and sexual content. This was a marketing tactic, a way to appeal to an older audience and shake off the perception of games as children’s toys. But that strategy has become increasingly unsustainable. Gamers, particularly younger generations, are demanding more sophisticated narratives, complex characters, and meaningful experiences. They’re less interested in shock value and more interested in emotional resonance. The fact that a remake of a 17-year-old game is prompting this conversation is a sign that the industry is, slowly, starting to listen. The 167k subscribers to Push Square’s YouTube channel are likely split on this issue, reflecting the wider gaming community’s internal conflict.
So, what happens next? I predict Santa Monica Studio will attempt a compromise. They won’t entirely remove the suggestion of these encounters, but they’ll drastically alter them. Expect vague cutscenes, perhaps allusions to events rather than direct depictions, and a complete decoupling of these scenes from gameplay rewards. They’ll try to preserve the “spirit” of the original while avoiding the pitfalls of its execution. But the real test won’t be whether they succeed in appeasing everyone – it will be whether they can demonstrate that a compelling story doesn’t need to rely on outdated and frankly, lazy, tropes to feel “mature.” Watch closely for how they handle Kratos’s relationship with his past, and whether they can acknowledge the problematic elements of the original without erasing them entirely. The future of God of War – and, in a small way, the future of gaming maturity – depends on it.
