I was in the clip before the clip became the story: a corner of Fan Expo, Christopher Judge leaning in to chat, and a streamer’s handheld camera catching him mid-answer. The room’s hum quieted a fraction when he mentioned new tech and a fresh fighting system. For players waiting on Santa Monica, those few lines landed like a small earthquake.
I’ll cut to the chase: you should care. If you follow God of War, PlayStation announcements, or voice-actor breadcrumbs, this moment just shifted the timeline for what’s likely coming from Santa Monica Studio and Sony.
At Fan Expo Vancouver, a short interview became headline material — what Judge actually said
In Vancouver, the interaction was informal and human: Judge spoke with Twitch streamer Fuzhpuzy while fans recorded nearby. The audio captured him calling the project “not a reboot” and saying developers will “put all this new technology in it, a new fighting system,” and that TC Carson will voice Kratos.
I heard three big cues in that exchange: authority, intention, and timing. Judge is not a casual bystander; his use of “we” ties him closer to Santa Monica than a simple casting update would. Saying the remake will get a “new fighting system” signals more than polish — it hints at a mechanical rethink that could change how those classic encounters feel.
Like a whisper in a thunderstorm, small comments from insiders can drown out official silence; you feel the shift before the press release arrives.
At Sony’s recent State of Play, fans got a logo and questions — now Judge fills some blanks
State of Play left the trilogy remake at a tease: a logo, TC Carson confirming involvement, and a developer note that the project is “early.” That silence bred the exact kind of speculation Santa Monica must have expected.
Judge supplied two concrete frames you can actually work from: the remake isn’t a reboot, and it will receive new systems and technology. For you that means expect changes to core combat, enemy choreography, and possibly camera or level geometry. The big unknown remains whether the project will preserve the originals’ 2.5D feel or move fully into 3D — which would be a structural shift in design and player experience.
Will the God of War Trilogy Remake change the combat system?
Short answer: yes, according to Judge. Longer answer: expect a rethought moveset and systems-level updates that could alter pacing, combos, and enemy behaviors. If Santa Monica treats the remake like an opportunity to modernize melee mechanics, this could reshape how each encounter reads and how progression flows through the trilogy.
At the microphone Judge also pointed to a late-summer reveal — why the timing matters
He said, plainly: “You’ll be hearing about what we’re doing probably late summer.” That places a soft deadline on Sony’s marketing calendar and sets a rhythm for leaks, PR, and community reaction ahead of the next State of Play or PlayStation showcase.
Late-summer announcements carry momentum: reveals then can anchor holiday pre-orders and fiscal planning for publishers. If Santa Monica is prepping a second, new project (rumored in the past as an Egypt-set spin-off), a summer reveal gives them runway to ride the news cycle into fall.
Is Christopher Judge confirmed for the remake?
Judge’s phrasing and presence make his involvement far more than a rumor. He spoke matter-of-factly about the project and used inclusive language that implies active participation. That’s an authority cue you should read as confirmation unless Santa Monica states otherwise.
At the edge of fandom rumor mills, a second Santa Monica project is suddenly plausible — what that might mean
Whispers about a new God of War entry have circulated for years. Judge didn’t name a title, but saying Santa Monica will reveal their next game this summer is the most public marker we’ve had in a long time.
If the studio is juggling a trilogy remake and an original project, pay attention to the resource implications. Studios rarely run two large-scale projects without clear leadership splits; personnel named in media, casting hints like TC Carson’s return, and voice actors’ public remarks become the breadcrumbs you and I can follow to map scope and scale.
Like rebuilding a cathedral with modern tools, remaking classics while crafting new worlds forces choices about what to preserve, what to remake fresh, and which systems will define the next decade of a franchise.
When will Santa Monica reveal their next game?
Judge’s estimate — late summer — is the clearest timeline we’ve heard. Expect Sony to time any Santa Monica announcement around a PlayStation showcase or a themed State of Play. If you track PlayStation’s past scheduling, late June through August is prime reveal season.
I’m watching the studio’s channels, PlayStation’s marketing windows, and the cast’s public appearances the way a tracker watches a storm front. You following these cues — and judging how the community reacts — will tell you more about scope than a logo ever could. What do you think Santa Monica is actually building, and which part of the trilogy should be remade first? ?