When the game was first revealed, God of War Ragnarok teased the apocalyptic event that would soon become the namesake of God of War 2018's upcoming sequel. Now, the most recent gameplay trailer for the sequel has confirmed that Fimbulwinter is in full swing, of which Ragnarok usually follows. Obviously there will be a lot to unpack in the sequel's latest trailer, but one quick glimpse at a new character could be the connection that leads to what fans have expected from Atreus since the end of God of War: The ushering in of Ragnarok. That character is Angrboda, the Jotunn and mother of Loki's children, otherwise known as "the one who brings grief."
There were theories previously that Atreus would ultimately usher in Ragnarok and contribute to the death of the Norse gods, but there wasn't much evidence to back that up other than Atreus' true name being "Loki." Considering 2018's God of War isn't exactly a faithful recollection of Norse mythology, many figured all sorts of cosmic interruption like time travel or alternate universes could potentially subvert expectations. However, with the growing tension between Kratos and Atreus depicted in the trailer, as well as the teasing of Angrboda coming into contact with the two, it's pretty clear that all of the hints of Atreus becoming the Norse harbinger of Ragnarok may potentially be true.
Angrboda's Presence In God of War Ragnarok
This would, hypothetically, all start with Angrboda, the child teased at the end of God of War Ragnarok's trailer. In traditional Norse mythology, Angrboda is Loki's wife or partner, and is known as the "mother of monsters" for three reasons: Fenrir, Jormungandr, and Hel. According to the Prose Edda, one of the foundational pieces of Norse literature, Loki and Angrboda bring these three monsters to life and all three end up terrorizing the Aesir gods. Each of these beings is responsible for a key moment during the apocalyptic Ragnarok in their own way. In the Prose Edda, Fenrir murders Odin, Jormungandr releases its own tail, and Hel prepares an army of the dead.
These are all characters that players, for the most part, haven't met in God of War's Norse universe yet, especially since most of them are only discussed in relation to Ragnarok specifically. Atreus in the God of War Ragnarok trailer specifically mentions that him and Kratos are currently in the Fimbulwinter stage; a slew of three winters accompanied by the end of the world. Of course, the only exception here is Jormungandr, the World Serpent. Kratos and Atreus have already met Jormungandr, who is a child of Loki, who is presumably Atreus. Understandably so, that brings up a couple of concerns of continuity, accuracy to Norse mythology, as well as general confusion.
Atreus Meeting Angrboda Could Answer His Questions On Loki
Before God of War Ragnarok's first trailer, 2018's God of War had already made it abundantly clear that Kratos' journey through Norse mythology would not be entirely faithful. Tyr, the Norse god of war, was allegedly already dead, while Jormungandr had already been birthed as the World Serpent by the start of the game, when Atreus was supposedly around 11 years old. Even Kratos and Atreus' short trip to Helheim showed that Hel herself was nowhere to be found, with only Hraesvelgr being the patron in the ralm of the dead. However, the existence of Angrboda at the end of Ragnarok's trailer is seemingly laying the foundation for Atreus' role in Ragnarok.
Obviously Ragnarok is the end result of Norse mythology's tales, and will presumably be the end to God of War's trip through Norse mythology as well. With Angrboda's presence, and considering she likely comes into contact with Kratos and Atreus, her words that bookend the Ragnarok trailer are all the more affirming. "You'll get your answers soon enough," she says, "Well, some of them." Atreus is looking for answers as to the identity of "Loki," knowing that is what the Giants and his mother called him. Considering the Angrboda depicted in the trailer is about Atreus' age, it's not too far-fetched to start drawing connections between Ragnarok's teases and mythology.
God of War Still Leaves Many Questions Unanswered, Obviously
With the context of Norse mythology and Angrboda's role in the Norse apocalypse, God of War and God of War Ragnarok still leave a ton of questions unanswered. There's the issue with continuity as mentioned previously, with Jormungandr somehow existing before Fenrir and Hel are born, despite "Loki" and Angrboda supposedly never meeting until God of War Ragnarok. Tyr is somehow alive and not missing a right hand/arm, which by Norse mythology, means that Fenrir and other offspring of Loki and Angrboda theoretically shouldn't exist. It is particularly noteworthy that Angrboda appears to be of similar age to the now-older Atreus.
That being said, there's also the questions presented specifically in God of War's version of Norse mythology as well. Ragnarok's trailer has confirmed that there's now two gods of war to contend with now that Tyr is confirmed to be alive. What is the role of both Kratos and Tyr, now that Baldur's death has seemingly initiated the events of Ragnarok? Regardless, with the introduction of Angrboda, it's clear that God of War is at least attempting to reach the same end result as Norse mythology. Even if it's not inherently accurate to the source material, Atreus meeting Angrboda will likely be key to him fully becoming Loki, and ultimatley ushering in the events of Ragnarok.
God of War Ragnarok is planned to release in 2022 on PS4 and PS5.
