Near the end of 2018's God of War, Kratos and Atreus make it to Jotunheim to scatter Faye's ashes, and come across the Jotunheim mural depicting the events leading up to and including Ragnarok. The final panel of the mural, seen only by Kratos when a breeze shifts the fabric covering it, seemed to many fans to depict Atreus holding Kratos' dead body. Runes translated as "father" and "betrayal" surrounding the two figures led many to conclude that Atreus would kill Kratos in the next game and take his place as the player character.
There are some big disagreements about whether or not this will happen, or the number of different ways it could be executed if it does. Here's a break down of the sides some fans have taken over the plot of God of War's upcoming Ragnarok sequel, and what led them to those conclusions.
Atreus Killing Kratos in God of War: Ragnarok
The Jotunheim mural depicts Kratos and Atreus at several points during their adventure through 2018's God of War. Of the two figures in the final panel, the one on the left is clearly Atreus, matching his depiction in every panel so far. The figure lying at his feet resembles Kratos, but lacks the Spartan's distinct tattoos, and is wearing different clothing to Kratos' depiction in the other panels, including one where he's fighting with Baldur.
Nonetheless, the panel was taken by many fans to be a grim omen of Kratos fate in the next game, and there are reasons Atreus killing Kratos could easily seem like the natural conclusion to the Ghost of Sparta's story. Zeus overthrew his father and was overthrown by his son Kratos, and with God of War invested in exploring cycles of violence and Kratos' fear that his son will inherit his mistakes, it could be fitting for Kratos to meet his end at Atreus' hands.
God Of War's Path Forward
It's unclear whether or not Kratos will die during Ragnarok, or whether Atreus will be the one to cause his death even if that is the case. However, the possibility of Kratos death has also introduced the possibility that Atreus will take over as the protagonist and player character of God of War into the discussion, only further dividing opinion. Although Atreus replacing Kratos may seem natural, there is still some evidence that the final panel of the Jotunheim mural may be a red herring.
Not only does the figure in the final panel lack Kratos' tattoos, but when looking at Baldur's depiction in the mural, the final figure resembles the depiction of the game's villain as much as its protagonist. The runes surrounding Atreus and the lying figure are also open to interpretation. The runes meaning "father" and "betrayal" could also refer to Odin the All-Father and Loki, the God of "svik" — the Norse word used in the mural meaning betrayal or deceit. God of War's version of Odin has yet to be revealed, leaving the possibility open.
There's also the question of the strange substance connecting the lying figure and Atreus by the mouth. It appears to represent some sort of magical connection, but without a clear explanation it has been left out of most analyses of the Jotunheim mural. That connective substance could end up being the key to the entire scene, and without knowing what it is any assertions about the definitive meaning of the final panel are undermined.
There's also an argument to be made that the entire God of War series so far has been building up to breaking the cycle of violence, not continuing it. Kratos is a very different person in 2018's God of War than the man seen in the original trilogy, and though his ultimate redemption may require his own sacrifice, Atreus killing his father may be too cynical for the story.
Other Possibilities For Ragnarok
However, Atreus replacing Kratos as the player character doesn't necessarily need Atreus to have killing his father. The last game is full of hints that Ragnarok will involve a time loop. Mimir says that the World Serpent in the Lake of Nine was sent back in time from Ragnarok when his fight with Thor splintered the tree of life. The World Serpent's shrine also contains runes referring to the Jotnar as the "son of Loki." This could mean that the next game will begin with Ragnarok and Kratos' death, and players will then follow Atreus as he's sent back in time like the World Serpent, growing to become the Loki of Norse mythology before Ragnarok comes around again.
This is far from confirmed, but it does go to show just how many options Santa Monica Studio has for the story even within the same interpretations of the Jotunheim mural. If the studio does decide to leave Kratos behind, there are some clear advantages and disadvantages. The series' story would be able to continue without Kratos' quest to escape his path, giving players closure on an important character's arc. As the player character, Atreus could allow for the introduction of new combat mechanics and playstyles, but the characterization of an older Atreus would need to be very well executed for him to succeed such a long-running and beloved video game character.
The question of Kratos and Atreus' fates also ties into a broader question about Santa Monica Studio's approach to God of War's Ragnarok sequel. It is unclear for now whether or not the Jotunheim mural represents the immutable truth, or whether Kratos and Atreus' efforts could theoretically break the cycle and escape the prophecy. It isn't even clear if that will be their goal, or if they will end up spending the next game hunting down the Norse gods and bringing Ragnarok to fruition. All that can be known for sure is that the series is approaching a turning point where it has the opportunity to introduce huge story developments that could change the franchise forever.
A sequel to God of War is set to release in 2022 for PS4 and PS5.
