God of War Ragnarok has a side quest that’s a nice tribute to a deceased developer

“There is something about God of War Ragnarok that is most special to me,” Handrick wrote. “I was able to present it and the team did everything I could have hoped for. I had hoped to wait a while to talk about it but I want to share it now, just in case. This is the Ballad of Jari and Somr.”

Those who travel the world of God of War Ragnarok may have noticed the first signs of the side quest by the green hearts that are painted on rocks across the realms, and their origin and the quest began with a Handrick and Snipes idea formed years ago. .

The two talked about how much they “would like to leave a symbol of us in Ragnarok. An indication in this game that had been the reason we first met, our first game created together. He once suggested simply a heart, with our initials in Norse runes, etched into this world we have created.”

We were talking about how much we would like to leave a symbol of us in Ragnarok. An indication in that game that had been the reason we first met, our first game done together. Once he simply suggested a heart, with our initials in Norse runes, carved into this world we’ve created. pic.twitter.com/3QpcS5MMNu

— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022

Sadly, Snipes passed away in 2020. Once Handrick was able to get back to work, he knew he wanted to make God of War Ragnarok “all [Snipes] deserved.” He also wanted to ensure that Snipes’ memory would live on forever in the game.

Snipes asked God of War director Eric Williams if it would be possible to include a memorial to Jake in the games, and he “did so much more”.

“I spoke to Eric and the team about Jake’s suggestion for our initials engraved in a heart,” Handrick explained. “And he and the team came back with that and something even more special. The story of two men who find themselves in an often cruel world and find a place to just belong together.

“I wanted this story to be one that a lot of queer people know: traveling through a world that doesn’t always include you to find a place where you really call home. And sometimes that place is just a person. And something as simple as a recipe can be a link to this home.”

During the quest, you will come across a rainbow campfire that “never stops burning”. It’s part of Jake’s memory that will live on forever.

This fire keeps burning. Through the coldest days, through the nights you don’t want to live. It will stand in this world where we are @SonySantaMonica created forever, carrying the story of a man in whom I found something unspeakable. Something I still wear now. pic.twitter.com/I9XbP5DGJZ

— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022

“This fire never stops burning,” Handrick said. “Through the coldest days, through the nights you don’t want to live. He will remain in this world that @SonySantaMonica created forever, carrying the story of a man in whom I found something special. ‘unspeakable. Something I still wear now.’

The quest, for the curious, has you traveling across the realms to find four ingredients that will create a comfort meal that permanently increases all of your stats by five. It is a “delicious creation that warms body and soul”.

For more on God of War Ragnarok, be sure to check out our review, how its puzzle-filled level design is a gift from the gods, and how some team members said, three months before the game’s launch. long-awaited sequel, “Holy Damn, the game is no good.”

Any advice to give us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an e-mail to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a reporter for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Tic.